Phones are the lifeblood of a business’ communications.
Email is great, but really, nothing compares to hearing a person’s voice when you’re trying to connect with clients or partners. But so many businesses are trapped in expensive and clunky phone plans that just don’t deliver much bang for the buck you pay.
That’s why many business owners are taking advantage of new telephone technology to escape traditional phone providers. But how do you find the plan that’s right for you? Here are 5 important considerations when choosing your new business telephone service:
- Is it accessible outside the office?
Your business isn’t confined to the office – so your phones shouldn’t be either. A good business telephone service should offer options to access at home or on the go, not just for when you’re working outside the office, but also to cover you in case of disaster. A mobilized phone solution is key to staying operational when your office is closed because of a blizzard or any other business interruption.
- Does it use traditional phone lines or the Internet?
Many modern phone solutions use the Internet instead of traditional phone lines, which offers a lot of flexibility and potential savings. However, this can be a problem if you don’t have a dedicated high-speed Internet connection. Make sure you know what your Internet connection can handle before you select a new phone service.
- How easy is it to integrate with mobile devices?
Will you be able to use your phone service on your smartphone? If yes, how hard is it to do so? Are there easy apps you can download to connect to the service, or do you have to jump through a bunch of hoops? What kind of quality will you get on your mobile phones?
- Does it offer business-class features without huge extra fees?
Many smaller businesses think they can’t afford features like conference calls, voice to email transfer, or automated attendants, but a good business phone solution should be able to wrap these features into a flat-rate fee that’s easy to budget for. Get a list of all the potential features the service offers and make sure they come as part of the package.
- Are there any hidden costs?
The worst part of most traditional phone plans is the uncertainty that comes with the monthly bill. How many long distance charges will you have? Will there be extra fees for services you used once or twice? Did they slap a fee on for that support phone call you had to make? A good plan should offer everything you need for one flat-rate monthly fee, so you always know what you’re going to pay.
The team at {company} offers the best options for {city} businesses looking for a new telephone service. Our phone solutions are flexible, easily customized to your exact needs, and able to fit neatly into your budget. Contact us at {phone} or {email} to schedule a consultation and learn more.
