Are 02 Numbers Better for Local Businesses Than 0345 or 0800 Numbers?

Decisions, decisions – when you’re setting up a local business, you probably have all kinds of admin tasks to take care of. And yet, setting up the right phone number might not be anywhere near the top of your list!

However, there are plenty of reasons why it should be. Your choice of business phone number can really affect your business’s marketing and outreach, for example. If you’re just using a  mobile number and want to grow your enterprise, it’s probably best to get a virtual number or a fixed landline to cover it up.

For many local businesses, 02 numbers are fantastic supports for establishing customer bases in specific cities. But, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to use 0345 and 0800 numbers, too…

So, in this guide, we’ll break down why your local business might want to invest in an 02 number, and why 0800s and 0345s could be better options instead. Don’t go ahead and choose a number until you’ve read this guide!

What are 02 numbers, and why are they useful?

02 numbers are geographical phone signatures that are tied to specific UK cities. For example, you’ll find that plenty of 02s are linked to London, Cardiff, Portsmouth, and some areas of Northern Ireland.

Essentially, local businesses that operate in these areas will usually have 02 landlines. They immediately tell customers and callers that they’re local entities, meaning that they can be trusted to support their needs – in most cases, anyway!

Many businesses based elsewhere in the UK take up virtual 02 numbers because they want to expand into specific city bases, such as London. It’s a great way to show that you’re more than a faceless entity – and that what you do is tied to a specific region.

Certainly, when it comes to London, you’re also giving yourself an unshakeable, professional image. London businesses are typically viewed with some prestige – meaning that if you’ve got sights on growing your firm and even heading overseas, a virtual 02 number could absolutely be the way to go.

And yet, 02s are great for local firms with smaller goals in their sights, too. 02s show local customers that your services are super relevant to the area, and that you won’t be moving any time soon.

Above all, 02 numbers are certainly more professional and more effective than mobile numbers, at least from a marketing perspective! What’s more, calling 02 numbers is usually covered in most phone tariffs, if not, they’re charged at local or national rates. So, they won’t break the bank.

They’re highly cost-effective for businesses, too. With VoIPer, you’ll pay a set amount per month and won’t have to worry about going over on paying for callers’ freephone bills.

That said, as mentioned, there are a few other options you might consider when setting up a professional number for the first time…

Why consider 0345 numbers?

0345 numbers, unlike 02s, are non-geographic. They’re typically used by bigger companies and public services such as banks, and they swept in to replace costly 0845 numbers in many cases. They’re low cost for callers because, again, they are often covered in mobile and home phone packages.

However, 0345s are usually best used by companies with national audiences. They are incredibly professional – and really give the impression that your company is growing fast – but, there’s a chance you might not appeal to people who are looking for smaller, more local enterprises.

Therefore, it’s worth thinking about the people you want to target. If you’re keeping things super local and tight knit, it’s probably wise to stick with 02 numbers. However, if you’re on the up and up and your customer base extends across the UK, you might do better using an 0345 number. There’s nothing wrong with switching numbers in future, too – just make sure you give your customers plenty of notice!

Why consider 0800 numbers?

Ask any customers what their favourite numbers are (if they have any!), and they’re probably going to say freephone lines. The reasons for this are obvious, even if they have unlimited call tariffs!

0800 numbers are always free to call across the UK. They tell your customers that you’re happy to foot the bill whenever they call, and for however long they want to stay on the line.

That said, as you can imagine, you’ll need to keep topping up to make sure people can call you for free. VoIPer makes this as affordable and as easy to manage as possible – but at the same time, you might find that running an 02 number is less faff all around.

There’s also the same issue with national vs. local appeal with 0800 lines. If you’re a smaller, local enterprise, you might want to continue running an 02 line to ensure you reach people in specific city areas. 0800 numbers are great for bigger companies – and you may well want to use them some day!

So – what’s best?

Honestly, all three options are great for local business owners, but many will look for 02 lines purely because they’re so closely associated with certain areas. That means you might have a better shot at finding local customers.

However, there are massive marketing benefits to using 0345s and 0800s, too, especially as your company grows. What’s more, all three options – when you set them up virtually through VoIPer – give you amazing flexibility. There’s no need for you to cement yourself in one particular area or even rent an office!

You can set up mobile numbers with these prefixes, meaning you can still take calls on the go while people call your new 02 signature.

We offer a range of virtual numbers that your customers will feel comfortable and inspired to call no matter where you’re based. However, we hope this guide has given you a little food for thought in terms of which options might help you market your local firm the best!

Remember, you can always call our team any time to learn more – and do check out our tariffs and packages!