As an e-commerce founder, it’s in your best interest to search for and use equipment that can give your business an edge within your respective industry. One example of a useful business tool that can elevate a business’s performance and reach is a virtual business number.
This type of number doesn’t work like your average phone number. A virtual business number is specifically designed to operate on an Internet network instead of a fixed landline. This means that you can use various devices to route incoming and outgoing calls to your specific number.
E-commerce founders with growing operations benefit from a virtual number that provides a professional contact point for clients and suppliers.
A virtual number also offers features that streamline communication and make managing your business significantly easier. If you want to learn how to take advantage of this pivotal tool, then you’re in the right place.
This article will delve into the specific features of a virtual phone number. It’ll also shed light on how e-commerce founders can make the most out of this useful tool. Let’s jump straight to it.
What is a Virtual Phone Number, Exactly?
A virtual phone number is an Internet-operated phone number that provides real-time voice communication access to anyone in the world with an Internet connection.
Unlike landline numbers, these virtual numbers aren’t limited by geographical barriers or overhead wires. They exist over the cloud, enabling connection with parties whether you’re at home or on the other side of the world.
A virtual phone number uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology to transmit calls from one end of the line to the other, all of which are handled over the internet. When a virtual number is dialled, the call is routed through a service provider, like Telcoworks’s online system, and redirected to a pre-set, configured device.
How it works is fairly straightforward. The cycle begins when a call is initiated by a customer. As soon as they contact the business number, the call is received by the provider’s cloud system.
The system routes calls based on preset rules, including recipient, time of day, queuing, or voicemail settings.
A virtual phone number essentially functions like a business line, but unlike a landline number, it’s not tied down to a single device or a physical location like an office.
This setup helps businesses scale operations while maintaining a consistent contact point for customers and clients.
How to Get a Virtual Phone Number
Getting an online number for your business is a fairly straightforward task. The first thing to do is sign up with a VoIP service provider. Fill up necessary information about you and your business, confirm your email, and submit any documentation that you need to submit before proceeding.
Once you’ve got your account set up, you’ll have to choose a number type—such as a local number, toll-free number, or international number. Choose the one that best suits your company and your intended direction for it.
You can link an existing phone line or choose a new number—up to you. Add-ons and extra features are also available at the service provider’s discretion.
After that, you pretty much have a virtual number under your company’s name. Congratulations! But it’s not usable yet. You’ll still have to install it and make it ready to take and receive calls.
The next step you should take is to configure the call rerouting system. The service provider will provide clients with a dashboard where they can configure call-setting operations. This differs depending on the provider, but it typically includes fundamental settings.
For instance, you can set up your number in a way that links to multiple devices handled by different agents. Virtual phone numbers can enforce call-handling rules, such as after-hours voicemail or forwarding based on time or location.
By defining these parameters, you can make your telecommunication-based customer operations efficient and structured. Traditional phone lines typically lack these flexible routing features and advanced call management capabilities.
3 Benefits of Virtual Business Numbers for E-commerce Founders
Communication and marketing infrastructure are important assets for any growing e-commerce business.
After all, unlike physical stores, customers can’t just “stumble upon” the storefront and make a purchasing decision right then and there. There’s also the lack of physical human connection to consider, removing an oft-influential variable in the sales funnel process.
But with these downsides come some upsides as well. Here are three benefits of owning a virtual business number as an e-commerce business founder:
1. Enhances Brand Credibility
One key benefit of a virtual business number is its ability to boost your business’s growth and reputation just by being used.
Having a dedicated contact line signals that your e-commerce business is professionally managed. This signals trustworthiness and professionalism, which can make customers feel more at ease engaging with your business.
How virtual business numbers can demonstrate this is through their suite of distinct features. For instance, when your company can configure calls to be routed to open lines or organised based on time of day, this subtly hints that your business is “big” and structured enough to warrant an efficient system.
For scaling e-commerce business, these perception changes can be just the tipping point to encourage more customers to make purchases. It establishes your brand as one that’s reputable and legitimate, which is a great reputation to hold moving forward as you scale.
2. Allows Team and Operational Scaling
As your e-commerce business grows, so does the complexity of your communication needs.
A virtual business number lets you grow your team without rebuilding your contact system each time you hire or restructure. Instead of assigning separate physical numbers, the same virtual number can be used securely across multiple devices and team members.
Moreover, as call demand scales, you can easily add new devices to the virtual phone number—both inside your office or remotely. This allows your business’s customer service operations to work as long as you want them to, all while still being centralised and trackable through the VBN’s dashboard.
3. Enables a Private and Separate Home Life
Finally, one last perk of a virtual business number is its ability to separate you from work during home time, and vice versa. Being tied to your phone 24/7 can be headache-inducing, especially when you want to live a life outside of running your business.
With a virtual business number, you can set up a system that ensures that your business runs smoothly without your constant supervision. You simply have to publish that number on your social media platforms and company website, and your customers can call and inquire through there.
In doing this, you can protect your privacy and reduce the risk of getting unwanted calls from your i personal phone. Plus, if you do get calls during non-business hours, you’ll at least be notified of where the person is calling from and can mentally prepare yourself on whether it’s a personal or professional matter.
We hope that we’ve helped you understand the importance of virtual business numbers. All the best in running your e-Commerce store!
What Is EcomBalance?
EcomBalance is a monthly bookkeeping service specialized for eCommerce companies selling on Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, & other eCommerce channels.
We take monthly bookkeeping off your plate and deliver you your financial statements by the 15th or 20th of each month.
You’ll have your Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement ready for analysis each month so you and your business partners can make better business decisions.
Interested in learning more? Schedule a call with our CEO, Nathan Hirsch.
And here’s some free resources:
- Monthly Finance Meeting Agenda
- 9 Steps to Master Your Ecommerce Bookkeeping Checklist
- The Ultimate Guide on Finding an Ecommerce Virtual Bookkeeping Service
- What Is a Profit and Loss Statement?
- How to Read & Interpret a Cash Flow Statement
- How to Read a Balance Sheet & Truly Understand It
Huge thanks to Telcoworks for collaborating on this post!
