Is a toll free number helpful for getting orders?
There are definite advantages to offering to your customers the opportunity to pay you using their credit card over the phone, and of course, a toll free number makes that very easy. It’s important to remember that some people are very hesitant to send their cc# over the internet, even though a truly secure cart is totally safe. So by offering toll free ordering, you remove that obstacle. The downside is cost — you pay for every incoming toll free call, so you want to be sure that it be used (as much as possible) for actual orders only. Don’t encourage your friends and family for example to call you toll free unless you don’t mind seeing the charges on your bill. Generally adding toll free capability is very inexpensive — only a few dollars a month (but again, you pay per minute for every call!), and the number can be run through your existing phone lines, so you do NOT need a second account with your local phone company.
