In a previous post I explained how much faster and easier it is to use Google instead of the Yellow Pages to find a business telephone number.
And yep, I still believe that Google is the best “Yellow Pages” around.
That being said, there are times when using Google from a mobile phone can be a bit difficult, and “Googling” from a landline phone is pretty much impossible. You can always dial 411, but that would almost certainly result in a fee of $1 or more per directory assistance call.
Luckily, you can easily get that number for free, even without using a search engine or having to dial 411.
If you ever find yourself needing to find a phone number without the aid of Google, you can still skip the Yellow Pages by using a fantastic free service called 1-800-FREE411.
To use 1-800-FREE411, simply dial that number (skip the leading 1 if you’re using a cell phone) and follow the automated prompts. This is a very easy number to remember since it includes 800, the word FREE, and the commonly-used number 411.
You’ll likely hear a very short advertisement (that’s how they can offer the service for free) followed by instructions to provide the pertinent information about the entity you’re wanting to call.
I’ve used 1-800-FREE411 several times in the past, and I “looked up” the numbers for several local businesses while preparing to write this post. I received the correct number every time.
Bottom line: While I still prefer using Google to find business phone numbers whenever possible, when Google isn’t available I still skip the Yellow Pages and dial 1-800-FREE411 instead.
Bonus tip: Unlike the Yellow Pages, 1-800-FREE411 will give you government numbers and private numbers as well as businesses. Of course the private numbers have to be generally available to the public, which for the most part means landlines only.