So I was reminded today of the telephone wars of my youth…you know, who had the best/most memorable phone number? Remember those days? Good, because I barely do. I was kinda young, and I grew up with a cell phone so the memorizing of phone numbers was barely a part of my childhood. However, I do remember enough to write a bit about it, so calm down. Sheesh.
I was reminded of this phenom today when I was driving behind a truck that had the following phone number plastered all over the back “1 800 RED – R – ARC.” I have no clue what they were advertising, and I tried googling it, but came up empty handed. Dare I actually call the number?! Naa, that’s besides my point.
My point is that the phone number war reminds me of the present day war for good URLs. People want memorable, simple, short, catchy, unique domains….kinda like the good phone numbers! I frequent this blog regularly, and my guess is that if blogging were around in the early to mid 90’s, I imagine there would have been a similar blog displaying good and bad telephone numbers. I always loved the 1800 numbers that were like 1800-BEST-MAGAZINE-EVER so just they would say what they wanted it to say, even though the first 7 letters only counted – those always made me chuckle, even at the ripe old age of 9.
So that’s just the overall thought, but my real point here is that I just have to wonder why more companies aren’t using this new little thing called the internet. Yeah, they may have catchy commercials where their number is said in the song, blah blah blah..but the truth is, you just have to get over your catchy phone number. The phone number is so totally 10 years ago, it’s all about the domain now. DUH! RAD! TALK TO THE HAND! etc.
Want proof? I know of a certain commercial on many stations out here in Arizona that features a song with the phone number in it. While researching a bit for this entry, I realized that I have NO CLUE what the name of their business is. I can recite their phone number, but what does that even tell me?! Am I really going to call the number stuck in my head just to ask? Maybe…but does that result in sales? Probably not.
Now, I’m not saying phone number promotion should be ‘hung up on’ (oh man, I’m goooooooood), but I would suggest incorporating BOTH the number as well as the domain. I know your target clientele may still use the phone entirely, but SOMEONE has to be able to create a catchy little jingle that also states the URL! Right? I guess if your phone number is THAT great, you can always do what 1800flowers.com did…
mark_IT: embrace the new, while maintaining the old.
Speak.