If you’re looking to invest in a new B2B service for your business but don’t want to fully commit, it’s well worth taking advantage of free trials. These let you test out a service with no obligation (just make sure you cancel the trial in plenty of time, so the first payment isn’t taken from your card).
You might wonder what businesses are getting out of allowing anyone to use their services for free. What’s in it for them? Data.
Every person who creates a trial account hands over their personal details, including their email and, often, their phone number. It’s a quick and easy way for companies to build their marketing lists while giving something back to their potential customers. But what if you don’t want to share your private data for the sake of a quick trial? Keep reading for alternative options.
The Alternative to Sharing Your Real Number
There are a few reasons why a company might ask for your phone number when you’re creating a trial account. Aside from being for marketing purposes, they’ll probably also want to see proof that you’re a real person and not a spam account. You might have to verify your phone number by entering an SMS code to complete the signup process.
With this in mind, the idea of simply entering a fake number or one that isn’t your own isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to be able to communicate with the number you supply, and that’s where using a temporary number from a provider like SMSPool may be the ideal solution.
How Temporary Numbers Work
Temporary numbers are sold for short-term use online. There are two kinds commonly available:
- VoIP numbers
- Non-VoIP numbers
For trial signups, you’ll specifically want to buy a non-VoIP number. Why? Because these are tied to a real SIM, unlike VoIP numbers, which are internet-based and often associated with spam accounts. If you want your number to be accepted when you’re creating an account, it needs to be non-VoIP.
How to Use A Temporary Number For a Free Trial
To use a temporary number for a free trial, just buy a number from your chosen provider and enter that number into the required field as you’re creating an account for a free trial. Click or enter to enable the SMS verification code to be sent out.
This code will then come through to the temporary number you’ve bought, and you’ll be able to view it online. Enter the code to verify your identity, then follow the steps to complete the signup process.
Final Thoughts
The great thing about temporary numbers is that they’re quick and easy to access, affordable, and can be used for pretty much any online signup process that requires SMS authentication.
With that said, keep in mind that you’ll only have temporary access to the number in question. So, if you want to start using a service beyond the free trial and the platform asks for SMS verification each time (such as for two-factor authentication), you’ll need to switch to a number that you have ongoing access to.