Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

If anyone has any input on this topic, I would love to hear from you asap.  I am struggling to make a decision and hoping to do it soon.

-------------------------

I think it would be a great idea to do. Worst case scenario is that it doesn`t do anything and in that case, you can just cancel the service.

Just test the idea and see if it works. Would you consider using a regular phone number before purchasing a toll free number just as a test to see the results?



-------------------------

Motivation for Entrepreneurs
Entre-Propel.com

I started my e-commerce business in April last year and we have a toll free number on our site.  I would recommend it.  We don`t get very many calls on it, but it is a wonderful option for people when their computer is acting up, they want to order when they are away from a computer, or just have questions that need immediate answers.  If people choose to order over the phone I just go to our site and input the order as if I were a customer. 

I just have my cell phone on my website.
I rarely get calls directly maybe 3-4 per month, but I find when someone calls; they buy. they just need the voice contact, they like phones. Just got one today, she spent about 450.00 dollars, she would not have spent with me otherwise.
I am not sure if it really needs to be toll free, most everyone these days has unlimited long distance..
That said I am looking at a special toll free number and a corresponding website for the near future, more as brain poke.
just a thought.

Having a phone number is very valuable to any ecommerce site
I`d also recommend  having an organized about us/contact us page
The more input there the better chance you get on finishing the sale on whoever`s still contemplating
How is that?
In this day and age where business transparency becomes crucial, customers need to feel they`re not dealing with a "big corporate" but rather with normal people
So display your address, display your phone number, your email. have a contact form set up (cover every contacting option you can think of)
Display your picture, yourself`s and your staff`s. Write about yourself and your business. everything to make the costumer`s experience more easy going and comfortable

Hope I helped

Jmes



-------------------------

My LookupPage

I would definitely recommend it.  A lot of people are still new to ecommerce or wary of it, so being able to talk to someone over the phone is extremely important. 

Plus, if there is ever an error where the website won`t let the customer`s transaction go through, you maybe able to save the sale by taking the order over the phone.

 

 

Not an 800 number necessarily.  A physical mailing address and

I believe that having a phone number and mailing address on your website is absolutely required.  Whether it is an 800 number or not probably depends on your business, but I decided that I didn`t need an 800 number because of the free or cheap long distance that most people have these days.

Any time I visit a site to buy something, if there is no address and phone number, I think "wow, is this a Nigerian scam website?" and leave immediately.  ;-)

No phone number means "no credibility", in my opinion.

  Sincerely,
  Gary