13, 1300 or 1800 Numbers? Which Number to Choose?

The Choice Is Simple

Choosing the right prefix can be a bit confusing. 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers are a powerful business tool and deliver features not found in other business numbers.

Although their features are virtually the same, there are some differences you may want to take into account when choosing a prefix.

Key Differences

• 1300 Number – callers are charged the cost of a local call from any Australian phone line. Excellent for businesses that want to expand outside their local area and gain a national presence.
• 1800 Number – call is free when dialled from any phone line in Australia, including mobiles. Excellent for businesses that require a customer service number and don't want to charge their customers anything to call their business.
• 13 Number – short, easy to remember six (6) digit number. Excellent for businesses that intend to mass market. Callers are charged the same rate as 1300 numbers.
• 13 numbers are 6 digits and 1300/1800 numbers are 10 digits. Being shorter, these numbers are easier to remember and a lot more effective when used in advertising campaigns.
• As opposed to 1300 and 1800 numbers, 13 numbers attract a yearly government fee of $695 per month. That’s a significant investment and makes these numbers a lot more expensive than the other prefixes.

Which One to Choose?

1800 and 1300 Numbers

If your primary objective is to express full commitment to your customers, a 1800 number would be the better choice, especially if it's used as a customer service number. If on the other hand, the main objective is to simply boost business presence, then a 1300 number is just as effective.

13 Numbers

If you aim to promote your business through large scale, ongoing marketing activities, a 13 number would be a good choice. Depending on the scale of the marketing campaigns, a shorter and easier to remember number will generate the additional revenue and justify the additional expense of the yearly government fee. Many businesses which are actively mass marketing their brand and product range choose the 13 prefix.

There are some definite differences between the numbers, and depending on the specific business requirements, it may be better to go for one or the other. But either way, getting an inbound number is better than not getting one at all.