What’s The Difference Between 1300 and 1800 Numbers? 
How to Set Up a 1300 Number in 5 Minutes
It may not initially be evident why a 1300 number is crucial to your business’s success, but its benefits are undeniable.
Not only does its recognisable number promote your business and create a professional image, but it also connects your business with customers across the country.
So, how do you set up your business with a 1300 number, ready to answer calls?
This guide will walk you through setting up your own 1300 number, making you capable of taking incoming calls and providing call management solutions from the beginning - all in 10 minutes!
Let’s get started with your new business number.
How to Set Up a 1300 Number in 5 Steps
Setting up your brand new 1300 number can be done in 5 minutes with the following 5 steps.
1. Select Your Provider
The first step for obtaining a 1300 number as a business owner is securing a service provider.
This provider will be responsible for activating the number for your business and offering a call plan.
Look for a service provider who is:
Reliable
Cost-effective
Offers multiple features with your number beyond a standard local call, such as an answering service for missed calls or set business hours
Provides excellent customer experience
Aligns with your business’s values
Since you will be utilising your provider for your business, including any landlines or mobile phone numbers associated with it, carefully researching your options is beneficial in the long term.
2. Choose your 1300 Number
There are various 1300 numbers in Australia to choose from for your business.
The right one may be carefully chosen for its memorability, how it spells out a relevant message or word to your business or just a random lucky dip from the existing pool.
Regardless of your method of choosing a 1300 number, it is essential to consider all options before making a final decision.
| Lucky Dip | Premium | Memorable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (per month) | Free | From $10 | From $50 |
| Format | Random Numbers | Double/triple numbers | Sequential numbers |
| Example | 1300 096 348 | 1300 026 607 | 1300 009 990 |
3. Choose Your Plan
Once you choose your service provider, they will offer various plans.
That is because a number needs to be connected to a network to operate.
The best plan for your business and its costs will often depend on specific features, such as:
Business size
Additional features
Call costs
If minutes are included
National or international coverage
If you are unsure of what plan to choose, create a budget and list of features your business requires.
That can help you determine which plan you should choose from your service provider.
4. Set Up Call Routing
It can be incredibly beneficial for businesses to set up call routing once they have obtained a 1300 number.
Call routing is a management feature that comes with most 1300 numbers.
It places incoming calls into a queue to be routed to the intended receiver.
You can set specific answering points for inbound numbers, such as time - or location-based routing options.
This numbering system allows you to set specific criteria or rules for inbound numbers, ensuring your customers reach the employee with the answers to their queries.
This feature benefits large-scale businesses and franchises, allowing you to take on more phone enquiries and secure happier customers.
5. Integrate With Your Business
You may have to integrate a new business number with your existing business phones and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services when you obtain a new business number.
Begin this process as soon as you obtain your number.
That way, you can start running tests on call connections and ensure that customers nationwide can contact your business.
Most service providers will provide additional details on integrating your new 1300 number with existing business structures and procedures.
Always contact them if you have any further questions about this final step of setting up your number for your business.
How Much Does a 1300 Number Cost?
The exact cost of a 1300 number depends on multiple factors.
There is no set cost across all number providers, so it is crucial that you know your budget before beginning to search for a business number.
The most common factors that affect the price of 1300 numbers include:
Setup Fee: Some service providers may charge a fee for the setup process of your new number.
Monthly Rental: A phone plan may be offered monthly as a rental rather than an outright sale from the beginning. This means an ongoing cost for your business.
Call Charges: Since 1300 is not a toll-free number, charges are incurred for every inbound call. Your service provider will split the call rates between your business and customer calls. However, other call plans may offer unlimited calls, so you will be charged a flat rate for your 1300 number rather than for every call.
Number Choice: The type of 1300 number chosen for your business can also cause varied costs. For example, a ‘Smartnumber’, the kind that spells out words, will generally cost more than a random number.
Additional Features (e.g., voicemail, IVR, call recording): Depending on the service provider and/or phone plan, extra features accompanying a 1300 number may incur a higher cost.
Network Charges: Further charges may be placed depending on the network your 1300 number uses to connect calls.
International Call Forwarding: When receiving or making calls internationally, the forwarding process will likely cost extra unless international calls are included in your phone plan.
The different types of 1300 numbers you can choose from
When choosing the correct 1300 number for your business, you should consider your customer base and how you want to market your business.
There are three main types of 1300 numbers to choose from, as seen below.
Lucky Dip
Some businesses may utilise a lucky dip to obtain their virtual business phone number.
This is because a service provider may offer this option for free, shuffling through their database to choose one at random.
However, this choice has no further benefits for your business, making it a less-chosen option.
Premium
A premium 1300 number tends to charge the callers more for their services, resulting in businesses taking less of the load when it comes to call costs.
This contrasts with toll-free numbers, also known as 1800 numbers, which only charge the business for inbound calls.
Memorable
A 1300 number is specified to be ‘memorable’ when it is easily recognisable or has a hidden message within its digits.
Standard features of a memorable number include repeating digits or the ability to spell out a message that is significant to the company.
Their memorability makes this type of phone number appealing to businesses as it works as a marketing strategy.
Key Features to Look For
Once you know what kind of 1300 number you would like for your business, it is time to consider what key features would support its success.
Service providers and/or call plans may offer unique features in addition to your new business number, so browse the options available to determine what would aid you most.
1. Business Introductory Message
This feature lets all callers receive an introductory message about your business and its values.
Many customers find the welcoming message and assurance that they will be connected to the right employee soothing and professional.
Including this feature will also help promote your business and cement the brand image you want to display.
2. Overflow Function
For many businesses, the phone line is the main point of contact and is often required to provide services.
Thus, it is not uncommon for some businesses to find their phone lines clogged with customer or client calls.
If the first line is overwhelmed, the overflow function allows your 1300 number to divert calls to a new answering point.
This ensures no caller goes unanswered and their experience is altogether positive.
A live answering service to sort these calls and accommodate any caller needs can expedite this process.
3. Call Recording
Sometimes, a call comes from a client or a customer who may require future services once more.
A recording feature integrated into your 1300 number allows you to refer to the discussion points for more accurate service provision.
It also helps identify the owner of calls from other business inbound or private phone numbers.
4. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Menus
Streamline the customer service process on calls by including an IVR menu.
There is no need to make customers wait in line to talk to an employee when their queries can be answered through the automated phone system.
By walking callers through questions and answering via touch-tone keypad selection or speech recognition, customer satisfaction and service speed can be greatly improved.
Benefits of Setting Up a 1300 Number
Setting up a 1300 number for your business has multiple benefits beyond providing customers and clients with a reliable point of contact.
Some of the more notable benefits of this number include:
1. Improved Marketing Strategy
A simple yet cost-effective way of marketing our business is through a 1300 number.
That is because you can track incoming calls and determine what marketing strategy has caused a customer to reach out.
This leads to a more accurate assessment of current strategies and helps you make informed decisions about how to continue your business’s marketing.
On top of that, choosing a memorable repeating number or a Smartnumber can work as a marketing strategy.
Many businesses will likely notice increased calls once a 1300 number has been utilised.
2. Flexibility
Unlike landline-based numbers or other in-office communications, a 1300 number allows you to take and make calls regardless of location.
This grants greater flexibility to business operations, mainly since a 1300 number can be used across multiple mobile phones and landlines.
Thus, someone is always free to answer customer and client queries, ensuring higher satisfaction.
3. Continuous and Instantaneous Customisation
1300 numbers allow instant changes to call routing options, even allowing for set operations during and outside business hours.
For example, you can set your 1300 number to route calls to voicemail or a live answering service during busy hours and then back to your mobile line once they are free.
This level of adaptability makes 1300 numbers especially beneficial for employees and business owners who have rapidly changing schedules.
4. Improved Customer Experience
There are multiple ways that a 1300 number improves your customer’s experiences and leaves them more satisfied, such as:
- Rapidly directing calls to their desired service or an employee that can best help them, all from one phone number.
- Re-route calls across multiple office or mobile locations.
- Reduction of missed calls or unsatisfied customers with calls being routed to available staff or a live answering service, rather than left ringing or the call falling through.
- The ability to set up an email notification system for voice messages, allowing you to stay on top of any messages, regardless of your current location.
5. Professionalism
A 1300 number is a great marketing tool and also conveys a strong sense of professionalism to your business.
Customers can feel confident contacting you for their needs by having a set and publically known number.
This can increase the amount of incoming customers while also heightening retention rates.
Want to Set Up a 1300 Number Quickly?
Ready to set up your 1300 number and grow your business?
Entrust the job to Telcoworks.
We provide a range of 1300 numbers and helpful guidance to get your new number live efficiently and effectively.
There is no need to wait when all of your business and phone needs are met in one convenient spot.
Set up your 1300 number here, or contact one of our helpful staff members and enjoy your renewed national presence today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a 1300 Number?
A 1300 number is an inbound virtual business phone number that receives incoming calls.
The number can be assigned multiple answering points for service flexibility.
Using this number causes a call cost to be charged to both the caller and the business.
How Does a 1300 Number Work?
A 1300 number allows you to determine where, when, and how calls are answered by assigning an answering point.
This often results in more business through the increased national presence while also providing everyday beneficial features such as the ability to redirect calls to the nearest office or to queue more customers on the phone line.
Are 1300 Numbers Free to Call?
Calling 1300 numbers is not free.
In fact, both the caller and the business receiving the call are charged.
The exact cost is usually determined by the phone service provider and the plan used for the 1300 number.
What if I already have an existing 1300 number?
If you have an existing number, you can transfer or port your number from your current service provider to a new one.
This process only requires your current provider’s name, account number, and an application form from your new provider.
The transference will take a few days to complete.
What’s the Difference Between 1300 and 1800 Numbers?
The main difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers is that the latter is toll-free.
While both are inbound numbers, 1800 numbers are always free for a customer to call. This means the business covers all call costs.
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