When was the last time you gave a thought to your business phone system? Perhaps the last time there was an outage? If your company's roots go deep, it's possible that you're sitting comfortably with a PBX system, thinking that if it's not broken, there's no need to fix it. There are an unfathomable number of choices for business phone systems right now. Do you want something that lives in the Cloud, or something that you can see in a closet? What are you starting with -- do you have an on-site PBX, landlines and heavy technical support, or is your company lean, mean, and completely comfortable relying on an internet service provider (ISP) with tools off-site?
Avaya offers a cloud phone system that lets its users call, chat, meet, and collaborate with employees and customers all on one platform. Their tool is designed to offer personalized, intelligent, and effortless interactions for all Avaya users.
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But VoIP requires a reliable broadband Internet connection. So for businesses that don't have access to broadband, an analog system may be the only option. If you're unclear on how the two systems differ, this Guide to VoIP compares them in easy-to-understand language.
8. “Thanks for calling [your name] at [your company]. I didn’t mean to send you to voicemail but I am either on the line with another client or on the go. Leave your name, number, the reason for your call today and the best time to call you back. I’ll speak with you shortly! ” Your caller probably wanted to reach you, not your voicemail. Advise your caller that you’re simply on the line with another caller and you’ll be right with them.
19. “Thank you for calling [company]. We’re closed for [holiday] from [date] until [date]. Please leave your message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a happy holiday!”
If they are calling without an expectation that you always pick up (such as if you are a business coach or a one-man shop) then thanking them for calling might make the most sense.
Get a business 1-800 number, or an 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833, which can routed…
A local DID number may be forwarded by our infrastructure to landline or mobile phones or a VOIP Provider.
18. Hello, you’ve reached the voicemail box for [employee name] at [company name]. [Employee first name] has moved onto a different position, but our new [job title, employee name] will be happy to assist you. Please call [number, extension] or leave a message here and a representative will get back to you.
You don’t have to spell out every single thing that you think they might want to know. Have some faith that your callers will be able to figure things out on their own. Be natural but informative.
We offer business phone numbers across all local and toll-free area codes in the U.S. and Canada. We offer unlimited business voice & text messaging and the important business features you need to grow. LinkedPhone specifically serves the small business community.
VoIP security. As touched on above, the underlying protocol for VoIP is SIP and it wasn't built with security in mind. This means hackers are taking advantage of several new attack vectors. One example is a denial of service (DoS) attack specifically on a phone service rather than the network as a whole. This will garble or drop your service because it results in your connection quality degrading, heavy latency, and system crashes. Caller ID spoofing is also becoming more common. This amounts to a phishing attack using a phone rather than an email. By calling workers with a caller ID that looks like it's coming from inside the company, hackers are able to get employees to cough up all kinds of sensitive information because they think they can trust the person at the other end of the call.
Consider your voicemail and text message as one of the many ways you brand your business. It is a method of communication that should be as professional and engaging as you are in person. We cannot always get to our phone in time to answer personally, so whether it is your own phone’s greeting or you are leaving one, make sure your message
Sometimes the difference between the winner listed above and the company in second place is something as simple as price or hardware. For small businesses or small offices, Jive's service features starting at the base price of $19.95 a month per user were extremely appealing, and the company offers more features than Grasshopper. While Ooma has almost everything a small business wants or needs, keep in mind the company requires the purchase of a $99 base station if you want to keep your existing phones and landline, plus an additional $20 monthly charge per phone. In the end, the outlay of cash needed to purchase equipment may be more than a small company can bear.
18. “Thanks for calling [Company name/your name]. We hope you’re enjoying the holiday season. We aren’t available at the moment due to our holiday hours. Leave your name, number and the reason for your call and we’ll get back to you ASAP! Thanks for calling.” Everyone deserves a break. Let your callers know although you might be enjoying one too, that their needs are important.
77% of people believe that a phone call is the most efficient way to get business done. But have you got the right call handling protocols in place?
A welcome greeting provides callers with a company greeting and, if you decide to set them up, a list of call menu options. A company greeting lets callers know they've reached the right number and gives them confidence that they're working with a professional business. You have three options for your company greeting. 1) Use your own voice 2) Use our excellent text to speech technology, or 3) Upload an MP3 file. You also have the option of working with our professional voice talent. If you're interested in professional voice talent, drop us a note with your script, your preferred voice among the samples below, and we'll work to get you the best possible pricing.