Going international could be a stressful process but it shouldn’t. With the right tools, you can easily reach clients anywhere in the world without having offices there. And one of the more straightforward solutions? Virtual phone numbers.
These numbers give a local feel to your enterprise regardless of your location. Consumers are more likely to connect and trust a company with a local and known telephone number. Whether reaching new audiences or expanding market shares, global calling makes it easy.
Virtual phone numbers take away boundaries to business expansion. This allows you to stay in touch with customers from a single location, giving professional feedback to concerns, and developing your presence in different nations. No boundaries, no problems, just a smooth communication channel.
What Is a Virtual Phone Number?
The virtual phone number is a telephone number not bound to a physical location and a traditional phone line. Instead, it forwards calls via the Internet. In such a way, businesses and individuals can make and receive calls from any part of the world with much flexibility and convenience.
Being local, toll-free, or international, these numbers provide flexibility to businesses to reach their global customers without having to set up physical offices in different countries.
So, for example, if you’re based in the U.S. and would like to expand to the U.K., you can get a U.K. virtual number so customers there may call you as if it were a local business they call you; you answer from anywhere. While broadening the avenue, it makes your business look more approachable and professional on an international scale.
Why Virtual Phone Numbers Are Essential for Global Expansion
1. Create a Local Presence Without Physical Offices
Some customers would even consider a business suspicious with no mentioned local number or area code. If a UK customer sees a U.S. line, they will already think twice about calling, worrying about long-distance charges. When they call a UK virtual number, it feels like they are calling a business within their own country.
Adopting a reliable virtual phone number provider gives businesses a strong footing in several countries without having to set up physical locations. This, in turn, builds credibility, increases accessibility, and eventually increases customer engagement at a global level.
2. Boost Customer Trust and Credibility
Customers hoping to acquire a certain service will find it easier to call an apparently local number than an unfamiliar international one. There is a perceived sense of security associated with local numbers.
With a virtual phone number, firms can look more legitimate by giving the impression that they’re already operating in the region. For an e-commerce store, SaaS company, or service provider, a local number always appeals to customers to call.
3. Improve Customer Support and Accessibility
Offering customer support in different time zones is tricky. But with virtual numbers, you can forward calls to agents or teams in various locations, ensuring someone is always available to help customers.
For instance, a business in Canada expanding to Australia can have an Australian virtual number. Calls to that number can be routed to customer support agents in Canada or even a remote team in Australia, ensuring 24/7 availability.
4. Cost-Effective Global Communication
The expenditure of establishing physical offices in various nations is rather high, alongside maintaining the international call charges on traditional phone lines. With the aid of virtual numbers, all these costs can be avoided while facilitating global communication for businesses at relatively lower rates.
Instead of paying extra for international calls, companies can use virtual numbers to contact their partners and clients at lower costs.
5. Flexibility to Scale as You Grow
As a business grows, so does its communication requirement. Companies can scale seamlessly without being restricted by regions with virtual phone numbers. Whether businesses are hiring remote teams, following demand into new markets, or hiring to meet seasonal demand, they can add — or remove.
How to Get a Virtual Phone Number for Your Business?
It’s easy to set up a virtual phone number following a few simple steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the same:
Step 1: Select Virtual Number Type
Before steering towards a virtual number, consider which type would serve your business needs better.
- Local numbers: City- or country-based area code numbers help localize the business.
- Toll-free numbers: With toll-free numbers, customers can contact you without needing to pay.
- International numbers: Get international numbers so that you can establish a presence in multiple countries and have customers reach you effortlessly.
Once you have established a presence in Canada, consider getting either a local Canadian number or a toll-free number so customers can reach your company without long-distance charges.
Step 2: Select a Reliable Virtual Phone Number Provider
Not all virtual phone providers have the same features and pricing. Here are important factors to consider when choosing a provider:
✅ Coverage: Verify that the provider offers virtual numbers for the countries you need.
✅ Call Features: Check for features like call forwarding, voicemail, auto-attendants, or call recording.
✅ Integration: Make sure that the provider integrates with your CRM and customer service tools.
✅ Pricing: Compare prices and buy what fits your budget.
✅ Scalability: Choose a provider that lets you add extra numbers according to the growth of your company.
A few popular providers offer trial periods so that you can test their services before committing.
Step 3: Sign Up and Choose Your Number
After this, you should register an account with the chosen provider. Next, you will need to direct to their site to check the available virtual numbers.
- You need to select the country and city where you need a virtual number.
- Pick from local, toll-free, or international options.
- Check the prices and the extra features included.
Many providers allow instant activation, meaning your number can be ready for use within minutes.
Step 4: Set Up Call Forwarding and Routing
After getting your virtual number, configure it to ensure calls are directed to the right place.
Options include:
📞 Forwarding calls to a mobile or landline: This is great for small businesses that want to manage customer calls themselves.
📞 Routing calls to a team: You have a customer service team. Route calls based on business hours or departments.
📞 Voicemail and auto-attendant setup: Set up voicemail to record calls you miss and a professional greeting.
If a customer calls your UK virtual number, for instance, the call can then be forwarded directly to your main office in the U.S. or even an agent working remotely.
Step 5: Promote Your New International Numbers
Now that your virtual number is set up let your customers know!
✅ Update your website: Add your new phone numbers to your contact page.
✅ Include in marketing materials: Your business cards, social media profiles, and email signatures should show your phone number.
✅ Announce in emails and ads: Customers in new markets can now call you locally.
Making your number visible ensures that potential customers know they can reach you easily.
Step 6: Monitor and Optimize Call Performance
If your virtual number is in use, monitor its performance to make sure it supports your business growth.
📊 Call analytics: See where calls are coming from and adjust your marketing efforts accordingly.
📊 Customer feedback: Monitor call quality and response times to improve service.
📊 Scaling up: If you notice high call volumes from a specific country, consider adding more lines.
By optimizing your virtual number setup, you can ensure smooth global communication and customer satisfaction.
Real-Life Example: How Businesses Use Virtual Phone Numbers
Let us assume that you are an operator of an online fashion store in the U.S. with interest in selling to customers in Australia. If you only have a U.S. number, Australian customers would surely be alert about making the call to you, given the huge international fees that they may incur.
Instead, you get yourself an Australian virtual phone number that local clients can conveniently dial to reach you. Whenever a call comes through, calls will be redirected to customer care, ensuring a seamless experience.
This slight adjustment will build trust, enhance customer service, and increase global sales without the need to open a physical office in Australia.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Virtual Phone Numbers
- Use Call Forwarding Wisely – Ensure calls are routed to the right team to improve response times.
- Leverage Voicemail and Auto-Responders – Set up customized greetings and voicemail to maintain professionalism.
- Track Call Analytics – Monitor call data to see which countries bring the most inquiries and adjust marketing efforts accordingly.
- Integrate with CRM – Sync call logs with your customer management system for better follow-ups.
Final Thoughts
By eliminating the need for establishing a physical presence in the country, international phone numbers that cover local presence ensure greater client trust and better international communication; thus, the complex procedures and costs associated with starting a global business are avoided.
If you really want your business to expand globally, get a virtual phone number. This small step builds a monumental international presence.
So, what are you waiting for? Start today with virtual phone number solutions for your business!
