An international number is arguably the best communication and marketing solution available for any company looking to expand globally.

When it comes to communicating with customers, nothing beats SMS. For businesses, it offers a delivery and open rate of nearly 100%. But virtual numbers offer even more. Thanks to the rental of a virtual number, a company can enjoy numerous advantages for international communication.

Do you want to engage and maintain strong relationships with customers around the world? Discover why renting a virtual number is a must in this guide by Octopush.

What is an international virtual number?

First and foremost, a virtual number is a phone number hosted directly in the cloud. In other words, the number is hosted within an information system and operates via the internet. Therefore, a virtual number is not physical. It can be used anywhere, regardless of your location.

By renting a virtual number with a specific country code, a company based in France can contact foreign numbers from that same country. For example, if you are currently in Switzerland and want to send SMS to your French customers, you need a French international number. This number allows you to contact your customers from Switzerland while benefiting from French local rates.

Currently, there are many international number options available: French virtual numbers, Belgian virtual numbers, Italian virtual numbers, and more. Their unique feature is that they can be held from anywhere in the world. They do not incur international costs because pricing depends on the region or country chosen by the user.

Why should a company get an international virtual number?

There are many advantages for a company using an international number.

Much greater credibility with your customers

If you choose an international virtual number, your messages will be much more credible to your customers. Most of the time, when people receive an SMS from a foreign number, they tend to associate it with a scam. So, if you use your regular number to share a promotional offer, for example, no one will take you seriously.

On the contrary, by using a virtual number, you can choose a number from the same location as your customers. This will make your messages much more trustworthy.

Much smoother communication with your customers and partners

To communicate with customers and partners, there is nothing better than using SMS. Thanks to their excellent delivery and open rates, SMS are highly effective communication channels, provided you share the same local number prefix. With an international virtual phone number, this condition is perfectly met.

Even if you don't mind sending international SMS to your customers, they might find it inconvenient. After all, with a standard phone number, if your foreign customers decide to reply, they will be charged international rates. They certainly won't want to spend extra money on that. As a result, you are much less likely to engage in two-way conversations with third parties using a standard phone number.

Much more affordable local rates

Ultimately, using an international number in France can help your business save a significant amount of money. The difference between local and international rates remains substantial, especially if your business operations require sending millions of messages per year.

In that case, opting for international virtual numbers is the perfect solution. These numbers allow you to take advantage of local messaging rates.

Get your international virtual number in France with Octopush

Octopush is a French company that makes it easy to rent your international virtual number. You can get the number you need in just a few clicks.

Even better, creating a simple account allows you to rent as many international virtual numbers as you like. We provide access to over 33 locations so you can truly benefit from global coverage.

What do you need to do?

• Step 1: Log in to your client area

Note that the dedicated platform that makes up your client area allows you to manage as many virtual numbers as you wish. This platform will be a great help for staying organized and significantly reducing your customer response times.

• Step 2: Select a local business number at no extra cost

Start by choosing the country for your number. Then, quickly browse a list of available virtual numbers for that location. Choose one (or more), and you're all set!

• Step 3: Fill in some information about your company: opening hours, welcome message, professional greeting, etc.
• Step 4: Choose the SMS packages that interest you

It couldn't be simpler!