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switch from a landline to VoIP

5 Signs Your Business Should Switch From a Landline to VoIP

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There are a few probable reasons why you might still be using a landline for your business. You may think your current phone system is working just fine or maybe you’re worried about the expense of switching from a landline to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). And of course, maybe it’s just that VoIP just seems so new and complicated. But here’s the thing; VoIP has been around for more than 20 years and is more dependable and easier to use than ever before.

If you haven’t yet switched to VoIP because it seems too complicated or expensive, it’s time to take a deeper look at how VoIP and a cloud-based phone system can transform your company.

Here are 5 signs that it’s time to make the switch from a landline to VoIP.

1. Your Business is Growing

Traditional landline phone systems can be difficult to scale to the needs of a growing business. Traditional PBX has limitations with a fixed number of lines and ports, which means adding more lines and purchasing new equipment. However, with VoIP, you have a cloud-based phone system to which can easily add more employees without having to purchase expensive equipment.

2. Frustrated Customers

If your customers are frustrated by constantly getting a busy signal when they call, having their calls dropped or waiting on hold, only to be picked up by the wrong person, it’s time to switch from a landline to VoIP. A VoIP phone system, with features such as auto-attendant or interactive voicemail, allows your customers to contact your business and their intended party quickly and easily.

3. You Have a Mobile Workforce

When you have employees working remotely from home or located around the world, a traditional landline system makes it impossible to use your business number for contact with clients. A VoIP system makes it easy for these employees to access your business phone system from any location and to be reached by clients as needed.

4. Your Phone System Isn’t Cost Effective

Between equipment costs, long distance calling and mobile bills, a business phone system with a traditional landline can be very costly. Making the switch from a landline to VoIP reduces these costs significantly. There’s no need to frequently update your phone system equipment, and long-distance charges will become a thing of the past. It also allows options for creating bring your own device (BYOD) policies that can integrate your employees’ devices to cut down on mobile costs.

5. Supporting Your Phone System is Too Time-Consuming

When you have a landline PBX system, it needs to be maintained by in-house staff or your IT department. Having to maintain an aging phone system takes your staff away from other important duties. Switching to VoIP eliminates the time spent keeping your phone system up and running.

FracTEL is setting the standard for easy set-up, call quality, and reliability that reduces IT support needs. We offer seamless onboarding, robust collaboration features and scalable communications solutions that help you focus on growing your business. Learn how a switch from a landline to VoIP can benefit your business by contacting FracTEL for more information.

Small business owners are struggling to keep ahead of explosive changes in business technology and mobility. Learn how you can accelerate your growth with mobile marketing.

eBook Accelerating Growth with Mobile Marketing

An Automated Receptionist Could be Your Best Employee

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The workplace is becoming increasingly fragmented, with employees frequently telecommuting from areas all across the country. In addition to this, the desire for a direct line of communication between your clients and your business is greater than ever. To keep up with the increasingly complicated web of communication, smart business owners are leveraging automated receptionist services, and it’s dramatically increasing the efficiency of their phone systems.

What is an Automated Receptionist?

An automated receptionist, also known as an auto-attendant, is an intelligent, automated phone answering solution. Auto-receptionists will answer your calls and guide them to the appropriate extension. In truth, they do so much more than that. With features that allow you to receive voicemails as emails and priority call forwarding, you never miss an important call.

In the past, automated call answering may have come across as cold or difficult to use, but auto-receptionist services have come far in the past decade. They are capable of utilizing modern technology to provide customers with a more natural experience. In fact, consumers are accepting, and even embracing, virtual aides like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri.

Why Automated Receptionists Make Great Employees

With an increasingly mobile workforce, it becomes difficult for in-office receptionists to keep track of where staff members are located and transfer calls to them in a timely manner. Fielding business calls is no longer as simple as it once was and maintaining consistent, quality communication with customers is more important to your brand than ever.

Automated receptionists offer distinct advantages over a live receptionist. One key benefit of an auto-attendant is consistency. As a business, it is important that you are always available to clients and potential customers even when you are out of the office. Auto-attendants provide clients with 24/7 access and modern cloud-based telecommunications services can promise 100% uptime.

In addition, they are cost-effective. The cost of installing and maintaining auto-attendant software is significantly lower than hiring a full-time receptionist.

With all of these features, you might be thinking that a system like this is difficult to install and maintain, right? This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most modern automated receptionist systems are plug-and-play and can be up and ready to go within minutes. An auto-attendant could be doing its job in a fraction of the time that it would take to train a new employee.

An automated receptionist is a smart way to handle customer calls and it can provide significant savings over a traditional receptionist. FracTEL’s Cloud PBX gives you access to Fortune 500 business phone features, including an auto-attendant, for a low monthly price. No complicated contracts, just the features you need for a flat rate per user.

Want to learn more about automated receptionists and cloud-based communications technology? Please, contact us today 1-855-372-2835.

Confused about business phone systems? Learn how to choose a business phone system in 5 easy steps with our free eBook. Download your copy today!

choosing a business phone system

mobile marketing helps businesses

Mobile Marketing Helps Businesses Grow Faster

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It seems today that business is moving faster than ever. However, there are some small to mid-sized business (SMB) owners that are finding it difficult to keep up, let alone stay ahead of all the innovations in business technology and mobility. If you want your business to grow, you need to increase information flow not only within your business, but also to your customers and vendors. And this is where advances in business phone systems can help by bringing their exceptional functionality to promote growth via mobile marketing.

How is Mobile Marketing Being Implemented?

More than 50 percent of the population uses their smartphones every day and marketers have taken note of this. The use of mobile marketing efforts and text-based marketing via cloud-based phone systems is leading the way for not only enterprise level businesses, but also for SMBs.

Consider these mobile marketing ideas that are now possible and affordable for SMBs:

  • Using text messaging through phone systems to contact customers
  • Sending location-based messaging and push-based messaging to mobile phones
  • Using SMS to announce sales and new product arrivals

Mobile Marketing Fuels Growth

Mobile marketing is a cost-effective way to reach targeted customers. According to Mobile Marketing Watch, 98% of SMS messages are opened. SMS marketing is permission-based, so those receiving the messages have willingly opted-in and are expecting a business’ messages. This highly targeted approach yields higher returns and greater customer satisfaction than email which often ends up in spam folders.

Mobile marketing has an immediate effect. Most people check their messages as soon as they receive them. When you can reach your customers at any time, wherever they are, you have an opportunity to build a relationship with them. Sending messages about sales and new product arrivals in advance of announcing them to the public is a way to make mobile customers feel special which can lead to increased sales and loyalty.

Benefits of Phone-Based Marketing

SMS functionality for SMBs is a popular feature with cloud-based phone systems. These systems provide an affordable way for SMBs to broaden their flexibility, automate their marketing and scale their systems.

Automating marketing can:

  • Boost your sales by integrating your desktop phone system with an on-screen CRM database. You can have instant access to your past customer interactions to increase your opportunities for upselling.
  • Improve your customer’s experience by providing useful business information while they are on hold. Calls can be recorded and monitored for review or training purposes, while marketing can be improved by analyzing call content, caller response rates and call times.
  • Create better advertising by using multiple numbers where you can test the effectiveness of different advertising messages and offers to see what works best for you. It is also possible to increase response rates by creating personalized numbers that are easy to remember.

Upgrading to a cloud-based phone system for your marketing efforts can provide you with significant savings over the cost of using traditional phone systems. If you want to save money and build more marketing value from your business’s phone system, a cloud-based phone system is a major asset for boosting your company’s marketing effectiveness.

FracTEL’s Cloud-based phone solutions take mobile marketing to the next level. SMBs are finding that our feature-rich system gives them the options they need to scale and grow their businesses. Using SMS and integrating it with a phone-based, automated marketing is a cost-effective way to reach targeted customers and drive sales.

How can FracTEL help your business grow? Contact us at 855-372-2835 to learn more.

Download our free eBook Accelerating Growth With Mobile Marketing to learn how your business can benefit from cloud-based phone systems and mobile call functionality.

eBook Accelerating Growth with Mobil Marketing

teleconferencing

5 Ways Teleconferencing is Impacting Today’s Businesses

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One of the advantages of switching to a cloud-based phone system for your business is the ability to connect instantly with two or more people and conduct a teleconference over one phone call. If you don’t presently have a cloud-based phone system or haven’t yet taken advantage of this great feature take a look at the advantages.

Here are 5 ways teleconferencing is making an impact on today’s businesses.

  1. Improves Speed of Project Completion

Screen-to-screen communication allows teams to communicate more efficiently and saves time by eliminating the need for in-person meetings. Having the ability to conference with team members can increase the speed of project completion and reduce costs.

  1. Makes Remote Working Possible

Remote workers reduce the need for additional office space, and teleconferencing makes it possible for everyone to participate in meetings or discuss work by simply pushing a few buttons. Teleconferencing can reduce logistical and cost barriers that inhibit team growth.

  1. Common Link for Branch Offices

Having multiple branches, whether spread out throughout the country or around the world, can put a drain on the travel budget when meetings are needed. Teleconferencing greatly reduces the need for travel and allows for instant communications when needed. This can be very important when news needs to be shared quickly with multiple stakeholders.

  1. Helps B2B Communications

Time is money. When working with other businesses, it can be inconvenient to schedule time for a meeting where everyone can be present without taking time away from the office. Teleconferencing eliminates the need for traveling to a vendor or supplier’s office by allowing you to meet from anywhere, at any time.

  1. Cuts Down on Business Travel

Business travel is expensive and, at times, inconvenient for all parties involved. Coordinating schedules, making travel arrangements and coordinating meetings is a time-intensive process. Flight delays and emergencies can prevent meetings from taking place and then you’re back to square one. Teleconferencing eliminates travel expenses, such as planes fares, transportation from the airport, hotel costs and meal expenses. The better option is holding a teleconference from your desk with your cloud-based phone system.

Let FracTEL show you how conferencing with a Cloud-Based Phone System can improve the way you do business in today’s global economy.

Confused about business phone systems? Learn how to choose a business phone system in 5 easy steps with our free eBook. Download your copy today!

choosing a business phone system

 

Switching Business Phone Services

Switching Business Phone Services? Look for These 6 Features to Get More Bang for Your Buck

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If your business has outgrown its current phone service and you’re looking to scale to a more advanced system, you are probably noticing that the latest technology is Cloud PBX.

Cloud PBX technology brings together cloud computing and a PBX phone system. The cloud allows data to be stored and accessed over the internet instead of requiring a dedicated computer or server. Public Branch Exchange (PBX) is a phone technology that is used by telephone providers to route calls. In the past, PBX technology required a significant investment in hardware, installation and maintenance and that system needed to be run on-site. With Cloud PBX business phone services, you are basically getting a phone system that is based over the internet. A cloud-based network allows you to have voice, data, and video on the same platform.

If you’re switching your business phone services to a Cloud PBX phone system, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the various features that are available. As a cost-conscious business owner, you want to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck by selecting the right system with features that you need and will use. You need features that can scale with your business.

Here are five business phone service features to consider:

  1. Auto-Attendant

Having an auto-attendant can help take away the frustration callers often have when trying to reach a specific person or department. This function allows callers to select a touch tone option from a menu. Your recordings and options can be updated from your Admin Portal very easily.

  1. Voice Mail

This feature provides a voicemail box for every extension on your phone system for messages when calls cannot be answered personally. Employees can have secure access to their messages not only through their phone but also through their email or an app installed on their smartphone.

  1. Call Forwarding

The call forwarding function allows users to easily route calls to another extension or telephone number when they are not available in the office on a temporary or permanent basis when needed. This ensures that important calls reach their intended party quickly.

  1. Follow Me

You and your employees can always stay connected and never miss an important call with the follow me feature. As business is becoming more and more mobile, your business phone services should reflect that with a feature, such as follow me that programs your incoming call to ring multiple devices all at once or in order.

  1.  Smartphone Integration

This feature allows you to take the features of your desk phone with you on the go with an app for your Android or iOS phone. With Smartphone integration, your outbound calls will show up on the called party’s caller ID as your business number.

  1. Video Conferencing

There are times when a face-to-face conversation works better than a phone call, but time and location make an in-person meeting difficult to arrange. Staying connected with employees and customers remotely is possible thanks to video conferencing technology. A cloud based telecommunications system allows you to connect with your employees and customers via video, helping establish better relationships while saving time and money.

FracTEL provides advanced Cloud PBX technology, helping businesses stay connected to their customers with a single, easy to deploy, simple to manage telecommunication solution. Our state of the art network provides more than 25 features for one easy price so you get more out of your business phone service. Discover how our Cloud PBX solution can help your business grow faster by migrating to the cloud with a 100% uptime guarantee.

 

Dependable Business Phone System

A Dependable Business Phone System is Crucial to Your Growth

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Missed phone calls mean missed opportunities.

If your business phone system is not dependable and you have calls dropping from poor quality, or your customers get frustrated trying to navigate it, you are likely missing opportunities. These are opportunities for business growth, opportunities for satisfied customers and opportunities to outdo your competitors.

Considering New Technology, is the Telephone Dead?

No, in fact, consumers still contact companies either to make a purchase, book an appointment or get customer service support primarily via the phone. Technology can often be a barrier between a company and its customers which is why customer service is more important than ever. Customers want to feel valued, not like technology has turned them into a commodity.

According to research by NewVoiceMedia:

  • $41 billion is lost each year due to poor customer service
  • 75% of consumers think calling is most effective for a quick response
  • 53% are irritated if they don’t speak to a real person immediately
  • 59% prefer to contact a business by phone
  • 25% of consumers switch to a different company because they are tired of being put on hold
  • After a positive experience, 69% would recommend the company to others and 50% would use the company more frequently

What Your Phone System Says About Your Business

Whether you like it or not, the state of your business phone system makes an impression on your customers. You have likely had your own experience with trying to reach a customer service department, only to have your call dropped during a transfer. This can be very frustrating, especially when you are seeking answers to critical questions you have about a product or service. It also gives you a poor impression of the company you are attempting to contact.

The same could be said for your own business phone system. If your customers can’t reach you or your system’s call quality is poor…what impression are you giving your customers? A bad one because your customers or potential customers might consider your business to be unprofessional, or worse yet, your customers will think you just don’t care. If this sounds like your phone system, maybe it is time to make a change for the better.

Cloud PBX for a Dependable Business Phone System

Upgrading your business phone system to Cloud PBX guarantees that your system is up and ready at all times because your system is continually monitored to catch problems before they cause a service issue. You are always assured excellent call quality.

Dependability and call quality from Cloud PBX can help improve the impression that your customers are getting from your business, but this type of system offers even more than dependability. No matter the size of your business, your phone system can offer features that make your business look more professional, such as an auto-attendant and voicemail that can direct calls to where they need to be without dropping transferred calls. You’ll never miss a voice mail message with features like Voice2Email, Fax2Email, and smartphone integration.

Considering that 96% of a typical business’ marketing budget is spent persuading a customer to call, shouldn’t your phone system be a top priority? If your phone system isn’t dependable and your customers or potential customers can’t reach you, they will look for other options by calling your competition. Learn how a dependable Cloud PBX system can assure that your customers know they are valued and appreciated and that you are there to serve them with top tier care.

FracTEL was founded on the principle that settling for anything less than 100% customer satisfaction is simply unacceptable. We know you have the same commitment to your customers. Find out how FracTEL can help your business take advantage of the latest in cloud communications technology. Call us today at 321-499-1023 or contact us for more information.

Related Article:

Research Shows That the Best Companies Leverage Cloud Technology

FracTEL CTO to Host Grandstream Networks Webinar

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Expert Outlook: Dynamic Business Solutions Through Cloud Communications

FracTEL invites you to join our CTO, Olaf Bellstedt,  for a Webinar hosted by our Videoconferencing partner Grandstream Networks.

Please click on the image below to view the Webinar:

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Find out how FracTEL can help your business take advantage of the latest in cloud communications technology.  Call us today at 321-499-1023 or visit us at www.fractel.net

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