Page 126 - 597 Business Ideas You can Start from Home - doing what you LOVE! (Beginner Internet Marketing Series)

1 1 8 Your Idea, Inc.

A Dedicated Phone Line

Set up a designated phone line for the business under the busi­
ness name. Try to get a number that ends in "000" or "00" if pos­
sible-these seem more "commercial" than residential. When you
are getting the new number, ask the phone company representative
to search for available numbers with those criteria. If your company
name has a number in it, try to work the phone number around
those particular digits to make it easy for customers to remember.

A Toll-Free Number

When you order something from a big business, they always have
a toll-free number so the consumer doesn't pay for the call to buy
or even inquire about the product. Consumers expect to see an 800
number (or now, sometimes 866 or 877 and other varieties) when
they call to order something. You don't want your customers to have
any reason not to order your product, so give them a free call.

The business division of your phone carrier will provide you
with a toll-free number. It is linked to your local number, but you
never have to give your local number out to consumers , just the toll­
free number. As with the local number, try to get a toll-free number
that is easy for your customers to remember. It's a great advertising
tool, too. For example, 1-800-MET-UFE.

Give a few minutes of thought about what words you may want
to get for your toll-free number. There is a nominal monthly fee, and
you do have to pay for the calls from your customers.

A Fax Number

If you don't want to add another phone line to your home for a
separate fax machine, you can fax electronically. You pay a company
a monthly fee for a certain number, and beyond that you will have to
pay per fax. You are issued a local phone number for people to use as

your fax number. The company eFax (www.efax.com) is one to try.