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Category: Tips

UCaaS vs CPaaS: What’s the Difference?

5th May 2022 blog
Explaining the difference between UCaaS and CPaaS.

The evolution of communication software has brought us countless cloud-based business communication tools — such as UCaaS, CPaaS, CCaaS, and the list goes on. While they differ in purpose and …Read More »

The Japan Phone Number Code Explained

4th May 2022 blog
The Japan phone number code explained.

Looking to expand your business to the broad APAC and Japanese market or establish a local presence quickly? With the right Japan phone number and service provider, you can easily …Read More »

A Guide to Remote Working for Businesses

3rd May 2022 blog
Remote working guide for business in 2022.

Work-from-home business models are on the rise now more than ever. While this is mainly due to the pandemic, it is not the only motive. Even before 2020, remote working …Read More »

What is a Call Group? (Benefits, Strategies, Use Cases)

2nd May 2022 blog, Call Management
What is a call group?

An effective call flow creates a domino effect for your business. Your caller’s experience and satisfaction, first call resolution rates, and distribution methods all improve. Meanwhile, your hold times, abandonment …Read More »

18 Tips to Increase Call Center Sales

26th April 2022 blog
An image of sales call handling with tips for your call center.

Do you manage a call center that specializes in selling products? This blog was written for you! No matter what you’re selling and whether it’s inbound or outbound, this post …Read More »

Three 9s and Above: Guide to High-Availability Infrastructure

25th April 2022 blog, Call Management
An image of high availability infrastructure and an explanation.

When purchasing cloud services online, you might come across numbers like 99.999% uptime or 99.9% uptime. And as far as uptime goes, “99 point anything” should seem reliable enough. After …Read More »

Virtual Office Systems Provides Relief: Home Business Tips

8th September 2016 How To's, Tips

Home office professionals and entrepreneurs find accessibility with virtual office system benefits

Managing the day-to-day administration of paperwork, phone calls and accounting is one of the most difficult challenges of a home business professional. You don’t have the support system that you find in large corporations, with switchboards, trained customer service personnel and personal assistants. So when you’re running the show all on your own, you need help. It’s that simple.

One of the easiest ways to find help is to contact a virtual phone number provider, which can immediately make your life easier. By setting you up with a toll free forwarding number, and by providing you with the benefits that a competent provider can offer, you can propel your business to the next level. Here are some of the ways you’ll benefit:

Accommodations for travelers. Some of us travel across town, the state or the country in order to meet clients and get our business done. That’s a lot of time on the road, and if you’re not reachable, you’re losing clients. With a virtual phone number you’ll never miss another call! You can get the “follow me” voicemail solution that will find you no matter where you are. The phone service can try as many numbers as you’d like until they reach you. They can even screen your calls, so that you can decide which calls you want to take and which ones you’d like to send to voicemail.

Consultant assistance. With a phone service, you can create the important image of success a consultant needs to succeed, as well as serve your clients better and create more billable hours. Call forwarding service will allow you to maximize your availability during working hours and free yourself from calls after hours. You can control the numbers where you can be reached as well as the times of day and days of the week you are accessible.

Home business management. With a virtual phone system, you can present an image of success and professionalism that will give your customers a sense of confidence in your company. You will have a voicemail solution that allows you to work successfully from your home without sacrificing your personal life.

As a home office manager and entrepreneurs, finding help can be crucial for the success of your business. By finding a virtual office system that works for you, you can take a positive step in improving your business.

Home business and small business owners benefit from virtual office system features

Shopping for a virtual office system that can offer you things like 800 phone numbers, vanity numbers, and office management assistance can be mind-numbing. Especially if you’ve never had such a service before. Where do you start? There are dozens of companies out there that can offer you countless benefits.

Once you narrow down the main services you want, you’ll probably have lots of additional questions.

Here are some basic features that you’ll want to look for that will enhance your benefits and help your company see results:

  • Look for a competitive rate. Toll-free rates can be as low as 4.5 cents per minute, which is very competitive in today’s market.
  • Beware of lengthy contracts. Instead of getting tied up in a long-term commitment, look for a company that offers monthly subscriptions for toll-free numbers.
  • Rely on technical support. Make sure that the company you sign up with offers a client services department to help you with any questions that come up. You don’t want to be hung out to dry in the middle of the afternoon when you have a question or concern.
  • Look for customization. Your company may have special needs, like you may need rotational voicemail for different people or groups. You also might need a script for special recordings, or rather you might choose to utilize a voice talent service. Make sure you are given these options for maximum impact.
  • Look for accessibility. Make sure that you have call forwarding available to you. Also, investigate the features to the call forwarding service. For instance, can you choose the time of day or days of the week you would like to get calls from a particular number? Make sure you have options with this feature, as well as with Call Back and Paging options.
  • Number flexibility. If you have an existing 800 number, make sure you can direct it to your new system. You should also be able to attach multiple 800 numbers to your system as well.
  • Look for payment options. If suitable for your needs, look for a pay-as-you-go plan. This allows for additional flexibility. Another option is a prepaid minute plan, which can help you stay in control of your usage.
  • Consider additional customer benefits. Some companies offer customer referral programs, which might include giving you credit for every new customer you refer. These benefits can add up over a month or a year and help you save money.

As you consider signing on with a virtual office service, knowing the benefits to look for and the questions to ask can help save money and lots of time.

The Secret to Having a Virtual Staff Without the Expensive Salaries

7th September 2016 Learn, Tips

Running a small business, or even a home business, is no easy task. There are multiple areas that need attention in order for a business to be successful. You need a strong leader at the top, someone who can make tough decisions and inspire others. Strong financial planning to make sure the business is making money is essential. You also need skilled sales and marketing staff to create and deliver your key messages. Often, solo entrepreneurs find themselves filling the roles of CEO, CFO, Director of Marketing, Sales Manager as well as others like the Shipping Clerk, and even the Receptionist. In fact there are many supporting roles that help a business run successfully. Unfortunately, when most entrepreneurs are starting out they simply don’t have the resources to pay all of these salaries.

Unlike the venture capital-backed silicon valley start-ups that dominate the technology blogs, most home business owners rely on affordable solutions that focus on efficiency and multi-tasking. At Global Call Forwarding we like to think we provide a virtual office solution that assists business owners in fulfilling some of these roles.

The Rock Star Receptionist

Everyone knows the stereotype about the nightmare receptionist that shows up late, talks back, and is just an all round pain. The Global Call Forwarding customized greeting feature is like having a receptionist that answers your calls 24/7. Your calls are always answered politely and professionally, whether you work out of an office space, your home office, or even your mother’s basement. The Global Call Forwarding virtual receptionist never takes a break, never misses a call, and she’ll never make your spouse jealous!

The Ambitious First Assistant

We all wish we could afford a personal assistant. For business owners, one of the biggest challenges is prioritizing messages. There is nothing more non-productive than getting stuck on the phone with a pesky telemarketer or even that college buddy who just wants to complain about his cubicle farm job. With voicemail to email, Global Call Forwarding is like a First Assistant who doesn’t mind listening to all your voicemails and sending them to you via text or email. Say goodbye to long-winded and irrelevant voicemail messages and hello to more time focusing on what’s important.

The Genius Business Partner

Every small business owner dreams of expansion. Watch the looks on people’s faces when you show them your new business card with offices in Beverly Hills, Chicago, and Manhattan. With Global Call Forwarding as your business partner, you can add local business numbers to your account and forward them to your voice mail system. Add as many local or toll free numbers as you want.

The No BS Office Manager

Taking a call from your chatty mother-in-law or a pushy vendor during your busy day can take a toll on your productivity. Like a good Office Manager, Global Call Forwarding screens your calls and makes sure the important ones get through to you. The advanced IVR feature is there to keep you on track and help make the most of your valuable time.

For far less than the price of land line phone service through your local carrier, and even less than the cost of a business lunch, your Global Call Forwarding service is there to work for you.

What other services help you work more efficiently?

9 Questions to Ask your Toll Free Number Service Provider

10th August 2016 Learn, Tips

When it comes to running a business, every entrepreneur understands the importance of having a toll free number.  It assures professionalism, credibility, consistency, and—most importantly–it assures customer satisfaction. Since having a toll free number for your business is vital, you should make sure that you get the most out of it. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 questions, which we believe you should ask your toll free number service provider so that you get a better understanding of what they offer and whether it matches your needs.

How to Find a Reliable Toll Free Number Service Provider

When researching and finding a new toll free service provider, there are quite a few factors to consider. Here are 9 questions to ask your provider before you make a hiring decision about your toll free numbers:

1: Are you a RespOrg?

First of all, let’s understand—what is a RespOrg? RespOrg or Responsible Organization is a provider that is certified by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to supply toll free number services.

It assures that the provider or telecom company is not only well-trained but also certified to offer the best toll free number service. Having an authorized toll free service provider can vastly increase the chance of getting high-quality, reliable service. So it’s always recommended to get toll free numbers from an authorized RespOrg toll free service provider.

2: Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3—Who are Your ULCs?

Underlying Carriers (ULCs) are telecom companies that provide toll free as well as direct inward dialing or DID numbers to VoIP wholesalers. These wholesalers’ providers offer your business toll free service. ULCs are usually categorized with respect to their size: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

1. Tier-1 carriers — also called Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) — represent ULCs that are large telecom providers. A provider in this category is usually called the monopoly or oligopoly in the telecom industry.

2. Tier-2 carriers — also called Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) — are the most common providers. These providers peer with other Tier 2 networks and may purchase access or get a portion of their network from Tier-1 carriers. Most often, several CLECs are bought or absorbed by ILEC in the long run.

3. Tier-3 carriers get almost all of their network from a Tier-1 or Tier-2 carrier. These carriers are small, regional carriers and are wholesale aggregators with no direct access of their own.

Tier-1 carriers are considered to be reliable, stable, better quality, wider service area when compared with Tier-2 carriers. Tier-1 operators often acquire Tier-2 and Tier-3 carriers to broaden their coverage and customer base. The type of ULC or Tier your provider falls under can greatly impact the type and quality of service you will receive. Selecting a provider then depends on the price, quality, or service area.

3: Do You Provide Failover Protection?

Failover Protection refers to the process of the primary network automatically switching to a redundant network to ensure no calls are missed, during an event of service failure or disruption. During such a crisis or emergency, your business would need to direct incoming calls to numerous alternate numbers, devices, or networks. And if your provider offers Failover Protection, then when a switch goes inactive during a call, your calls automatically carry through another switch. With this set-up from your provider, your business will not miss or drop any calls.

4: Post Dial Delay (PDD), How Long Will it Be?

Post Dial Delay (PDD) is a delay after dialing a phone number. In other words, PDD occurs when you make a call and there is a moment of silence before the ring begins. Post dial delay happens when your call passes through several channels before it reaches the ULC. The delay extends when passed around more. If you can know your provider’s ULCs, you can have a better understanding of how much post dial delay you might experience.

5: Do You Provide Tracking Service (Additional Features)?

Not every toll free number provider offers a tracking service or additional features. Depending on the type of business, simply getting a toll free number is not enough. It’s always beneficial to find a service provider who offers additional features such as call recording, monitoring, and tracking.  This will help you to optimize every incoming call by analyzing it. You can browse through Global Call Forwarding’s features to get an idea of what toll free service providers offer.

6: Should I Expect Any Additional Charges?

Every provider is different and may have varying additional charges. For example, some providers charge extra for calls made outside the monthly minute limit; this is called an additional per-minute rate. Another circumstance is when additional charges are imposed when the total number of rejected incoming calls goes beyond the highest level of toll free traffic.

Receiving unanticipated additional charges is stressful and so you want to choose a provider with a predictable monthly bill and upfront additional charges. We recommend confirming with your provider what kind of additional charges you should expect.

7: What Locations Does Your Toll Free Service Cover?

Before selecting a toll free service provider, you need to know what locations and regions their service covers. For this, you need to plan out how you will handle your communication system and where your customers or end-users are located. If your provider does not cover your target markets, you may want to look for another provider.

8: What Numbers Do You Provide?

1-800 number is the traditional and most common toll free number format. However, now there are more toll free prefixes such as 833, 844, 866, 877, and 888. These numbers were developed due to a shortage of 1-800 numbers. And since there are only a few 1-800 numbers left, these variations are considered valuable in the industry.

You may even consider getting a vanity number with letters or patterns inserted within the number to make it memorable. For example, if you run a taxicab company, you can choose 1-800-Taxicab. Similarly, if you’re an online florist, you can choose 1-800-Florist. Note that most of the obvious or common words and names may already be in use, so you need to spice up your creativity to find a captivating number that is fresh and easy to remember.

9: Is Number Portability Possible?

You have a better chance to port your number if your carrier is a RespOrg. However, it is always a good idea to confirm number portability with your provider. So just before hiring the provider for toll free service, make sure that they facilitate number portability.

Global Call Forwarding’s Toll Free Number Service

With these questions besides you, you can surely ask your toll free number service provider these questions and get the maximum benefits out of the service. It will help you to find the ideal provider for you with respect to the price, quality, or service area. To learn more, speak with our experts or chat with us online!