Olivia Maier
We wanted to give you the rundown on what you can expect to learn from us today. We are going to start by looking at what a virtual phone number even is, and the benefits you can expect. From there, we’ll look into the following virtual phone number providers, and give you our thoughts on them:
Then to give you a complete guide on everything you need to know before getting a virtual phone number, we will give you a glimpse at how you can set up and implement a virtual phone number.
We want to leave you feeling ready to make the best decision for your business, fully equipped with the information you need to know about virtual phone numbers.
A virtual phone number is simply a phone number that is attached to a virtual phone system. A virtual phone system takes advantage of cloud technology to help your business avoid pesky landline systems, and having an overwhelming amount of on-site hardware. With a virtual phone number, you are able to make and receive calls over the internet.
Oh, and did we mention, you aren’t tied down to one location? That’s right, once you ditch your landline you are able to access increased flexibility and mobility as you can access your business phone number from a variety of devices and locations. You can use smartphones, tablets, computers, and more to make and receive calls from your business phone number.
Once you have signed up for a virtual phone service, you can select your virtual business phone number to enable both incoming and outgoing calls. When you are setting up your virtual phone system, you will probably see a wide variety of business phone number options. This might include international phone numbers, local numbers, toll-free numbers, and more. These are all different types of virtual phone numbers, and just like a traditional phone number, the best option for your business will depend on your unique needs.
The best part about a virtual phone number is that you are no longer restricted by the phone number area code you and your business may be physically located in.
For example, say you are a small business with a single location in Canada. You’ve worked hard to build up your e-commerce side of the business, and even offer global shipping. If you have specific target markets for your now global business, it makes sense to offer a local number for those customers.
With a virtual phone number, you can still be based entirely in Canada, but provide a local area code for customers all over the globe. This can help encourage business in those markets, as they will have an easy way to contact your business without having to worry about international phone charges.
We gave you just one example of when a virtual phone number could make sense for your business, but there are so many other use cases. You may be an entirely domestic business, but want to offer area codes for different cities in your region or country. You may have offices and staff located around the globe, and want to provide your team with phone numbers that make sense for where they are located. Regardless of your use case, there are certainly many benefits that you could receive from a virtual phone number.
The benefits of a virtual phone number:
Cost transparency:
You can often find the perfect phone number for your business at the right price, with options such as toll-free and international numbers. Virtual phone number providers often make it easy to know exactly what you are paying for with each number option.
Business presence:
Whether you are looking to expand into new markets, connect with local callers, or provide multiple locations with the appropriate number, you can instantly expand your business presence with a virtual number.
Consistency:
If you have a team, such as caller support, split amongst locations having a single phone number can help your callers and customers avoid confusion by having one consistent number to call.
Like we said, the most common way to get a virtual phone number is to take advantage of a virtual phone service, which could come with its own set of benefits.
The benefits of a virtual phone service:
Virtual phone services are all able to offer the following benefits in varying degrees:
Decreased telecommunication costs:
Cut the cord, and costs, of a traditional landline phone. When you go with a hosted VoIP solution, the overhead costs associated with a phone system are no longer your responsibility. Instead you can simply look to your virtual phone system provider to supply you with affordable phone communication.
Secure lines:
Look to phone systems that are GDPR compliant to access a virtual phone number that meets call security requirements. These requirements are some of the strictest and most up to date with current technology risks, and can give you and your callers peace of mind.
Clear call quality:
Virtual phone providers can work with trusted local carriers in order to give you access to the best possible call quality. All you need on your end is to have a stable internet connection, and the rest is taken care of for you.
Smart integrations:
If you love your CRM, live in Slack, or have another business tool your team relies on, it just makes sense to connect it to your business phone solution.
Increase efficiency:
Efficiency is just one of the benefits when your team is able to avoid unnecessary distractions, better prepare for phone calls, and take calls on the go.
We wanted to break down 5 different virtual phone number providers, so you can understand the differences between them.
Yodel
Yodel is a cloud-based phone system that gives your business access to everything it needs to have a robust phone system.
With options for number porting, local, international, and toll-free numbers, you are able to find the perfect virtual phone number for your business.
This means that the area code of your phone isn’t restricted to your local zoning. Yodel offers hundreds of area codes and countries to choose from, which includes countries such as:
And so many more! When you make any of your outgoing phone calls, your virtual phone number will be displayed to your customers. Yodel offers two pricing options, Premium and Premium Plus, which both allow for additional phone numbers. That means that you don’t have to worry about activating multiple accounts just to take advantage of multiple virtual phone numbers.
You can get started with a 14 day free trial, during which you can access your virtual phone number as well as a suite of other robust features. You can even schedule a demo call to get a hands on demonstration on how to take advantage of your virtual number and Yodel trial period.
Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that can give you access to a variety of number types.
Grasshopper let’s you choose from toll-free, vanity, or local phone number. They are able to port your existing business phone number, if you’d like to keep the number you are already using. Grasshopper allows you to add multiple numbers, which can include combinations such as a toll free number and a local number. Grasshopper doesn’t have any specific information regarding international phone numbers
You can get started today with a free 7 day trial. Your Grasshopper free trial will let you get started with a virtual number such as either a toll free number or a local number.
Google Voice
If you are already taking advantage of Google apps, Google Voice might be a good fit. While Google Voice doesn’t come with many standard VoIP features, the convenience of connecting it to your other Google apps may be worth it.
Unfortunately for many businesses and use cases, Google Voice is only available for US based numbers. That means if you are a US business who wants to connect with international customers, you may miss out on those international callers ringing your line. If you are looking for a virtual phone number to expand your accessibility around the globe, Google Voice may not be the system for you.
However, if you are a US based business or a business based elsewhere who only wants a US based number, you can access US area codes through Google Voice virtual phone numbers.
Google Voice offers a variety of business phone plans, ranging from $10 per user/month up to $30 per user/month. Google Voice does not mention a free trial to test out their virtual phone number capabilities.
CallHippo
CallHippo is a virtual phone system that relies on an intricate pricing scheme to provide a highly personalized product.
CallHippo is able to offer a wide range of international virtua phone number options. They are able to offer local area codes for over 50 different countries, as well as toll free numbers. There is no mention of vanity number capabilities. This gives your business access to the benefits of international numbers such as increased accessibility for your international customers.
However, CallHippo’s various plans are supplemented by add-on features with a wide variety of prices attached. For example, adding Voicemail Transcription capabilities will run you $1.50 per user/month, while other add-ons can cost up to $25 per user/month.
This makes it hard to figure out what the actual total cost would be, but if you have a very specific idea of the features you want this pricing plan can help you tailor your phone system.
Aircall
Aircall is able to give your team access to a 7 day free trial, during which you can access an international, local, or toll-free number. You can additionally port your existing phone number into the Aircall system.
With Aircall, you can access over 100 country area codes, which you can test out during their free trial period. This makes it easy to connect with a variety of customers all over the globe. Aircall also allows for national numbers, and toll-free numbers during their trial period.
These providers are just a selection of the best virtual phone number providers. In the end, the effectiveness of a virtual phone number is certainly a component to consider when selecting a business phone provider. You should be aware of what types of virtual numbers are offered, and how that will affect your business. For some businesses, having US virtual phone numbers is the ideal solution, but for other international phone numbers are a necessity. Once you understand your business needs, both now and in the future as you grow and expand, you will be better equipped to compare a variety of virtual phone number providers.
If you would like to purchase a virtual phone number from Yodel, you can register for free and choose your desired geographical location for your virtual number. After you have created an account, simply select the area code you want through the Yodel management platform, and start using your virtual phone number.
Once you have signed in and configured your phone line, you can start placing outgoing calls and receive calls from customers as well. It is very easy to make or receive calls from your smartphone as well by installing the Yodel mobile app.
Your phone number can also be used for sending and receiving business SMS as well as receiving MMS. After visiting the Contact page, you can add as many contacts as you like, as well as blocking the caller if needed. When you use your virtual number to make calls, you can also invite your teammates to join the call, and therefore host a call conference.
With a virtual telephone number, you can easily start making calls and automate your business processes (such as using IVR). Another great advantage is the possibility to set up business hours when you want to receive calls. Otherwise, Yodel sends calls directly to the voicemail when you are out of the office. All of these features and many more. Get started with a free trial today!
Getting started with a virtual phone number shouldn’t be a complicated task, but unfortunately with so many options to choose from it can become overwhelming. That is why we wanted to give you our top providers, so you can have a short list going into your virtual phone number search. Now that you know the benefits of a virtual phone number, we are sure you will be itching to get started testing out a virtual phone number.
That is why we wanted to mention Yodel’s free 14 day trial one more time for you. Signing up comes with no commitment, and you can see the benefits of testing out a virtual phone system before locking yourself into one provider. Our team is always available to help out, with helpful demo calls, webinars, and resources for you to take a look at.
