A Phoneword is the alphanumeric translation of a phone number. For example, when you dial the phone word 1800 ZINTEL you are actually dialling 1800 946 835, it is just easier to remember 1800 ZINTEL.  This makes them a great tool for marketing activities.

Organisations that have a phoneword number, consider them an asset because:

Easier to remember: People remember words better than a random sequence of numbers.

Lower cost of lead generation: Response rates go up, "Phone words can increase advertising response rates by 290%" ^1.

Word of mouth is easier: Customers will remember the phone number and pass that on with your company name (such as call Zintel on 1800 ZINTEL)

Brand Reinforcement: A Phoneword has people dialling your company name, or a word that describes your business.

There are a couple of options for setting up a phoneword:

Lease: Phonewords can be leased on a national, state-by-state, or even per postcode basis. Monthly licence fees and leasing terms vary. We have established relationships with all the major Phoneword providers, and have discounted lease options available for Zintel customers.

Buy: You can purchase your own phoneword number at auction.  This is a web based auction, with a minimum purchase amount, allocated by the government, and the number going to the highest bidder. Zintel can arrange the bidding on your behalf. Simply tell us how much you are willing to spend on the number, and we will do the rest for you.

Phoneword costs vary on the word you are after, the area in which you would like to use it, and how you would like to acquire it.  Importantly, any phoneword will end up as an expense to your business, rather than a revenue generation tool, if it is not used correctly.  If you already have a phoneword, or are thinking of getting one, then talk to us about how you can get the most out of your number.

There are circumstances where we would not recommend a phoneword:

Not just any phoneword is appropriate for your business, it needs to reflect your brand and target audience.  If the phoneword numbers that do this are not available then we would recommend using a memorable numeric sequence.

If you are marketing to a multicultural audience, then a phoneword is not recommended as you cannot guarantee your audiences exposure to phonewords.

If you have a frequently changing target market, then a phone word is not going to be suitable.  For example if your are a contact centre that runs campaigns for the finance industry, then travel, then telecommunications then a phoneword number is not going to work.  Having a bank of available numbers ready for instant roll out would be a better option.