From pesky language barriers to wallet-scorching international calling fees, the struggle to keep up with clients and team members is all too real. In this interconnected world, it's becoming more and more common to work with people from different corners of the globe.
If you want to boost your client's faith in your business, then give them a local or virtual phone number in their area. Because nothing says "trustworthy" like a number that looks like it belongs to the neighborhood.
Plus, having an international virtual phone number means you can chat with clients from every corner of the globe without breaking a sweat. Trust us, your clients will appreciate the effort to bridge the communication gap.
In this article, we're going to walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to get a virtual international phone number in just a few minutes. From choosing the right service provider to setting up your new international virtual mobile number yourself, we've got you covered.
Benefits of having an international business phone number.
First and foremost, it can significantly increase your credibility and professionalism, especially when dealing with clients or customers located in different countries. It shows that you're serious about your business and willing to invest in better communication options.
But that's not all! Having an international phone number can also improve your customer service and communication with clients located in different parts of the world. By using international phone numbers and providing a local phone number for your customers, you can make it easier for them to reach you, resulting in better customer satisfaction and retention.
And if you're worried about the cost of international calling, having an international phone number linked to your Simpu inbox can also result in significant cost savings. Instead of paying high fees for international calls or roaming charges, you can use Simpu inbox to send and receive messages from your overseas customers at no rates.
Having an international phone number offers many benefits, including increased credibility, improved communication, access to new markets, and cost savings on international calling.
How to get an international phone number.
Getting a second phone number doesn't necessarily require you to get a second, landline phone, or SIM card. There are several tools available that allow you to easily add a third international virtual number or phone number to your existing two phone numbers. In the following section, we'll introduce you to a few of these tools.
1. The best option to get a second business phone number - Simpu.
Simpu is a customer engagement platform designed to make it easy for businesses to manage their customer communication channels. With Simpu, you can create a virtual phone number and add it to your existing mobile phone, allowing you to receive messages and manage customer queries directly from your Simpu inbox.
This means you can keep your business and personal communication separate while still staying connected to your customers. Plus, the virtual phone number is automatically linked to your Simpu inbox, so you don't have to worry about managing multiple channels.
To get started with Simpu, simply sign up for a 14 day free trial and connect your existing channels to Simpu. Once you have your virtual phone number set up, you can start sending messages to your customers right away.
Whether you're looking to expand your business internationally or just need a second phone number for your business, Simpu makes it easy.
How to get a virtual phone number with Simpu.
- Sign up for a free trial to try out Simpu free for seven days.
- Continue with your Google account or enter your email address.
- Verify your email address and existing mobile phone number.
- Pick a brand new phone number.
Benefits of getting a virtual phone number on simpu.
- No additional hardware is needed.
Virtual phones allow you to use your current mobile devices and computers as your phone service platform. To access your phone service, you only need an internet connection and either a mobile app for your smartphone or a web/desktop app for your computer.
While some virtual phone providers offer additional hardware for purchase, these are often proprietary and may be more of an upsell tactic than a necessary component of the service.
- Easily connect to a shared inbox.
Connecting a virtual phone number to a shared inbox can benefit customer support teams. When customers send messages to the number, their inquiry is sent directly to the shared inbox, allowing teams to manage all support activities from a single platform. This integration can streamline communication and improve efficiency.
Adding the virtual number as a support channel can expand the team's reach and reduce wait times for customers. The shared inbox allows team members to work together seamlessly, ensuring all inquiries are addressed promptly and professionally.
- Set your business hours.
Connecting a virtual phone number to your Simpu inbox means your customers will receive an automatic response when they message you outside of business hours. This response will notify them of when you will be available to respond to their message next.
By setting specific business hours for each phone number, such as 8 am to 5 pm for your business line and 24/7 availability for a customer support line, you can keep your customers informed of the appropriate times to reach you. This ensures that you are available to provide assistance when they need it the most.
- Provide multiple contact options to customers.
Offering multiple contact options for your customers is easy with a virtual phone number from Simpu. Customers can reach you through various channels that link to the same shared inbox. This approach ensures that customers can choose the communication method that works best for them, increasing the chances of engagement and interaction.
Simpu shared inbox allows for efficient customer support from multiple team members. All team members can access and respond to customer inquiries, regardless of the communication channel used. This ensures that all inquiries are handled promptly and professionally.
2. Sign up for a Google Voice account.
Google Voice has a complex history. While it has been around for quite some time, it hasn't received many updates recently. Given Google's track record of creating and then discontinuing products, it's difficult to predict its future. However, the most significant advantage of this app is that it is entirely free to use.
Google Voice provides two types of accounts: personal and business. While the personal account is free, it doesn't offer a separate phone number. Instead, you'll need to select a number for your Google Voice account and then forward calls, messages, voicemails, and transcriptions to your personal phone. Unfortunately, this solution can be cumbersome, and it doesn't offer many of the features you would expect from a business phone.
However, Google Voice for Google Workspace is the paid, business-oriented version. To sign up, you must have a Google Workspace account, which adds to your monthly expenses. With this version, you'll receive a new phone number along with other features like call recording, affordable international calling, and call blocking.
3. Download the Sideline app
Sideline is a smartphone app that allows you to add extra phone numbers within the contiguous US, and it also has a web app available, but it does not support phone calls.
By using your carrier's messaging and voice calling minutes, Sideline provides you with a second phone number, ensuring you have coverage no matter where you are. The app is easy to use and includes features such as calling, texting, and voicemail.
While the app does offer a 7-day free trial, there are no other free options available. You'll have to upgrade to gain access to international calling and auto-attendant, and toll-free numbers, call recordings, and integrations are not available with Sideline at all.
4. Burner app.
Burner is exactly like it sounds: it's a burner phone number for you to use, and then burn. When you burn a number, it gets wiped from your phone and taken out of service.
Burner allows you to integrate into different services like Slack, Evernote, and even SoundCloud to automatically share your voicemails publicly or privately. You get a seven-day free trial like many others; there is no free option.
If you are looking to get a virtual phone number for better communication with customers, Simpu is a better alternative than the Burner app. The number generated is connected to a shared inbox, allowing for seamless team collaboration and messaging. Additionally, you can enhance the customer experience by receiving text messages even from abroad locally and setting up automated responses for when you're unavailable.
Why should you get an international phone number for your business?
- Increased accessibility to customers in other countries.
Having an international phone number means that clients from other countries can reach you without worrying about expensive international calling charges or time zone differences can make a huge difference. It also helps you to establish credibility and professionalism with clients who may be hesitant to work with someone who appears difficult to reach.
By having a local phone number in their country, you're showing that you're committed to making communication as easy and hassle-free as possible with a local presence. It's like having a key that unlocks the door to new business opportunities with clients from all around the world.
- Improved communication and customer service.
When it comes to international e-commerce, having a local phone number can be a game-changer. It can help e-commerce businesses appear more local to customers in other countries, which can increase trust and improve customer service. It's like having a secret password that unlocks a whole new level of trust with your international customers.
Plus, if you play your cards right, you can have customers thinking you're based in their country even if you're just working from your couch in your pajamas.
- Enhanced professional image and credibility.
Imagine you are part of a company that has teams working in different countries. When you want to talk to your colleagues in another country, you need to make an international call which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Having international virtual phone numbers can solve these problems. It allows your colleagues and customers to reach you directly by dialing a local number, which saves them time and money. It also makes it easier for your team to communicate with each other because you can use the same phone system regardless of location.
If you want to make communication between your international teams and customers more efficient and seamless, getting international numbers is worth considering.
Sign up on Simpu to get a business phone number.
Getting a second phone number can be a straightforward strategy for small business owners to enhance their work-life balance. Luckily, there are numerous tools available that enable you to obtain a second mobile number without requiring an additional landline or SIM card.
Although services such as Google Voice for Business, Burner, and Sideline can provide you with a second phone number, they often lack certain features that can simplify your workday. For a more productive day, consider downloading the Simpu app on your phone to set a healthy and more productive work life.
Simpu is the best customer engagement system to generate a work number for your business. Once you sign up on the app, connect your channels and start messaging while enjoying many improved features.
Ready to see how Simpu can make you have a productive work life? Try a 14-day free trial.
