Why every startup should have a dedicated business phone number
Your startup likely already has its email and social media communication channels sorted, but you might have overlooked the importance of a phone number.
If you don’t have a phone number yet and you’ve been using your personal number for business purposes, you may be losing out. Bizik, a leading provider of telephone answering services, is here to explain why having a business phone number is a smart move for your startup.
1. Business phone numbers provide professionalism and credibility
Using your personal phone number for business purposes can give the impression that your company is a solo operation just starting out. In contrast, a dedicated business phone number shows you’re an established business, even if it’s still in the early days.
Believe it or not, customers can often tell when you use your personal number. That’s because it usually starts with +44; if they go to WhatsApp, they might see your name and personal photo.
Imagine how it would appear if you contacted somebody about a business matter using your personal email—customers would not be impressed to hear from davidsmith1977@gmail.com. The same goes for your phone number. A dedicated business phone number will make a business appear more professional and trustworthy.
2. Business phone numbers give you separation between work and your personal life
If you use your personal phone number for business calls, you may find yourself answering work calls at all hours of the day or feeling pressured to be available 24/7. This can quickly lead to burnout.
You can separate your personal and professional life by having a dedicated business phone number. This way, you can fully switch off from work outside business hours. You could set up a business voicemail to help you take messages from customers while you’re away from your phone.
3. Business phone numbers give business owners more privacy
Giving your personal phone number to strangers or displaying it publicly in your marketing materials can be dangerous. Once your personal number is out there, controlling who can access it is difficult.
It may result in unwanted sales calls, spam, or even distressing harassment at all hours from unhappy customers. What’s more, once someone has access to your personal phone number, it can open the door to them finding your name and social media profiles, potentially allowing them to access even more of your personal information.
A dedicated business phone number lets you keep your personal phone number private. Plus, some business phone systems have enhanced security features, such as call encryption, to ensure calls remain private and secure. This is particularly important if your startup handles sensitive information, such as if you take payment over the phone or if customers tell you their home addresses.
4. Business phone numbers allow you to have a local or national presence
Did you know the phone number you use can signal to customers where you’re based?
For startups that want to link their company to a location, you can choose a phone number that starts with a local area code. Customers tend to trust companies with a local presence, making them appear more approachable and part of the community. It could also boost your credibility for those reluctant to work with companies that only operate online.
Alternatively, you could use a national number. This will give your business a national presence, regardless of size or location. If your business moves, It will allow you to keep the same number without disruption.
Or you could select a freephone number. This will make your business more accessible and encourage customers to call you up, knowing it won’t cost them anything.
5. Business phone numbers allow your startup to scale
A dedicated business phone number allows your startup to scale its communications as the business grows. Multiple people can use it at once, so if you plan to expand your team, you can easily add new lines or extensions for different departments or employees without changing your primary business number. Or, if somebody leaves the company, you won’t lose out on the business calls that go through to their personal number.
Set up your business phone number today
A separate, dedicated business phone number is vital to how customers perceive your startup. By getting a business phone number, you can create a stronger, more professional brand positioned for long-term success.
So, if your startup doesn’t yet have one, now might be the time to make that investment. Go to Bizik to learn more about their business telephone number service and get set up with a regional, national, or freephone number today. They’ll help you move your current calls across to your new number through call forwarding, and if you want support with answering calls, they can sort that out too.
