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Emily is a retail, eCommerce and small business expert and writer. Her work helps small business owners find the tools and resources they need to start and manage their brick-and-mortar and online businesses.
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Emily is a retail, eCommerce and small business expert and writer. Her work helps small business owners find the tools and resources they need to start and manage their brick-and-mortar and online businesses.
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Mimi PolnerContributor
Emily is a retail, eCommerce and small business expert and writer. Her work helps small business owners find the tools and resources they need to start and manage their brick-and-mortar and online businesses.
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Mimi PolnerContributor
Emily is a retail, eCommerce and small business expert and writer. Her work helps small business owners find the tools and resources they need to start and manage their brick-and-mortar and online businesses.
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Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of...
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Rob WattsManaging Editor, SMB
With over a decade of editorial experience, Rob Watts breaks down complex topics for small businesses that want to grow and succeed. His work has been featured in outlets such as Keypoint Intelligence, FitSmallBusiness and PCMag.
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Rob WattsManaging Editor, SMB
With over a decade of editorial experience, Rob Watts breaks down complex topics for small businesses that want to grow and succeed. His work has been featured in outlets such as Keypoint Intelligence, FitSmallBusiness and PCMag.
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Rob Watts
Rob WattsManaging Editor, SMB
With over a decade of editorial experience, Rob Watts breaks down complex topics for small businesses that want to grow and succeed. His work has been featured in outlets such as Keypoint Intelligence, FitSmallBusiness and PCMag.
See Full Bio
Rob WattsManaging Editor, SMB
With over a decade of editorial experience, Rob Watts breaks down complex topics for small businesses that want to grow and succeed. His work has been featured in outlets such as Keypoint Intelligence, FitSmallBusiness and PCMag.
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Updated: May 29, 2024, 10:12pm
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Table of Contents
- Vanity Numbers Defined
- Benefits of Vanity Numbers
- How Much Does a Vanity Number Cost?
- Vanity Number Best Practices
- Frequently Asked Questions
Show more
If there’s a company phone number and catchy jingle that you can’t seem to forget, then you already understand the power of vanity numbers. Vanity numbers are phone numbers that use recognizable patterns of numbers or letters, ideally to help customers easily remember them.
If you’re not sure if you want to get a vanity phone number for your business, we can help you make a more informed decision.
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Vanity Numbers Defined
Vanity numbers are phone numbers that typically spell out a word or a phrase. Famous examples include 1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-CONTACTS. Instead of requiring customers to look up or memorize a seemingly random set of numbers, they can recall the number easily and use the corresponding letters on a phone’s alphanumeric buttons to dial quickly.
Vanity numbers do not necessarily have to be seven digits long, as is the case with both 1-877-KARS-4-KIDS and 1-800-PROGRESSIVE. There are two main types of vanity numbers: toll-free and local.
Toll-Free Vanity Numbers
With a toll-free number, a customer does not get charged for placing the call, hence the “toll-free.” This expense instead falls on the business. Toll-free numbers are a great option if you currently serve or plan to serve a national customer base.
Common toll-free number prefixes include 800, 877 and 866.
Local Vanity Numbers
Vanity numbers can also have local prefixes like 212 or 310. With a local number, customers may have the onus of paying for the call, depending on where they dial in from or what phone provider they use.
If your business is focused on serving a specific area, this might be a better option because it builds trust and familiarity.
Benefits of Vanity Numbers
Vanity numbers have several key benefits over non-vanity numbers and can, in many cases, be a smart, long-term investment for your business.
Easy To Remember
Vanity numbers are easier to remember than regular numbers. Customers may be more likely to remember and, therefore, call your business rather than your competitors if your phone number is easier for them to recall.
Generate Brand Awareness
Your vanity number will lend itself to marketing and branding initiatives. Your number can be a prominent feature in your ad campaigns and can let customers get to know you at a fast pace.
Easier To Expand Nationally
With a toll-free vanity number, expanding your presence nationally is less cumbersome. You can quickly get customers familiar with your brand and cast a wider net than you would with a non-memorable, local number.
How Much Does a Vanity Number Cost?
Vanity numbers vary in cost, depending on the following:
- The provider you choose
- The phone plan you need
- The type of number (toll-free or local)
- The area code you want
With these variables in mind, vanity numbers can be as low as $10 per month or as high as $100 per month. Phone providers often charge initial setup fees for vanity numbers. These fees can range from $15 to $100. Many of the best VoIP phone services on the market will allow you to set up a vanity number as part of your plan.
Vanity Number Best Practices
When selecting your vanity number, here are a few of the most important things to keep in mind.
- Try to keep it to seven numbers. Vanity numbers can actually exceed the standard seven-letter limit that most phone numbers are held to, but the shorter, the better. Try not to exceed seven if you can help it.
- Have some backup options. There’s always a chance that the number you want is already in use. For this reason, try to have a few different options in mind so that you can still get a number that you love.
- Choose words that are easy to spell. A vanity number needs to be easy to remember, and it also needs to be easy to spell. If your business uses a last name or made-up name that may be easily misspelled, opt for an abbreviation, call-to-action or repeating number sequence like 555-5555 for your vanity number.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a vanity number be?
Most phone numbers are seven digits long without the country and area code. Vanity numbers can technically be longer than seven digits, but everything entered after the seventh digit is purely for mnemonic and branding purposes.
For example, Progressive’s vanity number is 1-800-PROGRESSIVE. This translates to 1-800-776-4737. Adding the last four letters in PROGRESSIVE actually makes no difference when you dial.
How can I get a vanity number?
You can get a vanity number from many phone service providers, including VoIP providers.
Can I see if someone already owns the vanity number I want?
You can always use Yellow Pages to reverse lookup a phone number. If you don’t see that the number you want is taken, your chosen phone provider will confirm whether it’s available when you attempt to set up your vanity number.
How can I get a free U.S. phone number?
Most of these services provide free U.S. phone numbers (except iNum provides international phone numbers if you need them). Having a phone number with a local area code can help you establish a presence in your chosen market.
Are vanity numbers worth it?
Vanity numbers are certainly easier to recall than regular phone numbers. If your customers are more likely to remember your number, they’ll also be more likely to call your business instead of your competitors.
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