If you want your establishment to connect to the world, you’re in luck. Thanks to technology development, it’s much easier to do this now more than ever.
But with this global expansion, you should have a few assets to help you with your success. To maintain your business reachability no matter where your customer is, you can start with a global phone number provided by companies like Telnum.
If you’re not sure if it’s the right move, we’ll help you decide whether it’s the right time for you to get one. In this article, we’ll cover the following:
- A quick intro on global phone numbers
- Three types to choose from
- Its best features
- Its benefits for your business
A quick intro
Imagine having to call someone from Australia using your mobile device. Before the internet made it super easy for people to do this online, this is practically the only way that you can contact friends and family in another country.
But it is different in one important way: it is a virtual number. People normally don’t get it from their regular service provider but instead obtain one from a company that specializes in virtual numbers.
Three types that you can choose from
Depending on your needs, you may choose from these two types:
Universal International Freephone Numbers (UIFN)
When talking about global phone numbers, this is what comes to mind for most people. And they’d be right. With the UIFN, customers abroad – regardless of country – can call you using the same number.
But the catch here is it’s not available in all countries. Only an estimate of 50 countries can be reached by the UIFN system, so it may not be an option if your business wants to focus on certain countries that aren't a part of it.
Domestic toll free number
If you already have a toll free number, you’re on the right track. International callers can already reach you, but it won’t be for free. Still, it can be an option to have when you’re still testing the waters and aren’t ready for a bigger commitment.
International toll free numbers
In some ways, this is like the UIFN because it caters mainly to supporting international connections. But instead of one consolidated number, you’ll have to get a specific number for each.
This is a great way to bridge the gap for countries that aren’t part of the UIFN system. So if you want to focus your expansion there, it’s great. The problem here is it can become complicated once you’re managing 20 numbers already.
But until the UIFN system expands to include more territories, this may be your best option.
Its Best Features
Making the work easier for you, you may opt to have these for your global phone number:
Call redirecting
You can have certain calls from a specific region redirected to specific agents based on their qualifications and even language skills to maximize the value from each call.
Call statistics
Instead of relying on guesswork, you can improve productivity and make informed business decisions using call statistics.
Call recording
This allows you or your agents to go back to the call even after it ends. Especially with customer support, this can be very important in avoiding errors.
Call queues
You don’t need to have as many agents as there are callers because depending on the call volume you receive, that can be very wasteful. Call queues let your agents handle calls one after the other, maximizing their productivity as well
How will this help with your global expansion?
Thanks to global phone numbers, your business finally can:
Expand globally sans high-cost offices
With just a number, you can start building a global presence (and audience). This is especially important for small businesses that don’t necessarily have the budget to establish offices all around the world.
Customers can connect with you, even if you’ve never been in that country your entire life!
Look more professional
If you want your commercial enterprise to look bigger than it actually is, having a global phone number that suits your needs is a great way to start. Not only is it cheaper than other marketing efforts, it automatically makes you more accessible to your international customers.
Maintain your domestic customer service quality
If you've already started gaining traction on your international expansion, then this would allow you to maintain the customer service quality that you're able to provide locally. How responsive and consistent you are is part of your brand. The last thing you want to do is isolate anyone.
Expanding your market is an effective way to attract more sales. And with the right tools like a global phone number, you can do it the right way and sustain your success.
