There was a time when 1-800-FLOWERS was a great business name. However with today's PDA phones like the BlackJack and others, it is nothing more than a dialing disaster.
What, You're kidding right? That is the original response I had when my friend Danielle told me how she hated that she could not dial a phone number with a word in it. In fact the only way she said she could dial such a number was to look at a standard or traditional phone. And until you test it for yourself, it is the response I get from all my friends until I ask them to dial 1-800-FLOWERS or any phone number with a word in it on their phone PDA and they can't.
The problem is that the numbers that correspond with the phone number no longer match up. Technology and a full PDA key pad has made this nightmare for businesses that promote their company name in and as their phone number. Unless they make changes in their marketing to include the real phone number, they might be losing business and never even know it.
As the PDA phone market continues to grow SMarT marketers need to be aware that this change impacts TV, radio, print and online advertising. You need to take steps to make sure that PDA phone users reach you on the first try.
So should 1-800-FLOWERS change it's name to 1-800-356-9377?
No, but they need to realize they need to add this number to their web site and other marketing materials in order to ensure that everyone who has a regular phone or a PDA phone can reach them.
Tags: 1-800-FLowers, pda phones, marketing, online marketing, business phone numbers