Understanding Vanity Phone Numbers: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Obtain One

Small businesses should take advantage of every opportunity to stand out from their competition. Custom vanity phone numbers are a powerful tool that is worth considering.

They can improve brand recognition, strengthen marketing campaigns, and make it easier for current and potential customers to contact your business. It is also highly likely that they lead to conversions and are easy to set up.

Let's look at how you can ensure the best custom number for your brand and find some tips for choosing a provider that meets your business needs.

What is a custom phone number?

A vanity phone number is an easy-to-remember, customized phone number typically associated with a specific word, phrase, or numeric pattern related to a business or brand. It is a powerful tool for enhancing brand recall, strengthening marketing campaigns, and improving the customer experience.

Generally, custom phone numbers can be up to 10 characters, including numbers and letters. Famous examples of custom phone numbers include 1-800-FLOWERS and 1-800-CONTACTS.

Why do brands use custom numbers?

Custom phone numbers can be used in various ways to benefit your business:

Print marketing: Include your custom number on your business cards, brochures, vehicles, and marketing materials for easy access.

Outdoor advertising: Use your custom number on billboards, bus benches, and other outdoor advertising to drive traffic to your business.

Online marketing: Share your custom number across your website, social media platforms, and digital ads to make it easy for followers and potential customers to contact you.

Brands use a custom phone number for these tasks rather than a random string of digits for the following reasons:

Easier to remember

Custom numbers are more recognizable, easier to remember, and quicker to share than standard numbers. Memorable numbers stay in people’s minds, making them more likely to recall and choose your brand over your competitors’ brands.

According to one study, 72% of consumers remembered a custom phone number correctly after watching a 30-second ad, but only 5% correctly remembered a standard phone number after watching the same ad.

That may be why 58% of customers prefer custom numbers, as it helps them remember contact info without much effort.

Improves brand recognition

A catchy, relevant phrase or word aligned with your company, products, or services immediately catches people’s attention and tells them what your brand is about. For example, you know exactly what service 1-800-FLOWERS provides.

This brand messaging reinforces your brand identity, increases brand awareness, and helps distinguish your business from your competitors. It also strengthens your marketing outreach.

While local custom numbers resonate with customers in your hometown, toll-free custom numbers amplify your brand recognition nationwide.

Demonstrates professionalism

A clever custom phone number projects a professional, trustworthy, and well-established business image. It can legitimize your brand and position it as an authority and expert in the field.

Customers will appreciate that your company put the thought, time, and energy into making a phone number that’s easy and convenient for them.

Convenient for callers

Unlike a random string of digits, an easy-to-remember custom number simplifies the process of customers contacting your business, making it more convenient for them to do so.

Research shows that consumers are three to four times more willing to contact a company with a custom number. When more customers ring your line, you gain more opportunities to convert leads into customers.

Facilitates tracking marketing ROI

You can easily track custom numbers, providing insights into the effectiveness of different inbound marketing campaigns and the level of customer engagement. Online advertising stats show that ads with custom numbers outperform those with generic numbers by 33%.

It's flexible and transferable

Like virtual phone numbers, custom numbers are not tied to a fixed location or landline. They can be transferred between service providers.

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Integrates well with VoIP

Custom numbers are compatible with VoIP service providers, allowing your business to take advantage of advanced features such as call analytic s, auto attendant, call recording, call forwarding, and call routing.

How to choose a memorable custom number

Now it's time to put your creativity to the test! Follow these best practices for choosing a custom phone number for your business.

Play with easy patterns and rhymes

Catchy custom numbers often include memorable patterns or number repetition. An “easy dial” number has a pattern of repeating digits, such as 1-888-888-8888. So try to leverage repetition to make your number simple to recall and dial.

Rhythmic or rhyming patterns are even better. Incorporating one of these can be akin to a jingle that gets stuck in your head. Think 1-877-CALL-KEN or 1-833-SAVE-BEES.

Create a narrative connection

Some of the most effective custom numbers spell out words or phrases directly associated with a brand’s service or product. These create a narrative or image that’s easier for the human brain to store and recall than random numbers.

For example, a taxi service using 1-800-CAB-RIDE creates a mental image of the service provided.

To find word associations for your business, consider the following:

Be specific: Brainstorm as many words/phrases that clearly describe what your business does. Choose words that are easy to read when glanced at and even easier to spell when heard aloud. Don’t go for words with spelling variations (for example, read and red).

Avoid cliches and trendy phrases: Stick to classic or evergreen words/phrases rather than using new slang that will soon become outdated.

Perform market research: You don’t want your number to look similar to your competitors’ numbers.

Ensure marketing consistency

Businesses use their custom numbers across all marketing materials, creating a consistent point of contact. This repeated exposure in ads, on websites, and in physical marketing assets reinforces memory.

So, take a cue from your marketing materials to find a phrase that strongly correlates with your brand and your campaigns to motivate consumers to take action.

Choose a number that reflects your brand messaging and personality. For example, a spa may use something like 1-888-PAMPER-ME.

Choosing Your Custom Phone Number Provider

It’s never been easier for small business owners to get a customized phone number from a reputable custom phone number provider. Follow this game plan to secure yours:

Check the availability of the desired numbers

Most provider websites have an extensive database of available phone numbers. Enter your area code and prefix to see if your first choice is available. If not, you may receive a list of similar suggestions for new phone numbers.

It’s a good idea to have a list of words, phrases, and numbers as backup choices in case you’re not thrilled with the suggestions.

Compare pricing and fees

Compare the pricing structures of your top providers, including initial setup fees, monthly charges, add-on options, and any additional costs for premium features or services.

Consider a provider that offers flexible plans to suit your business’s current and future scaling needs without going over budget.

Confirm if there are any port-out or cancellation fees — consider that as part of the cost of a custom number, too.

Verify number portability

Porting is the ability to move your custom number to your new or existing business phone service. Verify that your provider allows you to keep your number even if you decide to switch services in the future. Bonus points if they help you seamlessly port the number out.