Vanity phone numbers allow a firm to create its own unique image, which results in recognition, remembrance, and recall by the consumer to help bring in more profits, according to VantagePoint, a marketing company that provides vanity phone numbers to HVAC businesses.

“HVAC firms have tremendous potential if given the right marketing tools to bring awareness of their service or product to the general public,” said Ken Snider, president of VantagePoint.

The company offers some unique phone numbers that could help new or established firms increase customer recall. Numbers available include:

888-AIR-CARE

888-AIR-CLEAN

888-DUCT-CLEAN

888-DUCT-WORK

888-8-HOT-AIR

According to Snider, the power of vanity numbers was demonstrated by a 1999 study conducted by Michael J. Motto Advertising that found that 888-NEW-WHEELS pulled 14 times more calls than its numeric equivalent when used in identical advertisements.

The Nuts And Bolts

Snider clarified for The News how the vanity number program works. He used 888-AIR-CARE as an example.

“888-AIR-CARE can be localized to any area code in the country,” Snider said. “That is, if a contractor signs up for the 212 area code, the number he'll be advertising will be 888-AIR-CARE and not 212-AIR-CARE.

“Therefore, this vanity number is available to contractors in each area code of the country. When a contractor signs up for this number in a certain area code, he will not be competing with another contractor who has signed up for it in another area code of the country.

“When a customer in the 212 area code dials 888-AIR-CARE, the contractor who has signed up with us for the 212 area code will get the call. And when a customer in the 314 area code dials 888-AIR-CARE, the contractor who has signed up with us for the 314 area code will get the call.

“The number is exclusive, meaning that in each area code, the first contractor to sign up for a specific area code gets it exclusively for that area code.”

For more information, visit www.vantage888.com or call 888-432-7484.

Publication date: 03/01/2004