How to Buy a Vanity Phone Number for Your Website (in 5 Minutes)

How to Buy a Vanity Phone Number for Your Business in 2023

As a business owner, you know how important it is to make it easy for customers and prospects to remember your contact information and reach out to you. While having a website and active social media presence is crucial, many people still prefer to connect with businesses over the phone.

This is where having a vanity phone number can give you a major advantage. A vanity number is a custom phone number, often toll-free, that spells out a word or phrase related to your business. For example, 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

Vanity numbers instantly make your phone number more memorable, since people are far more likely to remember a word than a string of random digits. An easy-to-remember phone number can make your business stand out, seem more credible and established, and encourage people to contact you.

In the past, vanity numbers were expensive and complicated for small businesses to obtain. But today, getting a vanity number is very affordable and accessible even for solo entrepreneurs and startups. There are a variety of providers that allow you to search for available vanity numbers and quickly register one for your business.

In this ultimate guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to buy a vanity phone number in 2023. You‘ll learn the key benefits, how to choose a great vanity number, and the steps to acquire one from a reputable provider. Let‘s get started!

The Business Benefits of Having a Vanity Phone Number

Here are some of the top reasons to consider getting a vanity phone number for your business:

1. Better Recall – Vanity numbers are much easier for customers to remember after seeing or hearing them in an ad. Rather than having to write down or make a mental note of a long string of numbers, a vanity number sticks in people‘s minds.

2. Improved Response Rates – Because vanity numbers have higher recall, you‘ll likely see an increase in phone calls and inquiries when you use one in your marketing campaigns. Studies have found vanity numbers have 75% better response rates compared to generic numeric phone numbers.

3. Establish Credibility – Having a vanity phone number, especially a toll-free one, makes your business instantly seem more professional and established. It shows you‘re willing to invest in being accessible to customers nationally. This can provide a major trust boost.

4. Enhanced Branding – A vanity number acts as a powerful branding tool, especially if it spells out your company name or a word/phrase associated with your business. Every time someone sees or dials your number, it reinforces your brand identity.

5. Competitive Advantage – In many industries, businesses are competing for the same pool of customers. Having a more memorable and brandable phone number can give you a valuable edge over competitors still using generic local or toll-free numbers.

6. Portability – Unlike a local number tied to a specific geographic area, you can port a vanity number to any location or provider. So as your business grows and evolves, your vanity number remains a consistent customer touchpoint.

7. Marketing Flexibility – Vanity numbers are extremely versatile from a marketing perspective. You can use them online, on business cards, brochures, direct mail, radio ads, TV commercials, billboards, vehicle wraps, and pretty much any other marketing channel.

Vanity numbers clearly offer major advantages, which is why many prominent brands have been using them for decades. But before buying a vanity number, there are some key things to understand, which we‘ll cover next.

Vanity Phone Numbers vs. Regular Toll-Free Numbers: What‘s the Difference?

Many people think that "vanity number" is just another name for a toll-free number, but there are some important differences between the two.

A toll-free number is any phone number with a special area code (such as 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833 in the US and Canada) that can be dialed from landlines with no charge to the caller. The charges are instead paid by the business. Toll-free numbers are popular for customer service and sales lines.

A vanity number is a custom phone number, often toll-free, that is specially selected to spell out a memorable word or phrase on a dial pad. For example, 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

So in other words, a vanity number is a type of toll-free number that has a catchy sequence of digits that translate to words. Not all toll-free numbers are vanity numbers, but many vanity numbers are toll-free.

It‘s also possible to get a vanity number that isn‘t toll-free, using a local area code. These are known as "local vanity numbers." They offer the memorability benefits of a vanity number, but the caller has to pay any applicable long-distance charges when dialing outside their local area.

While local vanity numbers can be effective for businesses mainly serving customers in a specific geographic area, most companies opt for toll-free vanity numbers to maximize their reach and accessibility. With mobile phones making long-distance calling charges less common, toll-free vanity numbers are by far the most popular option.

Now that you know the difference between toll-free and vanity numbers, let‘s look at some tips for choosing an effective vanity number.

How to Choose a Memorable Vanity Phone Number for Your Business

Selecting the right vanity number is one of the most important decisions you‘ll make, as you‘ll likely be using it for years to come in your marketing. A good vanity number should be:

• Meaningful – The number should spell out a word or phrase that instantly communicates something about your company name, industry, product, or service. Think 1-800-GOT-JUNK or 1-800-MATTRES.

• Memorable – Avoid words that are very long or difficult to spell. Ideally, the phrase should roll off the tongue and immediately "click" in customers‘ minds. Using words related to your offerings will make the number stick.

• Unique – Check to see if other businesses are already using a similar vanity number to the one you‘re considering. You want your number to be distinctive.

• Available – Not surprisingly, many of the most obvious and catchy vanity numbers are already taken, especially in the 800 prefix. But think creatively, and explore newer prefixes like 833. Adding an additional word or changing the spelling can help you find an available number.

• Relevant Long-Term – Remember that your vanity number will likely be a long-term investment that you use for years. So make sure it isn‘t tied too closely to a short-term marketing campaign or name that you might change in the future.

• Flexible Spelling – In some cases, it may make sense to buy multiple variations of a vanity number to capture all the possible spellings of a word or phrase. You can have the alternate versions automatically forwarded to your main line.

• Dial-Friendly – Avoid numbers that require pressing the same key multiple times in a row, as these can be frustrating to dial and prone to misdials.

One helpful resource for brainstorming vanity number ideas is a vanity number search tool like the ones offered by many providers. These tools allow you to enter a word or phrase and instantly see available numbers that spell it out.

If your first choice vanity number isn‘t available, the search tool will usually suggest similar alternatives that are currently on the market. It can be helpful to make a short list of 5-10 potential vanity numbers before narrowing it down to your top choice.

Keep in mind that you don‘t necessarily need a vanity number that matches your web domain. In some cases, a vanity number that‘s even more memorable or keyword-rich than your domain can be a smart choice.

Now that you know what makes a strong vanity number, let‘s walk through the steps to actually acquiring a number from a provider.

How to Buy a Vanity Phone Number for Your Business

Here are the key steps to getting a vanity number for your business:

1. Research Providers – Not all vanity number providers offer the same options and level of service. Look for an established company that has experience working with businesses in your industry. Consider their monthly fees, contract terms, setup costs, and included minutes before making a decision.

2. Check Number Availability – Once you‘ve chosen a provider, use their online search tool to check whether the vanity numbers on your shortlist are available. You may need to get creative if your top choices are taken.

3. Select Your Number – After finding an available number that you like, select it and add it to your account. You‘ll also choose whether you want a toll-free or local number.

4. Set Up Call Forwarding – Most businesses forward their vanity number to an existing landline or mobile number. Your provider will allow you to choose where to route incoming calls. You can change your call forwarding settings anytime through your online account.

5. Record Custom Greetings – Many vanity number services include options like custom greetings and phone menus (also known as IVR). Plan what you want your main greeting to say, and record it through your account dashboard.

6. Update Your Marketing – Once your vanity number is active, you‘ll want to immediately add it to your website, email signature, business cards, advertisements, social media profiles, and any other places where you list your contact information. Consider sending an email to existing customers to inform them of the new number.

The specific steps involved will vary a bit depending on the provider you choose. But in general, getting a vanity number is a quick process that can be completed online in under an hour.

Top Vanity Phone Number Providers to Consider

There are dozens of companies that offer vanity phone numbers, but some of the top providers to check out include:

1. 800.com – This company offers an easy-to-use vanity number search tool and affordable monthly plans. They have a wide selection of 800 and alternate prefix numbers to choose from.

2. CallRail – In addition to vanity numbers, CallRail offers advanced call tracking and analytics to help you understand which marketing campaigns are driving phone leads.

3. Grasshopper – This popular virtual phone system includes vanity number options along with features like virtual receptionists, voicemail transcription, and mobile apps.

4. Phone.com – An established business telecom provider, Phone.com offers toll-free and local vanity numbers with 40+ customizable features.

5. RingCentral – Another leading virtual phone service, RingCentral offers user-friendly tools for building custom call flows and IVRs for vanity numbers.

Be sure to explore multiple providers and compare their pricing and features before making a decision. Some providers offer free trials that allow you to test drive a vanity number before committing.

While the monthly fees are generally affordable (often $20-50 per month), some providers do charge one-time setup fees for certain prefixes or number combinations. Be sure to factor setup costs into your decision.

Key Considerations When Buying a Vanity Number

Here are a few other important things to keep in mind as you go through the vanity number buying process:

Porting Existing Numbers – If you already have an 800 or local number that you want to keep, ask providers if they allow porting. Most companies will let you port in an existing toll-free or local number free of charge.

True 800 Numbers – Also ask providers if they offer "true" 800 numbers. While 800 is the original prefix for toll-free numbers, many providers today use less common prefixes like 888, 877, and 866. Some customers still view 800 numbers as more credible and established.

Number Ownership – When you sign up for a vanity number, you‘re leasing the number from the provider. While you have the exclusive rights to use it, true ownership is retained by the company. However, most providers make it easy to port out your number if you ever want to switch to a different service.

FCC Regulations – Keep in mind that FCC regulations prohibit the buying and selling of toll-free numbers. So if a provider ever offers to sell you a number, that‘s a major red flag. Reputable vanity number services will only charge monthly service fees and one-time setup costs.

In addition to these factors, make sure you understand your provider‘s policies around things like overages, number portability, and contract terms before signing up. While vanity number services are generally flexible and transparent, it‘s still smart to read the fine print.

Using a Vanity Number Effectively to Grow Your Business

Getting a vanity number is a great first step, but it‘s important to use it strategically to maximize your investment. Here are some tips for effectively leveraging a vanity number to attract more leads and customers:

Make Your Number Visible – Feature your vanity number in a prominent location on your website, like the header or a sticky bar. Also highlight it on business cards, brochures, signs, and merchandise.

Use it Consistently – Make sure your vanity number is included in all of your advertisements, from print ads to radio spots to search ads. Using the same memorable number consistently will amplify its effect.

Develop a Compelling Call to Action – Create a strong call to action around your vanity number that gives people a reason to call now. For example, a florist might advertise "Call 1-800-FLOWERS now for 25% off your first order!"

Train Your Team – Make sure your staff knows that calls may be coming in from your marketing campaigns. They should be prepared to answer common questions, process orders, and record lead information.

Test and Track – Consider using call tracking software to see which of your ads and campaigns are driving the most calls. By placing different tracking numbers in each campaign, you can directly attribute calls and make smarter marketing decisions.

By following these tips and making your vanity number an integral part of your marketing strategy, you‘ll be well on your way to driving more high-quality leads and growing your business!

Conclusion

Vanity phone numbers are a powerful marketing tool that can help businesses of all sizes drive more inbound calls and improve customer recall. While vanity numbers were once complex and expensive, today they‘re highly accessible for even the smallest startups and solopreneurs. And they remain just as effective as ever, even in our digital age.

By following the tips in this guide, you‘ll be able to find and acquire a vanity number that perfectly represents your business. You‘ll also know how to use it effectively to make your marketing campaigns more memorable and drive serious results.

Whether you‘re a new business looking to quickly establish credibility, or an established company wanting to add a unique branding asset, a vanity phone number can be a smart investment. When you make it easy for customers to remember your number and reach you, you‘ll never miss another opportunity to close a deal and grow your business!