The difference in perception between a landline & mobile number for business
Even as keeping up with the latest technological advancements becomes increasingly important for businesses, many persistently disregard the effects of one integral communication tool in particular. The choice between operating off a landline or mobile number may appear a simple one on the surface, but its intricacies can leave you oblivious to issues that fundamentally undermine customer confidence.
The decision depends on the size of your business and the nature of its work. While the flexibility and cost benefits of working exclusively off a mobile number compared to a fixed landline can be attractive, the downsides of doing so overshadow any marginal monetary gain. Securing the right phone number is a facet of a business brand that’s consistently overlooked.
Crucially, there’s a perception of less reliability and longevity with a mobile number which indicates unprofessionalism - with many customers assuming you're merely a sole-trader. In contrast, a landline points to a sense of permanence and promotes trust.
When dealing with a business, over 44% of potential customers prefer to call you on a landline number. The credibility of a brand is also affected by cellular coverage, which is a frequent complication when dealing with mobile. Signals can be weak in many locations and result in poor call quality or dropped connections, which are unacceptable in any modern business setting. Landline provides the required reliability and adopting it consequently gives your business an air of respectability.
Ensuring a call is answered promptly undeniably increases the likelihood of securing a new customer. If you don't have a fixed landline, it can prove a significant stumbling block when trying to establish your name in a market. There’s a ceiling to growth as a result as it’s unreasonable to expect international customers or suppliers to interact with a foreign mobile.
Operating entirely on mobile can also bring organizational control issues to the fore. A landline provides several business critical services that mobile may not, such as to hold, divert or transfer calls. With mobile it can be burdensome to understand who’s calling and what tone to adopt. However, opting entirely for mobile also closes the door to the new world of possibilities that VoIP has opened up in recent years. Cloud-based services leverage the internet to offer companies a plethora of options on everything from location settings to managing call-flows that are significantly cheaper than landlines. The system can be tailor-made to suit any business model.
While many households have cut the cord, it remains an imperative asset for business. Commercial success is challenging enough to attain without creating unnecessary barriers. The return on investment through customer acquisition of operating off a landline is clear and with even the smallest companies investing heavily in technology, credibility is key nowadays.
The use of a landline illustrates you’re a fully-fledged company and not just an individual person. Applying consumer logic to a business environment by electing for the most economical option can prove a fatal mistake. In the era of VoIP and general low-cost communications solutions, relying entirely on mobile for business is no longer a viable option.
Dylan Fahy
Blueface Ltd
