By phone, by web...by golly, what a good idea!

3663 First for Foodservice, the largest foodservice distributor in Britain, doesn't use the domain 3663.co.uk just because it's easy to type and it spells the company's core product, 'food.' The main service hotlines of 3663 actually include the numeric string '3663.' Enquiries to 3663's corporate headquarters for a multitude of services are made to 0870 3663 XXX. For instance, independent caterers may enquire about 3663's services at 0870 3663 100, while catering chains dial 0870 3663 720, catering equipment enquirers call 0870 3663 960, human resources is reached at 0870 3663 358, the business support center is 0870 3663 100, etc...

How easy is that? Caterers, restaurant owners and other clients of 3663 find that it's a cinch to remember the phone number to make enquiries, and even easier for the domain name (3663.co.uk). Do you know of any other company name that is a brand, a domain name, and part of the telephone number?

Other companies can learn from the success of 3663 First for Foodservice, which was recently ranked 19 in the 2007 Sunday Times list of the UK’s Best Big Companies to Work For. Although a vast majority of companies won't go so far as to simply drop their name in favor of a numeric one, companies could consider doing what 3663 did: register both a telephone hotline number and a domain name that are your brand's wordnumber. So, let's say, you are the CEO of Sproose, the 'user-improved' search engine. Why not obtain the phone number 1-888-777-6673, or one of the other toll-free equivalents, and also register the domain 7776673.com? 7776673 spells Sproose on most phone keypads. Once you 'spell' it out, customers will 'get it' and ever after remember your phone number and type your domain name with ease.