How a business phone number impacts your brand reputation.

There’s nothing more important in business than your reputation. A strong reputation will attract customers and boost sales. You’ll stand out in a crowded marketplace and have an excellent foundation for long-term success.

However, a brand reputation is fragile. As Ben Franklin said, “It takes many good deeds to build a reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” 

It’s not just about building a strong reputation; it’s about maintaining it. 

The cost of a damaged reputation

Damaging your reputation can be significant for your business – often 3x more intense than if something positive occurs. A negative reputation can lead to: 

• Lower revenue
• Loss of customer confidence
• Potentially irreparable brand damage 

90% of consumers have admitted they won’t use a business with a poor reputation, and 87% will even reverse a purchase decision after realizing a brand’s negative reputation.

The power of a business phone number

Building and maintaining a positive brand reputation is a top priority for company leaders. Yet, half of business decision-makers express concerns about their ability to manage it effectively.

If you’re unsure where to start, look no further than your company’s phone number. 

Having a dedicated business number instantly makes your brand look more professional and trustworthy. It also increases the odds of you connecting with consumers rather than being reported as a ‘spam risk.’

Below, we’ll uncover three key ways a business phone number can help you build and maintain a solid brand reputation.

1. Establish professionalism

By investing in a dedicated business phone number, you’re separating personal and company communications. 

From a professional standpoint, business phone lines help reinforce the legitimacy of your company. It shows you’re reachable during regular working hours, making customers confident that someone is available and ready to answer their calls.

Improved first impressions

First impressions are everything for a brand. Consumers make snap judgements, and a mobile contact number could make your company appear new and inexperienced. A professional landline, on the other hand, helps potential customers see you as an established business. 

With only seven seconds to make a good first impression, you also need to consider the greeting you use when answering calls on behalf of the business. 

Rather than simply answering calls with, “Hello?” as you would on a personal phone, you can greet customers with, “Thank you for calling [your business name], how can I assist you today?”. 

Answering calls with a proper greeting helps provide a polished customer experience. It also confirms to customers that they’ve reached the right business.

Reliable communication

Clear call management and smooth customer service are vital for your brand reputation, and a business phone line can help solidify this. 

Business phone numbers have helpful features if you’re unavailable or out of the office, such as: 

• Auto attendants
• Call forwarding
• Voicemail
• Call recording
• Call transfer

Making the most of these features can improve your brand’s reputation, giving you peace of mind that every business inquiry is handled professionally and answered in an appropriate location.

What are the dangers of using a personal number for your business?

If you don’t invest in a professional phone number, it can send a message that you’re not fully committed to the business. You can appear less accessible and dependable than competitors with dedicated lines.

Customers who reach a business via a personal phone line are more likely to encounter an informal or unprepared response. 

A busy environment with background noise won’t reflect the level of professionalism the caller expects, especially if they can’t hear or communicate properly with you. The caller will become frustrated and question the reliability and seriousness of your business. 

If this happens, you’ll have to work harder to overcome a negative first impression and rebuild trust.

Customers aside, using a personal line instead of a business phone number makes maintaining a healthy work-life balance difficult. Setting clear boundaries with your customers, vendors, and partners could become a daily challenge.

Looking for a professional business number?

2. Business phone numbers build trust and credibility

Did you know there’s a 3.2x increase in trust when a brand’s reputation score goes from average to excellent? A professional phone number allows customers to develop that trust by having a direct way to communicate with your business. 

If prospects and customers have a good experience on the phone, they’re more likely to trust your brand with their business again and again. 

Giving customers what they want

The world moves quickly, and new forms of communication are constantly appearing. As a result, you might think a phone number is unimportant compared to more modern communication methods like: 

• Chatbots
• Social media replies
• Live chat 
• WhatsApp Business

However, phone calls are not leaving anytime soon. 

Phone support is one of the oldest forms of assistance, and 76% of consumers still prefer it. On top of that, nearly 60% of customer care leaders said they expect call volumes to increase by as much as one-fifth over the next few years. 

That’s because people trust people, especially when buying a product or service. 

The value of real people answering

Having a live person answering calls on a business landline means callers receive the information they need from a voice they can trust. This personal touch shows there are real people behind your brand and instantly adds a layer of credibility to your business.

Human interaction matters today and in the future. More than 80% of US consumers have said they’ll want to interact more with a real person as technology advances.

A dedicated business phone number with professional call agents will build trust among potential customers. This trust helps first-time buyers become loyal customers and encourages them to refer family and friends. 

Accessibility

A business phone line reassures customers that you’re contactable and accessible. However, if the line rings out and they can’t reach you, they may feel like they don’t matter or that your business can’t fix their problems. 

Remember, a business phone number is only as good as the people waiting to answer. That’s why many brands instruct the help of a dedicated answering team to manage their business phone line. 

Owner of S.E.A.L. Systems, Scott Immerman, recognized that “new clients don’t always give you a second chance if you don’t answer the phone.”

After partnering with AnswerConnect, the technical consulting company found clients now comment on how quickly and efficiently their concerns are handled. Agents answer their calls 24/7/365 and address their concerns to ensure an exceptional customer experience.

More than half of costumers believe businesses should offer 24/7 customer support to meet expectations. Having an ‘always open’ business line can enhance your image as a reputable company and help you remain competitive with others in your industry.

Increases call answer rate

When making outbound calls, a business phone number increases your chances of a prospect answering. 

If your business has a solid reputation, seeing your company name on caller ID may entice a prospect to answer. Even without caller ID, a business number is much easier to find online and can quickly reassure prospects that you’re a real company. 

However, if your business calls come from a personal line, the number will likely not be recognized. In fact almost 80% of consumers will choose to ignore a call from a personal phone number, which could have detrimental consequences for your business.

Willingness to spend more

Trust can also lead to a more profitable future for your business. 

In 2024, consumers were willing to spend 51% more with a brand they trust. Customers see the value in working with a reliable company and are eager to choose your product or service over a cheaper alternative.

Brand trust is what drives positive reviews and reinforces a positive reputation. By choosing a business phone number over a personal line, you can make sure customers feel confident in your business. 

Better security

Security and reliability improve when you use a business phone line. 

Business phone number providers have advanced security and privacy measures to protect against: 

• Cyberattacks
• Data theft
• Unauthorized access
• And more!

Most hold necessary compliance certifications, which help ensure your business communications are dependable and safe.

From a consumer standpoint, this added peace of mind further improves your business’s trustworthiness. Callers may be more comfortable sharing sensitive data because they know their data is protected.

Find out how businesses are enhancing their reputation with AnswerConnect:

3. Enhance your customer experience

You risk losing business when you have poor customer experience. After all, one in three customers will walk away from a brand after just one bad experience.

Using a personal mobile number for your business can leave customers uncertain whether their call will be directed to the appropriate person or even answered at all.

Instant connection

Prospects aren’t willing to wait around – they want timely responses. 90% of customers value an immediate response as ‘important’ or ‘very important’ when it comes to a customer support issue. 

Fast responses matter if you want to acheive a positive customer experience. And three-quarters of customers believe they’ll get the quickest response by calling a business. 

Giving customers a dedicated business phone number gives them that direct route to speak with someone immediately. 

It’s also what keeps customers coming back. Consumers are said to be 2.4x more likely to stay when companies solve problems quickly. 

Efficient customer service communication isn’t just important for the customer – it’s a top priority for many business leaders, too. 

Take Interview2Work, for instance. 

Interview2Work helps job seekers prepare for interviews. Naturally, the company’s clients typically feel worried or nervous about their job search. That’s why connecting immediately with a supportive voice is crucial when they phone the business.

Through a partnership with AnswerConnect, Interview2Work can meet those expectations. Each caller now easily connects with a live person who always displays exceptional professionalism.

Having easy and quick access to support helps boost customers’ loyalty to a brand and encourages them to share their positive experiences with others.

Data and insights

In addition to prioritizing responsiveness in customer service, a business phone number can drive improvements for the future. 

A business line lets you track and analyze call data. You gain valuable insights into:

• Customer behavior
• Effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Sales performance
• And much more!

Data-driven decisions then let you refine your processes, optimize marketing strategies, and continually enhance the caller experience.

Strengthen brand identity

To build long-term relationships with your customers, you need a strong brand that people will remember. It goes beyond creating a name and logo – you must consider your company’s voice, tone, and interaction style.

Creating a solid brand identity also means consistency in marketing and messaging, including phone communication. That way, every caller has a similar experience, regardless of who they speak to.

Your business phone number can help create a cohesive brand identity by:

Using a vanity number

Incorporating your company name, slogan, or specific keyword into the number – also known as a vanity number – enhances brand recall and makes it easier for customers to remember your business. 

Imagine a local taxi company using the number 1-800-TAXICAB. It makes sense for the type of business and customers can easily remember it. In fact, vanity phone numbers are said to be up to 13x more memorable than traditional phone numbers. 

Advertising with a vanity number has its benefits, too. Companies can expect an advertisement with a vanity number to outperform ads with normal business numbers by 33%. 

Using a customized phone greeting for incoming calls and voicemails

Customized greetings help you maintain uniformity while providing the best possible customer experience. 

After recording specific audio and setting the timing and conditions, your greeting will play when a call comes in. These greetings highlight your professionalism while preventing the need for staff to deliver the same information to callers continuously.

Setting up a custom call flow

With a properly designed call flow, callers automatically connect with the most appropriate contact for a quick resolution. 

Call flows reduce caller frustration by minimizing long hold times, incorrect transfers, and the experience of being trapped in automated menus. They include interactive voice responses (IVRs) that guide callers to select options from the numeric dial pad, all while delivering uniform brand information.

Forwarding business calls to a live receptionist

When you partner with a 24/7 professional answering service, you’ll have customized scripts that live agents use when handling your calls. 

It means your callers receive consistent information whether they’re speaking with a remote agent or a member of your team. You’ll continue strengthening your company’s brand without sacrificing in-house time or resources.

How to get a business phone number

Before getting a business phone number, you should consider:

• The type of phone number you want (local, toll-free, vanity, or international)
• The features and services you require, such as call forwarding and advanced call management
• Your business’s requirements, customer base, and the presence you want to create
• The reputations of telecommunications service providers

Many providers offer subscription packages tailored to your expected call volume, preferred features, and budget. Some even offer a free trial account so you can test the platform and see if it’s the right fit before committing.

Companies interested in using a professional answering service like AnswerConnect can try a free business phone number. This unique number is either chosen by you or assigned (with your business’s local area code) and lets you communicate with customers through calls and texts.

Enjoying the benefits of a free business phone number requires actively promoting it to your customers. Be sure to include the new number across:

• Marketing materials
• Social media accounts
• Printed materials (like receipts)
• Business directories

The importance of a business phone number: Roundup

Providing fantastic customer experiences requires an omnichannel approach that includes a business phone number. And when you deliver positive customer service, 92% of costumers will return in the future.

Though sometimes subtle, a business phone number’s impact can be significant. 

Firstly, it adds professionalism and trust so customers feel more confident when engaging with your brand. Secondly, it reinforces your brand identity by providing customers with a reliable way to reach you. Finally, a business phone line shows you prioritize accessibility, human connection, and real communication for your customer base. 

Try AnswerConnect’s business phone solution today: