What Is A 1300 Number In Australia? (A Complete Guide)
A 1300 number is a great way to distinguish your business and brand from competitors. Some benefits include increased flexibility and accessibility for customers, improving business credibility and more.
With different types of 1300 numbers to choose from, starting at different price points, it can be difficult to decide which one suits your business needs best.
Keep reading to find out more about 1300 numbers, how they can benefit your business, the different types to consider and how much it will cost you.
What is a 1300 number, and what is it used for?
A 1300 number is a 10 digit Australian business phone number used for inbound calls. 1300 numbers are used as a contact point for Australian businesses, to capture customers nationwide. As 1300 numbers are inbound only, it means you can’t use them for outgoing calls. In certain cases, some callers may incur a nominal fee when dialling a 1300 number.
1300 numbers allow you to have flexibility over managing where, when and how incoming calls to your business are answered. You can assign answerpoints based on your business needs, whether it’s an answering service, a mobile phone, office phone or a landline.
Why a 1300 number is important considering your business size
Regardless of where you are in your business journey, a 1300 number is important for many reasons.
Startups
If you run a startup or you’re opening a business for the first time, you should consider getting a 1300 number. Not only will this make your business seem large and credible, it may also improve customer confidence and trust in your services or products. A business with a mobile or personal number may cause customers to think you are not a credible business. Having a customised business number can instantly make your business appear trustworthy and well established. This may convert more customers and generate more businesses.
A 1300 number may also give you a competitive advantage over your competitors, especially if they don’t already have a 1300 number. Due to the ability to customise 1300 numbers to suit your business, it can help you stand out amongst others.
Additionally, a 1300 number gives your business a national presence, regardless of business size. As the number can be routed to any device, this allows you to take calls from anywhere. This is highly beneficial if you have multiple remote employees or operate in many locations.
Enterprise businesses
If you own an enterprise business, a 1300 number has a range of benefits you should consider. It can help you boost your businesses credibility, due to the memorability of the number. This can influence customers' confidence when contacting your business.
Additionally, a 1300 number helps you grow your business without sacrificing your personal boundaries, or disrupting work-life balance. Using a personal mobile number may blur the line between work and personal time. This may also add stress as customers may be contacting you at all hours regarding your products or services. Using a 1300 number instead will help you better manage your days. You can redirect the call to another department, or a live answering service for weekend or after-hour calls.
Owning a 1300 number can be a cost effective solution for your enterprise business in the long run. From only $10 a month, you can route customer calls to relevant answerpoints, dive into call reporting insights or even customise your business introduction. You can get better control over your business calls and customise it to the way you want.
Whether you’re a startup or a large corporation, a 1300 number is a great addition to your business to handle communications with greater professionalism and efficiency.
How 1300 numbers work
1300 numbers are sometimes called a “virtual phone number” due to the absence of physical lines, requiring a response via an established phone service like a mobile, landline or VoIP. Unlike local numbers, a 1300 number provides intricate routing and configuration capabilities, with features like time of day settings, IVR functions and geographic routing alternatives.
Upon purchasing a 1300 number, you must designate an answerpoint (the location where calls will be answered and directed). When someone calls your 1300 number, the designated answerpoint will ring. The flexibility of 1300 numbers means you can choose multiple answerpoints like various call forwarding or routing options, which are tailored to your specific business needs.
The different types of 1300 numbers
There are different types of 1300 numbers to consider.
1300 and 1800 SmartNumbers
Smartnumbers are also known as phonewords. These are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). They are distributed to 1300 number providers or sold directly to the public through The Numbering System. Smartnumbers are customisable to spell a word or a memorable numeric sequence like 1300 PILLOW or 1300 123 456.
1300 and 1800 Generic Numbers
Generic 1300 numbers and generic 1800 numbers are a randomised set of digits that don’t spell a word and do not contain a memorable numeric sequence. An example of a generic 1300 number is 1300 835 269.
The cost of a 1300 number
The cost of a 1300 number will vary depending on the service provider. Typically, a 1300 number plan has four components:
1. The monthly plan fee - This is also referred to as the hosting fee.
2. Call rates - The price you pay to receive a 1300 call, these are also $0 for unlimited 1300 number plans.
3. Set up fee - Typically for new numbers or when transferring a number to another service provider.
4. Functionality access and features fee (optional) Pay per feature, pay feature set or included within your monthly hosting fee.
At Telcoworks, the minimum cost of a 1300 number starts from just $10 per month, with a plan that includes free call management features.
How to find the right 1300 number for your business
To find the right 1300 number for your business, there are a few things you need to consider:
1.Make it memorable - The benefit of having a 1300 smartnumber means you can make it easy to recall and tailor it to your business products or services.
2.Utilise your product or service name - You can customise your 1300 number to what your business sells, e.g. 1300 CAMERA if you own a photography equipment business, or 1300 BEAUTY if you sell beauty services.
3.Make use of double or triple digits - Double and triple digits in your business number can also make it easy to recall, e.g. 1300 888 888 or 1300 22 33 44.
Ultimately the right 1300 number for your business will be the one that suits your budget and contains the features that your business needs. You can look up a 1300 number here to find out more.
Interested in getting a 1300 number for your business?
Whether you’re a startup or an enterprise company, we can help enhance your business. To learn more about how a 1300 number can level up your business, get in touch with our team by filling out this form, and we can kickstart your 1300 number journey today.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 1300 number used for?
A 1300 number is an inbound number that is used by businesses. It offers great flexibility with managing calls as it allows for various call routing configurations, like mobile or fixed landline.
Is a 1300 number free in Australia?
In Australia, 1300 numbers are not free. Depending on whether the call is made from a mobile or a landline, call fees may apply. Mobile calls are charged based on the mobile carrier, and dials from fixed landlines are charged with local call rates.
You can learn more about the costs of 1300 numbers here.
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