Even if you are the proverbial one-person band working out of your home office or have only just started your business, you can still project a professional image and sound like an established company by using a virtual phone system. Often, the first impression someone has of your business is when they call you. If you are using your home phone and the background noise is the dog barking and kids’ TV blaring away, you will hardly make a great first impression. This is where an all-inclusive virtual phone system can be a lifesaver for you and your business.
A virtual phone system, or hosted PBX, is simple to set up and offers a whole host of services that will help you stay organized, in touch, and on top of your business.
First off, you need to decide what you actually need. Are you in your home office all day long? Are you a road warrior? Do you have a suite of offices and employees? Consider your business structure and how a virtual phone system will make communication with employees and clients easier and more efficient.
As you grow, you can have other phone numbers and extensions added. You may need more than one phone number in a variety of area codes.
If you are on the road or with clients, all of your calls can be forwarded to your mobile or to a colleague in another location. In addition, with a virtual phone system, you can have calls directed to voice mail and have messages delivered straight to your inbox so you may listen to them using your smartphone or tablet.
Determining a call plan will also be an important consideration. If you are just a one or two-person operation, you may not need a plan with lots of inclusive minutes. However, do you employ a telesales team? Do you make a lot of outbound calls? Make sure your call plan works for you and not against you and that you have the flexibility to add or remove call bundles when required.
A virtual phone system can be a major asset to any small business and will often save time and eliminate the anxiety of missed calls and missed communication. The survival of your business will depend greatly on how your customers perceive it. A virtual phone system will help you to compete on a level playing field by keeping overheads low, yet enabling you to handle calls professionally, wherever you are.
