What is a vanity number?
A vanity number is a phone number whose digits spell a word or form an easy-to-remember pattern on the phone keypad.
Why it matters for sales teams
Vanity numbers are made to be remembered. They work well in ads, on signs and in radio spots, where a prospect has to recall the number and dial it later. They are often toll-free numbers, though local vanity numbers exist too.
For outbound calling they add little. Caller ID shows digits, not letters, so the prospect sees an ordinary number. A vanity number earns its keep on inbound calls, where the prospect is the one dialing.
Example
A company's ad shows a toll-free number that ends in the letters for DEMO, which are the digits 3366 on a keypad. A prospect who saw the ad remembers the word, dials it a week later, and reaches the sales line without looking anything up.
Vanity number vs local number
A vanity number is chosen to be remembered. A local number is chosen to look nearby on caller ID. One helps prospects call you; the other is meant to make your outbound calls look familiar.