Looking for a new way to connect with customers and
prospects? A new way to extend your service and make more
profits? Try your own 900 number.
900 numbers have become a billion dollar industry. They
can be a remarkable source of income and a great way to extend
your expert knowledge to even more people. With a little inside
information you can tap into the 900 number phenomenon to get
your share of the tele-info pie.
Who They Reach
They are an excellent way to sell information or
entertainment. Many people, especially those under the age of 30,
are now accustomed to getting the information they need quickly
from new types of media. In large numbers, they call 900 numbers
that provide them with up-to-the-minute information on a subject
that is always changing. This can include anything from weather, to
sports scores, to traffic problems.
The 900 number movement started in the early 90s. Like
most new forms of media, it got its share of hucksters and bad press
in the beginning. Things have changed. 900 numbers are no longer
just for heavy-breathers and get-rich-quickers. 900 services are now
a respectable option for all kinds of businesses and professionals.
One of the longest running and most successful 900
businesses is Tele-Lawyer (900-Tele-Law) where, for $3 per
minute, you can get legal advice on a variety of standard issues.
Come to think of it, that's far faster and cheaper than the hundreds
my attorney charges for a quick phone consultation!
What Kind of Service to Offer?
With 12% of Americans now calling 900 numbers (the same
percentage, by the way, who surf the net) there is a big variety in the
kinds of people you can reach. When starting your 900 number, the
most important question is what kind of service to offer.
Entertainment and information seem to work the best. One woman
I talk with recently has parlayed her training in Psychology into a
lucrative fortune telling number. It's a blend of entertainment and
information that is irresistible for many.
Prospects respond best to numbers that offer specific
information that is too time consuming to get from other sources.
Convenience is key. It might be possible to get the information
from the public library or from a newspaper, but the 900 line is
much easier and more immediate.
Marketing Your 900 Number
Marketing is another key factor. Without consistent
marketing, no one will know about your service. Unfortunately, the
cost can put you in the poor house. Many new 900 number
entrepreneurs start by running classifieds in the daily paper. The
cost can ad up in a hurry, so forget about trying to reach everyone.
The trick, as with marketing any product or service, is to carefully
target a niche audience that you can reach on a consistent basis
through an affordable form of media. Don't expect your marketing
to work the first time you use it. Marketing builds results through
repeated uses. Most prospects won't consider buying until they've
seen or heard your ad several times.
Getting Started
As a 900 number beginner, your best bet is to use a service
bureau. Your phone company provides this service and can give
you information on costs and how to get started. With their
"premium billing," the phone company handles collections for you.
This can be a huge burden off your shoulders. People are far more
likely to pay their 900 bill when it appears on their phone invoice
along with their other calls. The typical service bureau fee is 10%.
As a 900 number entrepreneur you are not tied to an office,
or even your own hometown. You can update and monitor your
900 business from anywhere in the world! There's no reason why
you couldn't run much of the day-to-day details from your fishing
boat or other job.
Smart Alternatives
Some people find it is best to forget about making their 900
service a big profit center by itself. Instead, they focus on how the
number can add to their other business by providing immediate
information to customers and prospects.
One expert in self-publishing got so many calls from would-
be writers that he eventually installed a 900 number and charged
inquirers a nominal fee. Another consultant, not sure she could
provide satisfactory information to everyone who called,
discontinued her 900 service and simply took a credit card over the
phone from those she helped. A copywriter had an extra line put
into his home and installed an answering machine with a five minute
mini-seminar on a new topic each month. He included the number
in all his advertising.
Whichever approach you take, the telephone is an important
and extremely powerful part of our daily lives. Don't miss out on its
ability to make profits and work marketing wonders for your
business.
As Kevin is fond of saying, "I have never seen a product,
service, organization, or idea that couldn't get a BIG boost by
knowing how to use the media." His Special Report MARKETING
YOUR HOME-BASED BUSINESS is a best-seller and available
for just $5. He will also work with you as your marketing
consultant or conduct a "How to Use the Media" seminar for your
employees, company, customers, or associates.
Kevin Nunley helps small and mid-sized businesses build effective marketing. Reach him at DrNunley@aol.com or at (801)253-4536. Ask for his free marketing report and list of Special Reports and Tapes that make you a marketing whiz in dozens of areas. Also ask how he can help you build your on-line presence.
