For businesses, specialty 800 numbers (also known as vanity numbers) are the absolute best kind of phone numbers one could associate with an enterprise because it delivers a one-two punch that effectively brings in customers. Apart from being tollfree, these numbers also offer you the benefit of being extremely memorable by integrating a letter system into your telephone number. As most people find it easier to remember words instead of numbers, this is a great way to help them recall how to contact you by phone.

But as useful as a specialty number is, its success still depends on customer behavior. In other words, it’s perfectly possible that your vanity number will not work out for you if your market finds it difficult to associate the number with you. You can’t just get a specialty number, put it on some flyers and a couple of billboards, and expect to get results. There are still some issues you might have to face. For example:

The word or phrase you used isn’t what your market associates with you

If you’re a fairly established enterprise that already garnered a following, chances are good that you have a particular reputation among customers. Before you choose a specialty number for yourself, make sure that it’s something the market associates with you. For example, if you’ve cultivated a specific persona that’s an expert on a particular topic like VoIP, the best vanity number for you is 1-800-VOIPMAN. Going for 1-800-VOIPFAQ, might work, but not as well as you’d hope.

The word or phrase you used may be too general for the market

While it may not be wise to apply something as specific as your company name to your specialty number when your company name isn’t well known yet, it’s still a smart move to use a vanity number that targets a specific audience. For example, using 1-800-USBLOOM, implies that the focus of your flower business is on on serving customers based in the US.

Talk to your phone service provider to see if your specialty number can be even more specialized.