1300/1800 numbers for your business?

[keen]

Does anyone on the forum have one of these for there business. Or have info about these numbers? Im considering getting for my shop.....

[C4B]

We've had 1300 numbers for both the office and fax for the past ten years or so. They're basically just like an email alias, so the 1300 diverts to an existing number (can even be diverted to mobiles). They're cheap as, so I'm a little surprised more people don't have them.

Best of all, if you change your shop location down the track and can't keep the same number, it doesn't matter because the 1300 number is portable.

I believe you can setup the number to divert to different numbers at different times but we've never utilised that feature so I can't remember a lot about it, but I'm sure they mentioned that when we first got it setup.

[SirNemesis]

We have a 1300 number aswell. Another good benefit is that it gives the perception that your business might be bigger than it actually is, which is helpful.

[keen]

Ive been approched by a mob that sells these numbers and they want $10k for this number....

[Stevieboy34]

Ive been approched by a mob that sells these numbers and they want $10k for this number....


Thats not entirely correct. What someone would have approached you about is a number such as 1300 HOLDEN etc. These infact are worth a bit of money. Its my business actually. You can indeed get a 1300 or 1800 number for about $28 a month. If you want a number that represents your business come and talk to me :)

[Stevieboy34]

I should probably add the reason WHY you use a number like 1800 DOMINOES instead of 1800 366 466 is because its easier to remember. The easier, the more calls you get.:)

[Devil CV8]

Ive been approched by a mob that sells these numbers and they want $10k for this number.... sounds worse than those people who buy up number plates and resell them for big money.

goto http://www.smartnumbers.com.au/smartnumbers/action/viewHome

do a search on variation of what suits your business then buy it. It does end up in an auction, but will cost a lot less than $10k. The department I work for has picked upnumbers for the standard $500 initial outlay.

[Stevieboy34]

Yes you are right, though most generic quality numbers are long gone, owned by companies who know there value. They are not like numberplates though as numberplates have no "commerical" value. The dont bring you business like this can. Knowing you can always remember 13 CABS at 2am will see that company get your business...

If your an air conditioning number that owns 1300 AIRCON. You own the rights for that nationally, meaning no one else can have it. Hence the value.

To give you an example, the company I worked for bought 1300 HOMELOAN for $500 at auction, they sold it for 1.2 million less than 18months later because of the sheer advertising advantages in it and the fact its a billion dollar industry in Australia. It was bought by John Simons ex partner.

I have numbers that my company owns that I bought for not much, yet I lease them for $1000 a month.

Hope that helps, saying all that, if you can get a number like your business name if its obscure and untaken, it may work for you.

[Gee]

Hi Keen,

I'm mostly out of it now, but know this business back to front. PM me if you have any questions down the track. I can run my eyes over any deal you might like the look of and tell you how good it is.

If you're particularly thinking at the moment about the number itself (ie. not the ongoing costs, service provisioning, etc.) start with some searches over that site Devil CV8 listed - still a lot of good, memorable numbers left though many of the 'word' numbers have been purchased as mentioned.

[Ryzz]

Does anyone on the forum have one of these for there business. Or have info about these numbers? Im considering getting for my shop.....

Keen, what number are you looking at, 1300 STONER could be good if its still available :stick: :stick:

[keen]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I own a hydroponic outlet and the number being offered is 1300 HYDROPONIC. I just cant justify 10K on this number. It is the premium number for my industry tho. The bloke recons I can sub-lease the number to another shop in another state or all states if I wanted..?? He has now offered me 12mths to pay for it....still a lot of money tho for phone number.

[XLR8 V8]

still a lot of money tho for phone number.

Especially considering most of the skunk growers buying a hydroponic setup probably wouldn't know how to spell hydroponic to punch it into their phone :lol:

[redvxr8clubby]

They only need to know the first 6, (after the 1300) the rest do nothing.

[Ryzz]

Especially considering most of the skunk growers buying a hydroponic setup probably wouldn't know how to spell hydroponic to punch it into their phone :lol:

Maybe they need a voice dialing system "Hyrdo man"......"connecting you now, please wait.....ring ring" :rofl:

Sorry Josh, couldnt resist a friendly stab!

[CarCareProducts]

We have a 1300 number for both of our businesses and I have asked Mike's advice. He said it is a worth while tool if you are operating nation wide which makes perfect sense as it eliminates the area code segment of the number. He said he wouln’t bother for a small business operating locally.

One of the issues we have with our other 1300 number is that it us very close to a service number for AMP and Optus and we get a heap of wrong number calls from people to incompetent to remember the number or type it correctly.

[keen]

I have an online shop www.h2ohorticulture.com.au , if i was just a local retail outlet I wouldnt even consider this but my web site is starting to generate some sales, which are coming in from australia wide. The number would tie the whole lot together....

[CarCareProducts]

In that case I'd be doing it but you have to decide if the 10K number will provide a decent return or if your better off with just a generic 1300 number.

[Gee]

Like many of these numbers, I dont see the value for this one - certainly not for a new/small business. Albeit you might say this number was auctioned in the earlier days, it went for $500.

Dont get me wrong there's been wealth and an industry created around phone words but my involvement therein suggests the generic terms have quite narrow success / appeal.

Question: can you name a brand/business due to promotion of their 13, 1300 or 1800 number, ie. you weren't already aware of them

Opposed say to Dominos putting their already strong brand name in a number, for instance.

You plan on dominating the hydroponics supply market and having a strong online store and having outlets in every city and state and having a brand synonymous with hydroponics. The big 'and' is whether you also plan on a long and successful media campaign to make the connection between this business and 1300hydroponics ? Then it might be of great value down the track?

Small point - the number stops at 1300hydrop ... ive always thought its crap having a number any longer than say one digit than required. With a landline the call starts ringing while the person's still trying to spell the word ...

I guess one risk for some industries, particulary when everyone is smallish with no big players - is that if you dont take it a competitor grabs the best number and flogs the hell out it in the media and really gets a competitive advantage that way. Would take me back to the question above.

Particularly if you are gettin results from the web, drive your business there - would be 10K much better spent IMHO, google adwords etc. After all, if they are looking at your website they can easily get your number. Aside from the ever increasing power of the net, I think its also a product that you look into in some depth, not 'i need the first plumber, sparky, etc. that will come' scenario.

Anyway, I'm not a marketing guy so likely all wrong! just my impressions from the business.

Not to say that a good looking number doesnt also make you 'look good' ... PM sent.

[SSBarney]

I have numbers that my company owns that I bought for not much, yet I lease them for $1000 a month.

.

that probably points to the number being overpriced and good selling on your part. i have come across some of these numbers with fees of many thousands a month with teh claim that the number alone will make the business millions.

at the end of the day the number has to be marketed to be worth anything and the business behind the number has to be good at its service or all the catchy number will do is speed up the bad reputation.

u have to compare paying for the number with spending the same on a well targeted marketing campaign. if i see an ad for something i want, i will look up the number or write it down.

cheers
barney

[Wazza]

I personally dont think 10k for 1300 Hydroponics is worth it, if the store was something where people were likely to need to know the number off hand without looking it up (such as 13 cabs as mentioned) then I'd say go for it, but I think for what you're doing, a generic 1300 number would be a better solution.

[Stevieboy34]

Like many of these numbers, I dont see the value for this one - certainly not for a new/small business. Albeit you might say this number was auctioned in the earlier days, it went for $500.

Dont get me wrong there's been wealth and an industry created around phone words but my involvement therein suggests the generic terms have quite narrow success / appeal.

Question: can you name a brand/business due to promotion of their 13, 1300 or 1800 number, ie. you weren't already aware of them

Opposed say to Dominos putting their already strong brand name in a number, for instance.

You plan on dominating the hydroponics supply market and having a strong online store and having outlets in every city and state and having a brand synonymous with hydroponics. The big 'and' is whether you also plan on a long and successful media campaign to make the connection between this business and 1300hydroponics ? Then it might be of great value down the track?

Small point - the number stops at 1300hydrop ... ive always thought its crap having a number any longer than say one digit than required. With a landline the call starts ringing while the person's still trying to spell the word ...

I guess one risk for some industries, particulary when everyone is smallish with no big players - is that if you dont take it a competitor grabs the best number and flogs the hell out it in the media and really gets a competitive advantage that way. Would take me back to the question above.

Particularly if you are gettin results from the web, drive your business there - would be 10K much better spent IMHO, google adwords etc. After all, if they are looking at your website they can easily get your number. Aside from the ever increasing power of the net, I think its also a product that you look into in some depth, not 'i need the first plumber, sparky, etc. that will come' scenario.

Anyway, I'm not a marketing guy so likely all wrong! just my impressions from the business.

Not to say that a good looking number doesnt also make you 'look good' ... PM sent.

For a guy who says he is not a marketing guy you have made some really good points and I tend to agree wih a lot of what you have said. If you were to get a number like the one mentioned whilst is a fantastic number for your industry, you need to market it. Radio advertising (which I doubt you will do) is REALLY where these numbers come into there own. When someone hears a radio ad for a car dealership with a great deal, you want them to ring you first before going onto the web to look you up and finding 3 other dealers that may have the same deal, be closer to you etc etc.

Fact - I have had some clients use these on Radio and stats have shown increases of 10-12 times the response rates.

If I was you and its in the early stage of your business I would keep doing what your doing without he word, chances are if its still around now, there hasnt been any interest in it to date from your industry.

I also do not like really long ones like this. I would me more inclined to go something like 1300 MY HYDRO which will cost you $500.

Hope this information helps you guys, cheers.

P.S I have quite a lot of words in the trucking industry etc. Having 1300 Mach Truck on your mudflaps is cool, looks great in print and sounds great in radio, unless your advertising a lot, just leave it. For many small businesses 10k is there annual advertising budget. For some of my customers its 1million+.

[HSVREDSLED]

What about 1800MUNCHIES?

[SSBarney]

I personally dont think 10k for 1300 Hydroponics is worth it, if the store was something where people were likely to need to know the number off hand without looking it up (such as 13 cabs as mentioned) then I'd say go for it, but I think for what you're doing, a generic 1300 number would be a better solution.

1300drugs, well maybe!
otherwise its probably the seller of the number who is the dealer!