Local Virtual Numbers For Business
In the current landscape of rising costs, local virtual numbers can be a cost-effective way to scale a business.
By enabling businesses to establish a local presence in one area while operating from another location, virtual numbers can help reduce operational costs. This, in turn, frees up additional resources for your business to focus on fulfilling other needs.
Offering multiple features and benefits, virtual numbers are perfect for local businesses wanting to expand.
What Is a Local Virtual Number For Business?
A local virtual number for business is a business phone number that is not tied to a physical location. Accepting only inbound calls, virtual numbers enable businesses to advertise and operate as though in one location, while being in another.
Businesses can have a local virtual number on any device, or multiple local numbers for various marketing campaigns and purposes.
How Do Virtual Phone Numbers Work in Australia?
Local virtual numbers in Australia are cloud-based phone numbers that use an internet connection rather than a typical copper wire connection. This allows Australians to communicate with businesses without relying on traditional telephone networks.
Callers can access these Australian virtual phone numbers via smartphones, VoIP phones (Voice Over Internet Protocol) or Softphones (software-based phones).
For businesses that are:
- Franchises
- Interstate
- Online
- Remote but want to give the impression of locality
- Based overseas
This would be a great option, as it removes any physical constraints and costs associated with traditional phone numbers.
What Are The Different Types of Virtual Local Numbers in Australia?
Similar to traditional phone numbers, there are numerous types of virtual local numbers available in Australia. The type of virtual local number that is right for your business will depend on your business’s needs, location and goals.
Australian Virtual Mobile Number
An Australian virtual mobile number is the most common type of local virtual number.
It consists of ten digits and begins with the prefix ‘04’ or ‘05’, where ‘0’ denotes the Australian national trunk code, and ‘4 or 5’ represents the mobile.
Australian (Landline) Local Number
Like the mobile version, an Australian landline local number involves 10 digits, beginning with 0 and followed by the area code local to it (e.g. 2,3,7 or 8)
Generally, Sydney and Canberra carry the area code ‘02’ while Melbourne and Hobart have ‘03’ as their area code.
Australian Toll-Free (1800) Number
In line with the other numbers, the Australian toll-free number consists of 10 digits, starting with 1800, 1300 or 13, and followed by 6-digit phone numbers.
While 1800 numbers are ‘toll-free’ for the caller, local rates apply to 1300 or 13 numbers – and these may increase if callers are calling from a mobile phone.
Australian Vanity Number
Similar to a toll-free number, Australian vanity numbers involve the 1800, 1300 or 13 prefix. However, the remaining 6 digits are custom-made and often reflect the brand (for example, it could spell out the product or brand name).
Why Get A Local Virtual Number?
By allowing your business to reach areas across Australia, virtual local phone numbers can significantly boost your business and give it a more professional image. We walk you through some of these key features and benefits below.
Easily Establish Local Presence
A virtual local number in Australia helps to establish presence in a local area – whether or not your business is physically in it.
This helps increase trust amongst customers and assists in building relationships.
Expand Your Reach While Remaining Portable
The beauty of having a virtual phone number in Australia is that you could move your business around the country (or the world) while maintaining the same number. So, even if your physical office has changed, you can continue operating as if from the original area, without disrupting your local connections.
Increase Your Security
In a time of rising cyber attacks and data leakages, virtual phone numbers are a sure way to keep your personal phone numbers private. Allowing you to separate business and personal calls, they can help safeguard you from spam calls.
Virtual phone numbers in Australia also often come with many features, including security protocols that encrypt and protect all your conversations in a secure way. This enables businesses to keep their data and personal information safe.
Reduce Missed Opportunities
Whether you’re a start-up or an established business, missing business calls can mean missing significant leads.
Local virtual numbers offer many features – including call forwarding – so that you never have to fear missing business calls again. These features can re-route calls to another device, landline or mobile number, so you can answer calls and work on the go.
Gain Analytical Insights
Call reporting or analytical insights is another feature you can opt into with a local virtual number for business.
Call insights help by delivering clear data related to the trends of incoming calls. It enables even small businesses to optimise their marketing strategies, manage staff hours and get more out of their marketing spend.
Enjoy Call Feature Options
On top of call forwarding and analytical insights, virtual inbound numbers also offer endless call features, including:
- Call routing according to business hours
- Time and day-based routing features
- Greetings and custom messages
- Missed call alerts
- IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
- Voice to email or voicemail transcription
- Virtual receptionist
Finding The Right Business Number For You: Local Virtual Numbers vs 1300 Numbers vs 1800 Numbers
Discerning what type of business number is right for you is a matter of comparing the key features of each number and asking yourself which one most satisfies the needs of your business.
Features | Local Virtual Numbers | 1300 Numbers | 1800 Numbers |
---|---|---|---|
Costs (to caller) | Local rate | Local rate | Free |
Costs (to business) | Low monthly costs | Medium monthly costs | Higher monthly costs |
Call Features | Advanced available | Advanced available | Advanced available |
Geographic Presence | Local (but can operate from anywhere) | Nation-wide | Nation-wide |
Portability | Fully portable | Fully portable | Fully portable |
Business size suitability | Small to medium | All sizes | All sizes |
Generally, a local virtual phone number is a cost-efficient option for small to medium enterprises looking to establish a local presence.
On the other hand, 1300 numbers provide more of a national presence while charging local call rates, making them popular for businesses of all sizes.
1800 numbers are typically the most expensive for businesses but are free for callers, making them the perfect solution for customer-centric businesses like e-commerce platforms or customer support centres.
Boost Your Business’s Profile with Teleca’s Virtual Phone Number
With local virtual numbers that are low-cost and easy to set up, boosting your business has never been easier.
With Teleca, there’s no setup fee as we instantly activate your virtual number on your account – meaning, you can get your local number up and running immediately!
Teleca also understands that in the business landscape, things are prone to change. That’s why we offer no lock-in contracts.
Contact us today to get started with a local virtual number for your business.
Browse our local virtual numbers for business plans, and start growing your business!