Hello peoples

I have been thinking about this for some time and need your input.

Phone Lines. I have a mobile phone- That's it.

How many people out there have a 1300 number or equivelant- (in Australia this is a reduced cost for the customer) or 1800 number free for customers or equivelant

Does this help your business -

Obviously it looks more professional, but do you see noticable results.


Thank you,

David

Would you really need one if you don't commonly accept bookings at great distances?

It is not a matter of the distance, it is about getting people to take action.

A free call can get people to get over the fence of indecision about whether to contact you, I think.

But does anyone have any results to "Back Up" my claims?

I have 1 local number and 1 800#. I use the 800# because where I live it is a long distance within 1 hour drive. You can forward the 800# to your local number.
Some people use a free recorded message. I am not sure how that works. Maybe if someone has one, can chime in. It also depends on what type of show you're selling.

I personally have not used a 1-800 number but would like to know the stats or success rates anyone else has had if you have used it yourself. How well does or did it work for you and did you track how many shows you got from the 1-800 number as opposed to not having one?

Flourish: May I ask how many calls you receive on the 1800 number as opposed to the other? Maybe sharing some stats and some of what you have experienced with having the number might benefit us all and help us to learn a bit. Thanks in advance.

Kyle

Kyle,

I have an 800 number, but don't track it. I got it for two reasons. One, I figured that in today's age, an 800 number is like a FAX machine. It legitimizes your business (it gives you credibility).

I target higher income people for my private shows and while they don't use the 800 number (a few do), the fact that they see that I have one makes them more willing to pay my higher fee.

The second reason that I got it? The phone company let's me have it for $5 a month. So if nobody uses it...I pay $5. For the additional credibility, it's a smart purchase. And if people use it...I get more high paying jobs.

I also have a second local number that is set up for distinctive ring. My FAX machine is on that line and it costs more than my 800 number! $6 a month, but I have FAX service 24/7 and believe it or not...that also increases my credibility as a business.

My main number is also a second line into my house. As most magicians, I operate the business out of my home and one bedroom is set aside as the office. Therein lays the FAX machine and my phone which picks up for either the local number or 800. It's a great setup..also call forwarding to my cell, when I need to.

Thank you Steven,

Yes I have been looking at some top agents in Sydney and they have one- I also get the feeling that when people see the mobile phone number only -it's a feeling of small time- the picture created in their mind is probably- struggling to survive as apposed to the free call- BOOMING Business.

I've had an 800 number for years and have found that it really helps in the school show market.

Since my geographic market for years was a 200 mile raidus of my home, many of the "PTA Moms" on the cultural arts committee were a long distance call away. They would have to call a number of performers from their home phone to set up the schedule for the school year. Those calls were rarely being reimbursed by the PTA. Frequently I was thanked for having a toll free number, and I suspect that one reason they called me first was the toll free number.

Same thing with my Success in Magic course. If someone has a question, it's a free call. It's just good customer service.

Jim

I've had an "800" # for about two years now... Basically about the time I took the plunge and went full time... I don't have statistics but all my calls now come in through my "800" number, but that's because my old number is not listed anywhere... Granted some clients still call the old number but even some of them call in on the "800" because it's easy to remember...

I will agree that it seems to legitimize your business... People see that you have an "800" number and a personalized one, they seem to look at you like you are in a different class of entertainers... Just like when people see my cards... My old ones used to be white with black raised ink, not that there is anything wrong with that... My current ones, (two years now), are full color, glossy, and printed on both sides... It's an extension of the website...

Thanks for reading,

RDS

I really think 1-800 numbers are becoming a thing of the past. With so many people having cell phones with free long distance, and rates that are 3 to 5 cents a minute on their home phones, it's getting to the point that it almost doesn't matter anymore. If you couple that with email, which is where most of my inquiries come from, there is no cost for the potential client. I'll usually get an email requesting more info, with a phone number and a name. I haven't been able to justify the expense of an 800 number. However, I have wondered about a credit card portal. While significantly more expensive than an 800 number, I wonder how many additional shows I could book with the ability to pay by credit card, without using paypal. Does anyone out there accept visa or mastercard? How does that compare to your income with cash/check?

Buisnesses don't use cell phones to book entertainers so your comments on 1-800 number becoming a thing of the past is rot.

If businesses had the choice of using a normal phone or a mobile- they would use the normal phone 100% of the time.

The Secretary to the CEO of National Australia bank is not going to pull out her mobile to call because it's cheaper. when you deal with companies with over a grand budget I think a 1-800 number is the go and I am now looking into getting one

Thank you for all you advice
David

I was refering to the PTA mom's mentioned above. A corporation that has any serious money would just call, as you put it properly, on their regular telephone. However, again, long distance rates being what they are now with all of the competition, long distance rates are not as big of an issue as they used to be. In addition with the ever changing technology and the surge of VoIP, many businesses are able to get virtual office packages with unlimited long distance and international calling. I certainly don't expect someone to be booking a business deal on their cell phone. I think you misunderstood what portion of the thread I was responding to. However, I still feel for the reasons stated above that 1800, are becoming a thing of the past.

Hi,
It's interesting to see how an Aussie looks at things. I've been in Asia for a long time and here the moblie phone is KING. If you don't have one you are considered very backward. It's what everyone uses here, including companies who want to book me for shows. Prices are very cheap and for the most part people call your mobile before your home phone. If it's someone I know calling me I'll tell them I'm at home and then they'll call my home phone and chat. Otherwise they assume your out working and performing and so will call your mobile. To think that an Australian company would call your home phone 100% of the time is very interesting. Is it because they don't have the $$ to call your mobile? Here the mentality is that about 99% of the time you'll pick up your mobile, so the bookers at least know they'll get you when they need to get in touch. If I didn't have a mobile I'd be losing work like like crazy.

Funny thing about Australia being a civilised country and all, but mobile phone and internet fees are so expensive. Here I have a 1.5MB download, unlimited download, and many other benifits besides for only 30 Aussie dollars a month. Without a yearly contract as well. I"ve checked out prices there, and they seem pretty crazy and even cut back your speed when you've hit your download limit. That is unheard of in this part of the world. Then I noticed how much profit Telstra made, and well, you get the idea of what I think about that.

I"m not knocking Australia, being an Aussie myself, but I've found it to be a bit backward in some ways compared to their Asian neighbours.

All the best

No JoJo

Not home phone- normal phone- as in a land line there is a differnce.

It's all about perception- what people percieve about your business.

Actually I don't think cost comes into it. It's not a factor- It is simply- "this guy gets so much work he has a 1800 number"- is basically what it's about.

Most Big companies and big has the perception of successful have the 1800 or free call numbers- It's like here in Australia about having a PO Box in Mosman as apposed to a street address in Berowra it all adds to the perception of quality.

Maby if you want to sell drugs on the street of Taiwan or hire a hooker yes a mobile would be a very big need but here is Australia image is very important especially when it comes to Corporate Entertainment with budgets in the thousands not hundreds.

As they say in Magic- it's all about presentation -Image, perception is why a lot of the market buys- There are a lot (too many) Event Manager cattle over here who just follow the crowd- but that is a discussion for another topic.

Do the math...

How much will the 1800 cost?

How many people will call you because of they 1800 who WOULDN'T have called before?

What percentage will actually BOOK!

That is why I always track my results of everything I try and do. I track success and I also track failure. This way you know for sure whether something is working or not or where your marketing is working best for you. Learn to track your marketing techniques and it can be a very valuable tool.

Kyle

1+1=2

I did the math

It is easy to track when there is only 1 number to track but I have called telstra
-it's not that expensive but the initial costs are high and there are different levels of having a free call some with answering machines and some that don't

interesting- very interesting

9+4 =13


cheers,

Tricky Mick

Maby if you want to sell drugs on the street of Taiwan or hire a hooker yes a mobile would be a very big need but here is Australia image is very important especially when it comes to Corporate Entertainment with budgets in the thousands not hundreds.
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I find this to be a bit low class for an Aussie, insinuating that is what I'd use a mobile for. I find it amazing that image is only tied to having a land line, and not a mobile phone. I've booked shows in the thousands over a mobile phone. All I was saying is that image is perceived in different places in different ways. Here if you don't have a mobile it equals, bad image. People would rather call a mobile than a land line. They are much more guaranteed to get through to you, and in many cases it's just as cheap or cheaper than a land line.

Many big companies offer the free 0800 lines. Unfortunately when you call them you have to go through many minutes of automated questions and redirecting before you might get to a real person. I'm sure it's the same with most bigger companies there in Aussie land before you get to talk to an Indian receptionist about your problems. That is one reason here why people don't use them, they can't be bothered with all the waiting and want to talk to you directly.

All the best.

Ps. tip for you: Using a mobile for selling drugs and getting hookers here is not wise as many gangsters have been caught recently through the use of them. Or maybe you were trying to tip something to me that you've used yourself? Just pulling your leg there mate!

If I'm looking for someone local, I will bypass listings with 800 numbers - I figure I'll be dealing with someone in a central office far away, when I want to be dealing directly with the person doing the job here in my area.

That's true Ross- I personally like to call a normal landline- I find that a 1800 number means a receptionist which means I'm going to have to explain what I want to her then to whoever they direct me too do my customers think this way???- I don't know.

That's just me.- I don't want to call someones Mobile- I always think I'm intruding. I'm just thinking from a Customers point of view.

I'm rattling on here gotta go before I say something really stupid