Why is getting your business listed in the 411 directory such a vital part of the business credit building process?
Does it really matter whether or not your company is in the White Pages or registered with Directory Assistance?
Absolutely!
As a matter of fact you can expect to have a much harder time getting approved for business credit without one.
The reason is when applying for credit with a supplier or creditor one of the very first things checked to verify the legitimacy of your company is whether or not you have a 411 business listing.
A non listed business will automatically trigger a red flag with most creditors and result in a denial of credit. So in order to avoid getting turned down you should first verify whether or not your company is listed prior to applying for credit.
Another key factor for getting a 411 listing is in driving customer sales for your business. Have you ever called Directory Assistance to find a company and wound up at a dead end because it wasn’t listed?
Don’t let this happen to you!
Now that you know the importance of getting listed in the 411 directory let’s cover what it takes to make it happen.
You’ve probably heard that in order to get a 411 business listing you had to have a dedicated business phone line. Services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and cell phones didn’t work.
But that was the past.
Luckily times have changed and with more and more businesses using cell phones and VOIP as their primary source of communication it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Today, you can add cell phone numbers or VOIP phone numbers to your local directory assistance for minimal costs and in some cases free.
Here are three ways to get a 411 Business Listing:
Verizon Business – There are four main Verizon offices with each servicing several states. You will need to call and say that you want to get a “foreign listing”. You will need to provide them your name, company name and business phone number. The cost varies in each state and if you’re located in California it costs a $30 set up fee and $3.25 per month.
Each office will be able to direct you to the appropriate office that services your state. For California call 1-800-722-0577, West Virginia 1-800-431-5477, Virginia 1-877-483-1396 and New York 1-800-509-6685.
*you do not have to be a Verizon customer to use its “foreign listing” service.
Wireless Listings – You can now get your business cell phone number listed in the 411 and the print directories no matter which wireless carrier you use. There is a monthly fee for this service and you can also select which Verizon print directories you want your number to appear on.
List Yourself – This is a free 411 listing service and once you submit your business information it offers several options for you to validate your business phone number. Once your number is validated then your information is sent to the directory assistance databases used by all of the major carriers.
Keep in mind that because this is a free service it may take you several attempts to get your number successfully submitted and listed.
There are many other ways to obtain a 411 business listing that do not require monthly fees or trial and error but it’s important to get listed no matter what option you decide.
It will not only legitimize your company but also help potential customers find you. Don’t let a non listing cost you business credit and potential sales for your company.
Marco is founder of the Business Credit Insiders Circle, a step-by-step business credit building system for business owners. You may contact Marco directly at: ceo@startbusinesscredit.com
Follow Marco on Twitter @MarcoCarbajo and read more of his insights on how to build business credit.
