One of the best investments you can make in building your website is adding a toll free number. "Why do I need a toll free number if my site is ecommerce-enabled," you ask? Because some of your customers are still not comfortable using credit cards online and they use your site as a catalog instead. There are some Internet users that will utilize all the functions of your site - search features, recommendations, size and color charts, etc. - but not your shopping cart. They would prefer giving their order over the phone to a live person who (they think) can be entrusted with their credit card numbers.
Getting a toll free number is relatively simple. You''ll have to check with your local telephone service to see if you have a choice of carriers or if they can offer you a special deal when adding a toll free number to your current menu of services.
There are some communication companies cropping up that deal exclusively in toll free numbers and you should investigate if their services would be applicable for your needs. Make sure the company you choose is reputable and they have a good record of service.
If you do have the opportunity to choose between several providers, here are some questions you should ask and get the respective costs:
- Do I need an additional phone line or can the service be used on my existing line?
- Can I keep my current carrier for local and/or long distance service?
- Is there a set-up charge?
- Is there a monthly charge whether I get calls or not?
- Is the service billed by the minute or by increments of a minute?
- Can I get a number that spells something related to my business?
Once you get your toll free number set up, make sure it''s displayed prominently on your site and included on your printed collateral material. The number should be answered by a live person as often as possible but if you have to utilize voice-mail, check it frequently and call back right away. If your response time is not quick, it will defeat the purpose of having the toll free number.
If you''d like to read some more about the growing security concerns that Internet consumers have, click here: E-commerce Security Threats Are Legion
IE 7
Firefox 2.0
