Vanity Phone Number – Meaning, Benefits, & How to Get One?

Senior Writer: Supriya Bajaj

Published : May 30, 2023

A vanity number is an identifiable string combination of digits or letters intended to stick in the callers’ minds. Vanity phone numbers for businesses improve marketing campaigns, increase brand recognition, and streamline consumer engagement.

In case your business is unsure about getting a vanity phone number, we can assist you in making an informed decision.

What is a Vanity Number?

Vanity Phone Number Example A vanity phone number is a custom phone number that uses keypad letters on a standard 12-button phone to spell out a specific word or phrase. It allows companies to establish lasting toll-free numbers, like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-800-GoFedEx, which improves customers’ ability to remember and get in touch with them.

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These custom phone numbers are available with 800, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888 and other toll-free prefix numbers. Being linked to a specific word, phrase, or pattern connected with a brand, they are an effective strategy for enhancing marketing efforts, boosting brand memory and identity, and improving the consumer experience.

Expert Advice

When choosing a vanity phone number, focus on finding a catchy and memorable combination that aligns with your brand. Consider using common phrases or keywords related to your business to enhance recall and recognition.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Vanity Phone Numbers For Businesses?

Vanity phone numbers follow a specific alphanumeric pattern unique to businesses that portray the business’ core purpose. This feature of a vanity phone number carries a series of benefits. Here are some major ones you’d be excited to know:

1. Easy To Remember

Vanity numbers are easier to remember than regular phone numbers. If customers can easily remember your phone number, they are more likely to remember and call your company instead of someone else’s. Remarkable figures leave a lasting impression on customers, raising the possibility that they will select your business above rivals.

2. Seamless Customer Service

Employers can give various vanity numbers to different services or goods that the organization sells. It establishes clear expectations for customers dialing a certain number and helps them rapidly determine which number connects them to the proper support for effective issue resolution.

Businesses can designate different vanity numbers for orders pertaining to payments and another for product orders. Customers can then select the right number for their questions with ease, improving their overall satisfaction and the customer support experience.

3. Strong Brand Recognition And Recall

A custom vanity number can improve your marketing and branding efforts. It makes your phone number easier to remember and helps clients get to know your company more quickly. Providing toll-free calls fosters consumer confidence and maintains a consistent brand image. A catchy phrase or word associated with your business, goods, or services grabs attention right away and conveys the spirit of your brand.

The vanity numbers for business distinguish your company from the competition, increase awareness, and strengthen your brand identification. It extends the reach of your marketing.

4. Enhanced Flexibility And Security

Compared to using a local number, a toll-free vanity number streamlines national expansion, reaching a larger audience. Advanced features like multi-factor authentication, secure voice calling, and compliance with GDPR and PCI standards protect the company and clients from possible threats like ransomware and porting-out scams.

Vanity numbers, like virtual phone numbers, are transferable between service providers and aren’t tied to a particular place.

5. Improved ROI Tracking

Businesses can get a clear picture of the impact of various inbound marketing activities and the level of consumer involvement by keeping track of vanity numbers. Easy implementation saves time and effort, and low initial costs increase return on investment. Lowering labor expenses is another benefit of using a vanity number provider.

How to Get a Vanity Phone Number?

Vanity numbers are readily available to purchase from a business phone system provider or a Responsible Organization (RespOrg). A RespOrg is an entity that manages, ports, assigns, and maintains toll-free phone numbers with the help of the Toll-Free Number Registry–a database of all the existing toll-free numbers.

RespOrg can only assign numbers. The Federal Communications Commission regulates the purchase and use of toll-free numbers.  Here are 4 steps to get a memorable vanity phone number:

Step 1: Select A Suitable Vanity Number Provider

Getting a toll-free number or local vanity number starts with choosing a reliable carrier that sells you unique, unclaimed local or toll-free phone numbers and not an existing one. In case you buy or sell an existing number (number brokering), you can land in trouble for going against FCC regulations. Here are your green flags of authentic and trusted vanity number provider:

• Multiple number prefix options
• Offers a choice between local phone numbers and toll-free vanity numbers
• Holds a RespOrg certification proving its reliability
• Offers various features and pricing options to choose from
• Has its security measures sorted

Step 2: Prepare a List Of Potential Phone Numbers 

Sticking to a specific toll-free vanity number you’d like to buy will lead to time drainage as there are more chances for it to be already claimed. So, it’s wise to have a list of toll-free numbers combining different keywords, phrases, and number prefixes so you can choose the available one.

If you are a medium or large business, you can consider buying different numbers for different marketing campaigns/departments/services/locations.

Here are some pointers to remember while preparing this list:

• Choose words with zero spelling variations to avoid confusion
• Ensure that the phrases you include are unique, have repeating digits, and portray your business’s purpose clearly to establish a strong image
• Do not prefer trendy words as they’d go off-market

Step 3. Check Your Desired Number’s Availability

Preparing the list of your preferred local vanity numbers doesn’t mean you’ll get that number, as it might already be claimed. Businesses must check the preferred number’s availability on the number database search tool of the selected provider’s website.

When you enter your preferred number, it searches for it in the existing number database and notifies you whether a certain number is available.

Step 4: Claim Your Business Vanity Number 

Once your business has found an available and preferred vanity number, it’s time to make the payment and claim it. After your payment is completed, the vanity number is yours. But you can start using it only after activation.

Note: Activation of vanity numbers may take 24 to 48 hours or longer; it varies with providers.

Top 5 Best Vanity Phone Number Provider For Your Business

Multiple vanity phone number providers are present in the market, but not all will suit your requirements. So, you must choose the one with high-utility features complementing your business needs and satisfactory customer reviews. Here’s a list of the 5 best vanity phone number providers you can choose from:

1. Phone.com

Phone.com Phone.com, the best phone system provider, offers multiple custom numbers for a one-time fee. It has 50+ VoIP features to offer without the complications of popular UCaaS providers.

Businesses can access Phone.com with any device: desktop/app/mobile/analog phones.

Features

• Online voice transmission
• SIP trunking
• Meeting room branding
• Voicemail transcription

Pricing

• Basic: $11.99/user/month
• Plus: $15/user/month
• Pro: $23.99/user/month

2. MightyCall

MightyCall is a virtual phone system provider designed for small businesses. It allows you to port your existing vanity number with no extra cost and lets you choose a similar vanity number with similar phrases when your desired one is unavailable.

Features

• Hold music and custom greetings
• VIP and block list call routing
• Call waiting
• Performance indicator analytics

Pricing

• Business: $15/user/month
• Enterprise: $150/month

 3. UniTel Voice

UniTel Voice UniTel, a vanity phone numbers provider, empowers business owners to establish a professional image, stop missing business calls, and run their companies from anywhere. With UniTel, you can expect high-utility features that require no tech skills.

Features

• Dial-by-name directory
• Call blasting
• Inbound calls forwarding and transferring
• Voicemail and faxing

Pricing

• Start-Up: $9.99/month
• Unlimited: $24.99/month
• Office: $29.99/month
• Office-Plus: $49.99/month

Recommended Read: : How to Get a Custom Phone Number? [Top 10 Providers]

4. 800.com

800.com is a vanity number service provider providing businesses with 800 vanity numbers and basic calling features. Its easy setup keeps your corporate number up and running in minutes. With its high utility features, you can expect to increase call volumes and conversion rates.

Features

• Call notes
• Sequential call forwarding
• Call routing
• Auto attendant

Pricing

• Pro Yearly: $127/user
• Unlimited Yearly: $64/user
• Personal Yearly: $25/user

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is the best phone system and a virtual phone number provider for small businesses that lets you stand apart from competitors with memorable phone numbers. With Grasshopper, all you need to do is pick a number and plan to get started with your new vanity number.

Features

• Voicemail transcription
• Unlimited VoIP/WiFi calling
• Call screening
• Call routing

Pricing

• Solo: $28/month
• Partner: $46/month
• Small business plan: $80/month

Wrapping Up

A vanity number is an easy-dial phone number that can include your brand name, purpose, or other words related to your business. These numbers might seem costly, but only if you buy them from standalone service providers. This is not the scenario with business phone system providers.

To choose the most suitable business phone number provider, see whether your preferred number and relevant features are available. Don’t forget to gauge whether the provider’s cost justifies the value they provide. Buy a vanity number today and experience its magic!

Suggested Read: : How to Get a Business Phone Number Free?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Vanity 800 numbers?

Vanity 800 numbers are toll-free phone numbers that spell out a specific word or phrase related to a business, making it memorable and easier for customers to contact the company.

2. What is the purpose of a vanity phone number?

A vanity phone number is designed to be memorable and easy to recall, helping businesses enhance their branding and marketing efforts while increasing customer engagement and inbound call tracking.

3. How many types of vanity phone numbers are there?

There are two types of vanity phone numbers: toll-free and local vanity phone numbers.

Updated : June 25, 2024

Supriya Bajaj

Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.

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