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Do Automated Phone Calls Work in Sales?

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#162978254 ID#31019327

Have you ever wondered whether automated phone calls work in sales? In this article, we will take a look at how an automated phone calls can increase your sales, including:

  • Efficiency
  • Never Miss an Inbound Caller
  • Keeping Your Employees Occupied
  • Blacklisting and Whitelisting

Efficiency

Sales is a numbers game. Therefore, the more efficient your business is set up with automation, the better your sales will be. United World Telecom offers many ways to increase the efficiency of your business. Here are just a few of the many possibilities for business:

Simultaneous ringing: All connected devices ring at the same time, ensuring that every inbound call is answered in the shortest time period possible.
Directory: By creating an automated directory for inbound callers using a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), interested callers can self-select through your company’s staff and departments to reach the exact personnel they want to transact with.

CallMe Click: Customers don’t have the time to write down a phone number of a salesperson or your company. By bridging the digital divide with a call now button, you create a more motivated buyer that can click on a web link and initialize a phone call with your sales personnel instantly.

Automated Phone Calls
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Never Miss an Inbound Caller

A large part of sales is ensuring that the timing is right. Often, the window of opportunity only remains open for a short period before they move on to your more easily-accessible competitors.

United World Telecom offers quite a few ways for your sales team to never miss an inbound call. First, a popular feature known as “simultaneous ringing” is just as the name implies: when a phone number is dialed, all connected devices ring at the same time. Whoever answers it first is the winner. This incentivizes your sales team to handle sales calls ambitiously, creating a positive competitive environment.

Similarly, failover forwarding is another crucial feature from United World Telecom. This allows inbound calls to ring through a list of numbers, automatically forwarding until it is received. There are also more advanced options available to automate customer support.

Keeping Employees Occupied

Sales personnel are notorious for forging their own paths and being the masters of their own destiny. However, this can have detrimental consequences for your business, particularly if your sales team is prone to wasting their time. You can automate Inbound calls for distribution among your sales personnel with United World Telecom’s call routing services.

Even better, United World Telecom’s intuitive dashboard logs data from phone calls that can apply directly to your staff. For instance, you can compare who closes the most deals versus how much time they spend on the phone. During quarterly reviews, you can use analytics to gather performance-related data on your sales team, readjust how they handle sales calls, or even terminate lagging employees.

Blacklisting and Whitelisting

Another crucial feature of call routing functionalities from United World Telecom is the ability to blacklist and whitelist calls. For blacklisting, you can automate calls to reach your salespeople while ensuring certain calls do not get through. Similarly, for whitelisting, you enable only certain calls to go through. As an example, you can whitelist only VIPs and clients that are closing deals in the near future for higher-tier sales employees, while assigning only cold calls to staff that excels in that skill.

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In Conclusion

To conclude, as you can see, United World Telecom’s services can help streamline automation in your organization to boost sales. By using some of the examples in this article as well as your own creativity, your sales team can operate more effectively. Above all, automated phone calls can be an excellent option for sales teams.

How To Create a Phone Survey with IVR

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#162768548 ID#110586676

As a business, you know that listening to your customers’ wants and needs will help you to survive in today’s fast-paced economy. However, not every customer is forthright enough to comment on your business’ operations. However, the best way to go about finding out about their experiences with your business and potential pain points is simply by asking them with a phone survey.

The Amazingness of Phone Surveys

A valuable resource for your business because you can get direct feedback from your customers, the power of phone surveys is monumental. This feedback, in turn, leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction, loyalty, and – above all – shows that your customers’ opinions actually matter.

Thanks to advancements in cloud-based telephony and voice-recognition technology, you can optimize your phone surveys with IVR. Short for Interactive Voice Response, phone surveys with IVR offer recipients an easy way to provide feedback. Instead of online surveys, where participants can click through complicated questions with multiple choice answers, IVR-based phone surveys enable more direct communication. Either by simply pressing corresponding numbers or by using their voice, customers can provide honest feedback in the most efficient way possible.

Creating IVR Phone Surveys

In this article, we’ll cover how to create a phone survey with IVR to get the results your business needs to succeed, including:

  • Signing up with United World Telecom
  • Determining the Right Type of IVR Survey for Your Business
  • Best Practices for Creating IVR-based Phone Surveys

Signing Up With United World Telecom

The most obvious step to creating a phone survey with IVR is by utilizing United World Telecom’s services. United World Telcom’s top-notch IVR technology allows you to easily send polls and surveys to customers. Using United World Telecom’s API, you can also customize your IVR system to suit more complex needs. To learn more, read this article about IVR and contact United World Telecom to walk you through the process.

Determining the Right Type of IVR Phone Survey for Your Business

Not all phone surveys serve the same function. Phone surveys offer endless usages depending on the type that you choose. Let’s look at some of the most widely-used types:

Inbound IVR Phone Survey: Customers or leads receive an invitation to participate in a survey by calling a phone number. This is normally sent through email, letters, or other types of printed marketing material.
Call Transfer IVR Phone Survey: At the beginning of the call, current customers will receive invitations to participate. From there, they will transfer to a pre-recorded survey after their transaction or service call concludes. (Note: These are also referred to as “post-call IVR surveys”)
Outbound IVR Phone Survey: Invitations are broadcasted to a target audience (via radio, video, etc.) asking them to participate in a survey.

How To Create a Phone Survey with IVR
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Best Practices for Creating IVR-based Phone Surveys

Once you’ve determined what type of IVR phone survey you need, there are some best practices you should follow to get the best results and honest feedback. Below are several best practices to create engaging IVR surveys that achieve the results you want.

Determining Specific Goals for your IVR Phone Survey

Nothing causes customers more anguish than a survey that doesn’t seem to have a clear purpose. Before crafting a survey, you should brainstorm why you need the survey. It’s obvious that you want to improve your company by offering a phone survey, but you’ll want to target specific aspects of your company. For instance, you may want to improve customer service, so creating customer-service-oriented questions is a smart decision. Or, perhaps you want to determine which products your company should offer. For this, you want to ask them specifically what they would like to see improved and/or available.

Remain Concise Through the Process

The longer the survey, the fewer results you’re likely to achieve as customers will likely lose interest and drop off. Most phone surveys should take less than five minutes total – and for callers that have already been on the phone, that time is even shorter. Remember, it is better to get some feedback than none. Also, you’ll want to mention how long the survey takes. No one wants to get stuck on the phone or have a sense that it will never end.

Use Simple and Precise Language

Keep your phone surveys simple. Even if you deal with highly-technical products and services, avoid including words and phrases that aren’t normally used in everyday speech. The danger is that those surveyed might misinterpret these words/phrases and provide feedback that isn’t accurate.

Test Your Phone Survey

It’s a very wise idea to do a few dry-runs before launching an IVR phone survey. In other words, do not launch the survey until you’re confident it meets your criteria and flows well. You may notice that a specific question causes most people to drop off the survey. Or, you may want to add questions that clarify positive and negative responses.

With great service comes great power

Surveys are one of the best ways to gauge your customers’ experiences and get a feel for how they benefit from your services. With the information offered, we hope you will take advantage of the option of creating simple yet wholly user-friendly surveys via IVR. Effective and cost-friendly, this method can help you get the feedback you need to continuously provide great service and products that meet the needs of your clients.

Sales Management: Building a Global Call Center Sales Team

Posted on by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161512962 ID#88021484

A sales team functions as the core of any sales-oriented business. In order to have a successful sales team, the business must have a focused and effective sales management system in place. Similarly, management systems include systems and metrics to track sales. The sales management plan should also include follow up and periodic reviews. Above all, these components are necessary for a sales team to grow and thrive in a consistent manner.

What is Sales Management?

Sales management involves developing a sales force, coordinating various sales operations, and putting sales techniques in place. Therefore, the ultimate goal of sales management is to allow an organization to consistently meet and surpass sales targets. So, for any business that brings in revenue, a sales management strategy is extremely important.

Sales Management Processes

Research shows a clear split between organizations that establish well-defined sales management processes and those that don’t. A few of the most critical sales management processes include systematic hiring, coaching the sales force, business planning, establishment of common goals, and performance management.

  • Systematic Hiring: It is extremely important to hire top-level sales staff. An effective hiring process includes methods to examine whether a candidate is fit for the position from many different angles. Using the same list of questions for interviews allows for a systematic and focused process.
  • Coaching: This is the number one activity that drives sales. Companies that have a well-understood coaching program in place consistently outperform those that do not.
    Business Planning: Business planning at the sales manager level means identifying key customers within the region and creating customer plans accordingly. Business planning allows for better targeting of sales efforts.
  • Common Goals: A sales manager makes sure the sales team aligns with the company goals.
  • Performance Management: Setting objectives and reviewing performance, both periodically and annually, is imperative. Figuring out how the organization will deal with non-performance is also key.
Sales Management: Building a Global Call Center Sales Team
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161514956 ID#8771371

Running the Call Center

Many organizations find that allowing their call center specialists to work from home is a win-win for everyone involved. This allows the staff flexibility and allows the organization significant cost-savings.

Taking the Call Center Global

Particularly when forming a global call center, allowing for sales staff to work remotely is typically the best option. A business owner with a well-trained, knowledgeable staff that is familiar with the company policies and the product or service they sell can operate a call center from anywhere.

What is a Virtual Number?

A virtual phone number is a number that works through the use of the Internet versus the use of a hard-wired phone line. Virtual phone numbers offer many benefits. For instance, they give business owners flexibility and mobility unmatched by traditional phone lines. Calls made to virtual phone numbers automatically forward to any phone number, depending on the changing needs of a business. Virtual phone numbers also allow for a business to meet global needs, such as offering services in various time zones.

How Do I Get a Virtual Number For My Business?

Getting a virtual phone number for your business is simple. With a simple search, you will see that various providers offer virtual phone numbers. Therefore, it is important to go with a provider that has experience and a reputation for offering a great product along with excellent customer service. United World Telecom has been offering global communications solutions to businesses for over two decades. Along these lines, UWT also offers many features and virtual numbers in over 150 countries worldwide.

“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”

When focusing on sales management and building a successful global call center sales team, careful planning must take place. Above all, with proper systems employed and everyone on the same page, an organization is well prepared to take the success of the business to great heights.

Is Using a VoIP Phone Service Right for Me?

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#124916154 ID#27446420

In today’s global business environment, staying connected with clients and team members is more critical than ever. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has emerged as a a versatile, cost-effective solution for modern cloud communication. From helping cut down communication costs to providing scalability and flexibility, VoIP phone services are far more advanced than traditional phone systems. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, understanding why VoIP is a necessity in the digital age could be the key to unlocking your company’s communication potential.

Why You Need a VoIP Phone Service for Business

So, is VoIP phone service right for you? In this article, we will briefly cover how a VoIP phone service with virtual phone numbers can impact and improve your business communication; we’ll look at the following reasons:

  1. Communicate with International Customers
  2. Expanding Your Business Model
  3. Virtual Offices and Locations
  4. Professionalism and Efficiency

#1: Communicate with International Customers

One of the significant benefits of using VoIP phone services is the convenience and affordability of communicating with international clients. Traditional phone systems usually come with expensive long-distance charges and complicated pricing structures that can limit global communication. However, VoIP technology utilizes the internet to transmit voice data, which significantly lowers the cost of international calls. This implies that businesses can now reach out to customers across the world without worrying about high phone bills.

#2: Expanding Your Business Model

Using voice service can greatly impact how quickly your business scales. Traditionally, in a business environment, it would take a company a vast amount of resources to open up a branch location in another part of the world. However, with the aforementioned virtual model taking precedence in the 21st-century, this is no longer necessary. Instead, businesses can adopt a lean startup approach by scaling down their overheads while also maintaining a human element by phone.

#3: Virtual Offices and Locations

Virtual offices are the way of the future, with many large corporations and startups embracing this lean model of operation. While virtual offices are held primarily online, there still is the need to speak with individuals over the phone to clarify information, resolve disputes, provide a more human, personal connection to staff, and more. Businesses can use a VoIP phone service in conjunction with an online collaboration platform can create an efficient and cohesive office-like environment.

Similar to virtual offices, virtual locations offer a way to virtualize your business anywhere around the world. Thanks to the instant routing capabilities of virtual phone numbers, your business can create the image of a branch office and interface with locals seamlessly.

Is Using a VoIP Phone Service Right for Me?
Source: DepositPhotos.com – O#84180868 ID#27446420

#4: Professionalism and Efficiency

In business, appearance is everything. One of the main benefits of using VoIP phone numbers is that you gain a professional aesthetic by using them.

Think about the last time that you contacted a high-volume professional organization by phone. Chances are, that call was a toll free number using a VoIP  service. These toll free numbers enable users to automatically route calls around the world instantly — something traditional telecom networks don’t provide.

Businesses that want to extend toll free calling can choose ITFS numbers to accommodate those located abroad. Short for international toll free service numbers, these numbers use a familiar toll free prefix to connect international callers with your business without incurring a fee. UIFN, or Universal International Freephone Numbers, work in a similar fashion, enabling your business to provide toll free calling to two or more countries at once.

One common complaint about regular phone service is that businesses lack the ability to easily alter their service. United World Telecom makes this easy with an intuitive interface and dashboard geared towards the ultimate in efficiency. You can make changes in your service and track data analytics in real-time.

For instance, you may want to remove problematic callers from reaching your organization. To do so, simply blacklist the problem numbers. On the flip side, you can whitelist numbers to enable only those calls to go through (perfect for VIP callers).

To Conclude

In closing, now you know how VoIP phone service can impact your business and personal life. Therefore, you should have a better grasp of how VoIP Can benefit your communications. To take things further, you can start subscribing with United World Telecom today!

Why are your SaaS Sales dropping?

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#56487165 ID#27446420

Do you run a SaaS (Software as a Service) company? In today’s modern economy, competition is fierce and may affect your sales. If you’ve noticed your SaaS sales dropping, there are a few aspects you can utilize for a competitive edge and profitability.

In this article, we will take a look at how to boost your sales for your SaaS company with telecom services from United World Telecom.

Is Your Company Accessible by Phone?

It may seem like an obvious statement of fact, but SaaS companies typically overlook the human element. Particularly, when it comes to attracting and retaining new customers. The reason for this is because the software is usually purchased and administered by way of the Internet. As a result, Saas companies don’t feel the need to devote their budget to being accessible by phone. This is a major oversight, however. Though the Internet has revolutionized how modern transactions and implementation take place, customers still desire connection. Most want the ability to reach a person on the other end of the phone to answer their questions.

The solution? Providing lines of communication with virtual phone numbers from United World Telecom.

How do Virtual Numbers Work?

Virtual phone numbers work just like regular phone numbers, but expand functionality to accommodate customers, both internationally and domestically. For example, purchasing an Ireland virtual number for your Canadian business means that Irish customers can conveniently reach your business. And this is without:

  • Long-distance fees
  • Service blockages
  • The hassle of dialing out of their country

For these reasons and more, virtual phone numbers enable callers to reach your business, get answers to their questions, and purchase software they need.

Why are your SaaS Sales dropping?
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You Haven’t Optimized Your Inbound Calling Procedures

To expand further, suppose that you do have an inbound phone line available for callers to reach your SaaS business. The only problem is that just having a phone number doesn’t integrate it into your business model. Ask yourself how many calls you may be missing when the line is busy, employees aren’t available by phone, or when there are too many instances of redirected calls to the appropriate departments. For these reasons and more, not optimizing your inbound calling procedures can be detrimental to your overall sales.

United World Telecom offers a wealth of add-ons that can make your inbound calls streamlined. As an example, adding “simultaneous ringing” to your virtual phone number system enables all connected devices to ring at the same time. This ensures that inbound calls are answered in the shortest time possible by the first available employee. Another popular add-on, “time of day routing,” enables redirection of inbound calls to other destination phone numbers. This is automatically coordinated, depending on the time of day. This is a powerful add-on to optimize your inbound calls. You can forward calls that occur outside of regular business hours to an available phone number in a more favorable time zone. And, this can make your business reachable 24/7. This is a feature all professional companies should use in their business model.

Your SaaS Company Doesn’t Project a Professional Image

Speaking of professional, if your company doesn’t appear professional, it simply isn’t professional. Image is everything when it comes to projecting a professional appearance to your customers. Likewise, toll free numbers from United World Telecom align your company with top-performing organizations that also use them.

Additionally, having a PBX directory structure to greet inbound callers also projects professionalism. A PBX-enabled phone system greets calls with a touch-tone or voice-activated (with Integrated Voice Response, or IVR) system to allow callers to self-select through your company before reaching a representative.

Your Sales Team Isn’t Using Outbound Calling

An essential part of sales is chasing down leads and converting prospects to customers. Unfortunately, companies that don’t combine their sales calls with an add-on called “outbound calling” face an uphill struggle. A call from your sales team to a customer without outbound calling may appear to be a spam call. However, by combining outbound calling, your virtual phone number will appear on the caller ID, making success more likely.

In Closing: Virtual Numbers are Excellent for Increasing SaaS Business & Sales

Virtual phone numbers are a versatile and convenient tool for businesses and sales teams alike. For SaaS companies, they can be used to improve communications and enhance marketing efforts. Now that you’re aware of what United World Telecom can do to enhance your SaaS sales, be sure to subscribe to our telecom services today!

Learning Leadership Skills in the Workplace

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161292418 ID#162120584

Are you interested in learning leadership? Considering leadership is a highly desirable skill, it’s a priority for those who want greater job opportunities, better work environments, and more. Granted, there are natural leaders who seem to know what to do and when, but the how is universal and can be learned by anyone.

That being said, there’s no better place to learn leadership skills than in the workplace. With the pressure to lead a team to success, learning leadership on the job can yield tangible results. In this article, we will cover the various aspects of learning leadership in the workplace, including:

  • Trial by Fire
  • Improvise | Adapt | Overcome
  • Practice Makes Perfect
  • Understanding Your Team’s Needs

Trial By Fire

Being able to perform under pressure, or a “trial by fire,” is one of the key ways of learning leadership. And no matter what workplace you manage, a certain amount of pressure is inevitable. The trick to managing it is to endure the discomfort to attain the goal. For instance, consider your team’s ability to reliably hit deadlines. Are you capable of dealing with conflict and complaints from your employees?

If you’re able to handle small problems, you gain the confidence to handle larger ones where the stakes are higher. After all, if you have problems correcting a worker on their performance, how can you resolve a company-wide issue that could dissolve the business overnight? Similarly, it’s evident why the phrase “putting out fires” is so prevalent in the workplace. Therefore, when leadership fails, it’s no wonder problems seem to constantly erupt without warning, causing damage spontaneously.

A Technological Example

Even still, would you be able to anticipate these problems beforehand because you’ve been “burned” before? For example, if you’re able to divert inbound calls made to your business during crunch time, you avoid overstressing your available staff. By using one of United World Telecom’s add-ons, such as “time of day routing,” you help your team focus while calls are routed elsewhere.

Learning Leadership Skills in the Workplace
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161293078 ID#233887730

Improvise | Adapt | Overcome

One motto that the U.S. Marines live by is “Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.” Essentially, this means that leadership skills are never set in stone. The tasks of business leaders include:

  • Creating novel solutions to unforeseen circumstances
  • Modifying those methods as things progress and new issues occur
  • And ultimately bringing resolution to the issue

Therefore, having the ability to expect the unexpected requires the flexibility to devise solutions on the spot.

Using the Right Communication Tools for Precise Leadership

As an example, you may realize that your team is needed for an emergency meeting with a high-priority client. By using “whitelisting,” one of United World Telecom’s features for inbound calls, you can filter only VIPs through as needed. As the situation deescalates, you can modify which team members are needed for direct communication. This enables you to allocate non-critical staff to other needed areas. Once the meeting commences, your team can resume its work for maximum productivity without interruption.

Additionally, you can utilize tools that provide long-term solutions. For instance, you may notice that your team is constantly bombarded with common questions that could be addressed with stock answers. To alleviate the redundancy that can wear out your team, you may want to implement some automation. A directory system (known as a PBX, or Private Branch Exchange) can make this possible for inbound calls. By setting up a PBX, callers can answer their own questions and direct themselves to the appropriate staff as needed. This frees up valuable resources and keeps your employees focused.

Practice Makes Perfect

The only way to learn and retain leadership skills is by exercising them. Consequently, taking on new responsibilities expands your skill set and enables you to familiarize yourself with the unknown. Once you have common problems and scenarios under control, it becomes easier to anticipate the best solutions while learning leadership.

Considering that United World Telecom offers subscribers a wide variety of functions and add-ons, experiment with different usages. For instance, you may want to try out the “simultaneous ringing” feature during non-peak times to see its effect on your staff.

Understanding Your Team’s Needs

In conclusion, learning leadership in the workplace is more about learning the nuances of human nature. Above all, addressing your team’s needs will help make their work easier and more conducive to a productive work environment. Whether by observing or directly asking your team, pay attention to how their performance is affected throughout the workday.

The Best SaaS Sales Strategy Proven to Convert

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#22734395 ID#27446420

SaaS sales, or software as a service sales, is a specific niche that offers specific applications to various industries. Software as a service meets specific needs and is a niche. So, it can be challenging to understand how to best sell these services to potential clients. In this article, we dive into three of the most profitable SaaS business sales strategies. This way, software as a service companies can get the most out of their sales procedures. And, turn as many sales into conversions as possible.

Establishing a Price for Your SaaS

Before you can go about establishing the best SaaS sales practice for business, you have to understand your SaaS pricepoint. Surely, it takes money to run, operate, and maintain any type of software system. So, before selling, you have to identify what this cost is. And, what the price should be. This way, you make a profit and can afford the overhead of maintaining these services. So, before even thinking of how you’re going to sell your SaaS, consider how much the service will cost future clients. This way, you know what to advertise and how to market to your clients. And, you do so before you even determine a Saas sales strategy.

Keeping Sales Personal With Actual People

SaaS companies are known for running and operating their services entirely on the internet. But, that doesn’t mean that businesses want to always deal with the internet. Especially, every time they have a question or concern about your software. Not only keeping the sales but also the customer service aspect of your SaaS business in the hands of actual humans can go a long way. This is because people are more likely to stay with a SaaS service if they can feel heard. Thus, giving them someone to actually hear them out is a huge plus. When considering a SaaS sales strategy for your support, sales, and marketing departments, make sure you invest in hiring actual representatives. This way, your SaaS interfaces with your clientele base on a personal level but offers the effectiveness of the internet at your client’s disposal.

Offering a Way for Customers to Self Serve

Obviously, it’s important to provide business clients a way to speak to actual human beings whenever they want. But, many people in today’s world would rather click through web-based support options to get what they want. So, if you want to be a leading SaaS business, you’ll offer both customer-facing and self-service solutions. When it comes to marketing and support, you can offer alternative ways in which current and prospective clients can interface with your company via your website. This way, your client/potential client can accomplish or access what they need with only a few clicks of their mouse. For example, you may choose to offer self-service complaint forms and support tools installed on the company website.

Best SaaS Sales Strategy Proven to Convert
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Converting More Meaningful Sales with Enterprise Selling

While you can always offer your SaaS cloud computing services to people over your website, enterprise selling involves selling to a niche. Typically, these sales involve high payouts as they require more customized solutions. However, they’re more likely to require the most time to sell. When it comes to an enterprise selling a SaaS application, make sure you’re ready with complete proposals, in-depth contracts, and a complete sales pitch. Plus, make sure the potential client understands that their account is your highest priority. So, make sure they understand their higher price point also includes invoicing, customer service, and a more in-tune business to business relationship.

Closing: Giving Your SaaS Customers More with Virtual Phone Numbers

Need to gain more SaaS sales and potential clients but no one is answering the phone? There’s a better way to call customer audiences that aren’t in your area. With virtual phone numbers from United World Telecom, you can pick local or international phone numbers for your business at an affordable rate. And, you can then pair them up with your current business phone solutions. To get your very own local or international business numbers fora  SaaS sales strategy, contact us today.

Taking Your Business Remotely with Call Routing

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161051816 ID#161058444

Remote work is more than just for subcontractors and freelancers. Business owners are maximizing their own productivity while they are away from the office, traveling, or doing business. The best way to manage this is to use call routing, one of the primary functions of virtual phone numbers with United World Telecom. In this article, will take a look at how on the go entrepreneurs can run their businesses remotely.

Understanding Virtual Phone Numbers and Remote Work

Virtual phone numbers enable subscribers to route calls anywhere in the world instantly. Furthermore, virtual phone numbers can work with any device with audio capabilities and an Internet connection.

Therefore, you can take your business wherever you may be and remain accessible by phone. Vice versa, you can conduct calls using your business phone numbers while you’re away from the office. This enables you to keep a separation between your work life and personal life, as needed.

Using Multiple Contact Numbers

Having multiple contact numbers routed to your devices can enable you to maximize your networking efforts. This is a great method for entrepreneurs networking with new clients in person. This method of going remote is best illustrated with an example:

Suppose you regularly attend conventions as part of your consultant business in the United States. As you know, there are many different regions where businesses are conducted. To reach those people the same way that they would local businesses, you can offer phone numbers with a matching area code that they’re familiar with.

With company headquarters in Chicago, for example, you can have a New York number and a California number for respective prospects.

Taking Your Business Remotely with Call Routing
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#161059072 ID#94537836

Using Failover Forwarding

One popular add-on for taking your business remote is using failover forwarding. In essence, failover forwarding enables inbound callers to reach an available line even if the first number they dial is busy.

Failover forwarding can reroute calls if you are currently busy with a client. In a way, it is like an automated secretary that transfers your call to the next available person of your choosing. This is a valuable asset for those that want their business to remain accessible.

Outbound Calling

Sometimes you need to make calls when you’re away from the office using a personal phone.

Virtual phone numbers let you take business calls with a phone number normally reserved for business. When paired with an add-on feature called “outbound calling,” these virtual phone numbers serve as a type of overlay. Instead of your personal phone number appearing on the recipient’s caller ID, the virtual phone number of your choosing will appear in its place. This enables you to give your contacts a business number instead of a personal home phone number for privacy reasons.

Call Recording

Travel can get hectic, making running your business a more difficult endeavor while on the road. Call recording is an asset for those who are jet-lagged and don’t remember every detail of a phone conversation. Call recording enables you to store and record phone calls made while using a telecom service. By enabling this feature, you provide a backup service to capture important information. Furthermore, you are able to forward these transcribed and/or recorded conversations directly to email addresses of available staff members. This can bring in new levels of efficiency as well as provide a back up as needed.

Get Call Routing from United World Telecom

Now that you know how your business can work remotely with a host of different tools, it’s time to implement them. Call routing remains one of the most versatile and functional options you can use for communication. And, because it is low-cost and easily connected, it is the best option for businesses aiming for seamless, remote operations. Visit United World Telecom today to purchase call forwarding for your business!

Free Phone Number vs Paid Phone Number: The Pros and Cons

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#160910328 ID#141801810

It’s only natural that many business owners want to cut costs on nearly every aspect of their business. Consequently, businesses try to cut corners in terms of their phone service, looking at such alternatives as Whatsapp and Google Voice. This may work as a stop-gap measure, particularly for bootstrapped small businesses and startups, however, not without some serious drawbacks. In this article, we’ll look at some important aspects of a free phone number vs a paid phone number.

Free Phone Number Vs Paid Phone Number: Consider the Limited Functionality

When it comes to using free phone services, you get what you pay for. This is typically fine for basic everyday calls. However, what happens when you want to use it for your business and need to scale its functionality? The truth is that a lot of these free phone services build their revenue model around roping in initial users. Once reliant on the service, it becomes harder and pricier to do what paid phone services do.

By contrast, using United World Telecom’s subscription services enables users to:

  • Instantly adjust their telephone-based communications via United World Telecom’s easy-to-use dashboard interface.
  • Augment their capabilities with add-ons and enhanced functionalities, such as PBX directories (Private Branch Exchange), white/blacklisting, simultaneous ringing, etc.
  • The ability to record and store inbound and outbound conversations with the add-on ”call recording.” While Google Voice allows users to record incoming calls, it doesn’t allow you to record outgoing calls.
  • Use more sophisticated features, such as setting up a directory system.
Free Phone Number vs Paid Phone Number
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#160911162 ID#73480493

Porting and Transferring Your Phone Number

When it comes time to upgrade your service by selecting another service provider rather than the free options, you may hit a few snags. Porting and transferring your phone number to a new provider comes with costs and a bit of tech know-how.

By the time you’ve established your business/ personal contacts with a phone number, you will notice a few problems. First, you may need to endure porting/transferring fees from a service provider. (Note: United World Telecom offers relatively low porting fees) Second, customers familiar with your phone number now have to adjust, which can lead to lost revenue or frustration.

Wifi Dependency

Another common problem that free phone service like Google Voice has is reliance on Wi-Fi service. The issue is that it is easily interrupted. This presents a certain level of inconvenient for someone who has access, however, your phone will not work in areas with minimal/slow Wi-Fi access.

In fact, a lot of users of free phone service end up purchasing a hotspot or data plan to meet their communication needs. This ends up negating the savings they intended from the get-go.

Customer Support

Ever try getting in contact with Google or Whatsapp by phone to resolve a service issue? Chances are, you’ve ended up frustrated and had to browse online forums just to get an answer. You may find it troubling when you’ve got business deals to finalize or time-sensitive issues that need resolving ASAP.

Instead, the customer service representatives at United World Telecom are specially trained to handle any problem you may encounter. They offer 24/7/365 availability to assist you with anything from resolving a technical issue to recommending a service plan that fits your business usage.

In Conclusion

As you can see, a paid phone number is simply superior to a free phone option. To find out more about the paid phone service from United World Telecom, visit United World Telecom’s homepage or call us to begin learning about the advantages of subscribing today.

Starting a Customer Call Center for Your SaaS Business

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#76343593 ID#27446420

Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, is an emerging business model for today’s technological business landscape. Typically, most SaaS businesses operate solely over the Internet. However, most customers prefer having customer service agents available to handle their unique concerns. Luckily, United World Telecom offers numerous ways to accommodate these needs. With the versatility of virtual phone numbers, you can easily and efficiently set up a top-performing customer call center.

In this article, we will cover numerous aspects of starting a customer call center for your SaaS business, including:

  • Hiring & Training Talent
  • Accommodating Customers
  • Enhancing Inbound and Outbound Calls
  • Getting the Word Out

Hiring & Training Talent

Your call center needs qualified individuals to man the phones. You’ll want to select qualified individuals that display the best qualities to carry out your company’s mission. While starting a customer call center may seem daunting, United World Telecom makes the process incredibly simple.

Virtual Numbers Offer Great Versatility

First, virtual phone numbers can be used with any device that has Internet and audio capabilities. This includes laptops, smartphones, headsets, landlines, tablets, and more. Employees who are familiar with any of these devices can begin using virtual phone numbers immediately.

A User-Friendly Option for Call Centers

Second, virtual phone numbers from United World Telecom require very little technical expertise. Thanks to an intuitive dashboard interface, your customer call center representatives will not need significant training to use it. This means that your organization spends less time training, resulting in cost reductions in overheads.

Accommodating Customers

Remember that customers can reach your business from around the world with virtual phone numbers. This can give your SaaS business a wider international reach that wouldn’t be possible through other means. By setting up a toll free number, you accommodate customers that wouldn’t ordinarily be able to reach you. Similarly, you can use United World Telecom’s international toll free numbers (i.e. ITFS, UIFNs, mobile accessible numbers). With these, you alleviate any obstacles that may prevent customers from reaching your customer call center.

Customer call center for Saas business
Source: DepositPhotos.com – O#18206847 ID#27446420

Enhancing Inbound and Outbound Calls

United World Telecom’s add-ons and features, paired with virtual phone numbers, can greatly enhance how your call center functions. United World Telecom offers some of the following add-ons:

One example of how you can increase the functionality of your communications is by using the popular add-on CallMe Click. It enables website visitors to reach your call center simply by clicking on a link (i.e. button, phone number). This instantly bridges the gap and makes it simple to resolve issues, finalize transactions, and provide important information. This creates a seamless experience for interested customers that would otherwise require dialing a number manually.

Getting the Word Out

It’s necessary to have a customer call center for your SaaS business. Though, if no one knows how to reach you, it’s useless, right?

Once you’ve virtual obtained phone numbers for your call center, it is time to make it known to your clients and potential customers. You should mention that your organization has an available call center wherever it is relevant. Be sure to display the phone number on your website(s), advertising, and promotional materials. This ensures customers are aware that you have a customer call center, and they know you are ready to help.

Get Virtual Numbers for Your SaaS Company from United World Telecom

As you can see, United World Telecom offers the easiest way to fortify your customer call center for your SaaS business. With virtual phone numbers available in over 140 countries, your company gains endless ways to establish a customer call center for your SaaS business. Signing up with United World Telecom is simple and can be completed within minutes, giving you access within 24 hours or less to start serving your customers today!

Is it Friday yet? The Psychology Behind the 9 to 5 Work Week

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Depositphotos.com ID#10338012 Lic#160458410

If you’ve ever worked a 9 to 5 job, you understand what it’s like longing for Friday. But, have Americans always had to ask, “is it Friday yet?” The experience of having a 9 to 5 job has long been an acceptable standard as far as workplace scheduling. But, as the world is changing, many have been questioning this way of living. And, contemplating the psychological effects of this type of work schedule.

The History of the 40-Hour Work Week

Before we can understand the psychological effects of the 40-hour, 5-day work week, we have to understand its history. The truth is that this type of work schedule hasn’t always been the standard in the USA. In fact, in the 1890s, factory workers were known for being forced to work 100 hours a week or more. Fortunately, after years of activist work and many people fighting the powers that be, change began. But, it wasn’t until 1940 when Congress signed the Fair Labor Standards Act that the 9 to 5 workweek was officially held up by law.

Should the 5 Day Work Week be the Standard?

We’re certainly lucky to have people from the past who have fought for labor rights. However, many believe we’re still not where we need to be as a nation as far as labor expectations go. For example, there was recently a worldwide survey of over 3,000 individuals working 8-hour workdays. Findings show that half of these individuals believe they can do their jobs using only 5-hour days. This means they think they’d be more productive if they worked fewer hours instead of more. Or, a four day work week instead of five. Which, poses the argument that working 8-hour days and 40-hour weeks aren’t necessary or even effective. And, that constantly asking, “is it Friday yet?” may not be what most people want.

Is it Friday yet? The Psychology Behind the 9 to 5 Work Wee
Source: Depositphotos.com ID#102487924 Lic#160467418

The Standard of the Work Week Schedule is Changing

Many people still work and may even expect a 5-day workweek. But, the truth is that it’s not as standard as it once was. In all reality, besides the people with standard 9 to 5s, there are two types of workers. On the one hand, some people work more than the standard 40-hour workweeks. They’re slaves to their salary jobs which require them to work at any time. Thus, these people often work more than the typical 40-hour workweek.

Basically, people stay with their salary jobs in hopes to receive promotions, raises, and bonuses. But, all too often, their loyalty and hard work are only taken advantage of. And, corporate greed coerces these individuals to do the work of more than one person. Hence, making labor cheaper. On the other hand, there are individuals who see that a 40-hour workweek may not be optimal. And, they take alternative routes to ensuring they don’t have to work 8-hour days and 9 to 5 jobs.

Non 9 to 5 Jobs: Alternatives to the 40-Hour Workweek

Are you one of the millions of individuals who are tired of asking, “is it Friday yet?” If so, there is hope in not having to work another 9 to 5 job ever again. With advancing technologies and the expansion of the internet, more and more job opportunities present themselves with each new year. For instance, stay at home jobs online that allow people to create their own schedules. Additionally, a freelance job at a virtual office that doesn’t require you to physically work at any specific physical location. So, while most of the country still believes that the 9 to 5 workweek is standard, you don’t have to settle. There are opportunities to find work in the world of technology and the world wide web that don’t require set schedules or even full-time work to succeed financially.

Help for Non-Standard Work Schedule Environments

Most of the jobs that don’t require their employees to work a standard 9 to 5 day utilize the internet. So, they don’t have a physical location with the plain old telephone service that you’d expect from most businesses. However, a virtual phone service provider like United World Telecom can help to provide the functional customer service features needed to run a successful business. These include phone systems that connect to employee mobile devices to create a network of business phone solutions for clients. Certainly, in order to adapt to changing work schedules that virtual offices create, adjusting business solutions is a must. So, if you’re looking to start your own type of virtual office, remember to provide your business with the solutions you’ll need.

Considering Working Overseas Jobs? Read These Tips

Posted on by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#159544526 ID#41367457

Working overseas can be an excellent opportunity to experience a different culture and way of living, as well as benefiting your career. Overseas jobs can help you to expand your skillset and eventually become an expert in your field. However, it is not always easy to grow your career with overseas jobs. To help make the transition a bit more smooth, read these tips.

Choosing a Destination

Countries such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are very popular relocation destinations. With that said, the key to choosing a destination is to base it on your personal preferences. Think of your goals as they relate to your career. Also, think of your personality and what kind of environment you would be happy living in.

Securing Overseas Jobs

Flying by the seat of your pants is great when it comes to some things, but when it comes to your career it is best to be more methodical. Therefore, securing a job before you move to another country is a smarter option than waiting until after you move. Most countries aren’t willing to extend work visas unless you already have a job and the employer is on board. Best to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to this, and to avoid any potential visa issues. Some companies even offer relocation packages that handle the visa process for you, so why not aim for that goal?

Considering Working Overseas Jobs Read These Tips
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#159544706 ID#229735572

Save Up For Your Move

Relocation can be costly, particularly if you are moving to another country. Even if you are moving somewhere with a lower cost of living, it is smart to have some money set aside. A new landlord will often require a deposit and you may need things you haven’t yet thought of, so it’s best to have a safety net.

To save up, you may want to get a second job and possibly place all earnings in a relocation savings account. If you don’t already have a job, pick up a part-time job and save as much as you can. Though it may be a temporary challenge, it is something that could make your life much easier when you move.

Research the Destination

It is extremely important to take the time to thoroughly research the country you are planning to move to. This will include reading about the local culture and traditions, as well as the country’s history, political matters, and its people. This will ease some of the culture shock and help you better prepare as you deal with any challenges. Go deeper than the surface through your research. This will help you understand the people and your new surroundings much better.

Be Prepared to Embrace Any Cultural Differences

Many people may move to another country and never truly embrace the local culture. They continue doing the same things they did in their native country. One of the primary benefits of taking an overseas job lies in experiencing and embracing the local culture. That means fully immersing yourself in your surroundings. Similarly, eating traditional foods, learning about traditions, taking part in customary events, and other ways of living like a local can be immensely satisfying. You can begin to embrace the culture before you arrive in the new country by reaching out to locals through your job, via social media, connecting with local groups, and having conversations.

Additional Tips For Working Overseas Jobs

There is a lot to think about when you accept a job overseas. Other tips to consider include:

  • Learn about employment rights
  • Learn as much of the language as possible
  • Figure out travel routes to and from your place of employment and other destinations you plan to frequent
  • Plan out communication methods (purchasing a virtual phone number is ideal)

In Closing

The golden rule when considering working overseas jobs is to be prepared. This will help to avoid issues and stress. This will also help to make your transition much smoother and help you to better enjoy the process. Working abroad can be one of the most exciting opportunities for life, your career, and your overall growth as a person. Above all, embracing the opportunity with a clear plan will help you to get the most out of the experience.

SaaS Startup Solutions for Every Niche

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#158415286 ID#109613038

Are you looking for SaaS startup solutions for your business? It seems that Software as a Service is becoming the go-to for budding entrepreneurs across all industries and niches. Every day, new companies emerge, boasting a lean, agile business model built on delivering scalable services for every purpose. However, there are many commonalities across SaaS startups giving new companies a competitive edge right out the gate. Similarly, one of these common elements is virtual phone numbers offered by service providers like United World Telecom.

Solutions for a Multitude of Businesses

It’s important to remember that SaaS is a very broad term that encompasses nearly every conceivable niche. Therefore, in this article, we will take a look at how United World Telecom can enhance your startup’s efforts with:

  • Virtual Offices/Locations
  • Social Media-Based Sales Conversions
  • Providing Customer Support

Virtual Offices/Locations for a SaaS Startup Business

One of the advantages of SaaS businesses is that they are predominantly operated over the Internet to deliver their services, as well as offer customer support. This is where virtual phone numbers bridge the digital divide, offering a humanizing element that doesn’t necessarily need face-to-face communication. Instead of using traditional methods of expansion via branch offices, “virtual offices” and “virtual locations” manage this for SaaS startups. Customers can reach your company by way of virtual phone numbers, which reroute calls instantly anywhere around the world. Consequently, with this functionality, you can customize your virtual office/location to fit your startup’s unique niche and business model.

Saas startup
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#158415490 ID#6702124

Using the Right Software

Similarly, online collaboration tools like Teamwork, Slack, and Trello have made it easier to execute tasks in remote locations for you SaaS business as needed. For instance, you can hire a subcontractor to provide in-house services to implement your software. So, at the same time, they can act as an agent of your startup. This is perfect for companies that regularly outsource this type of labor or those with agents scattered across the globe. Keeping in touch by phone ensures that everyone can manage and perform the details of each project with constant communication.

Social Media-Based Sales Conversions

Social media is a part of every business type imaginable. And Saas-based startups are using social media more and more to demonstrate how their software can revolutionize their customer’s lives. By including media on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you appeal to a wide base of interested customers that can jumpstart your SaaS startup in no time.

Of course, you need to convert these potential leads into actual customers. Virtual phone numbers fulfill this role perfectly, particularly with United World Telecom’s add-on known as “CallMe Click.” As the name implies, when a user clicks on a link for phone number or contact info, a call is instantly initiated to your virtual phone number. This instant connection helps move things along quickly, taking advantage of the moment customers demonstrate interest. After all, in the distraction-heavy world of social media, creating an instantaneous connection to your SaaS company is ideal.

Providing Customer Support for your SaaS Startup

While running a startup often requires juggling many day-to-day tasks, its very easy to lose track of keeping the human element in your SaaS startup. This is why it’s important to have virtual phone numbers for each target market you’re looking to connect with. Building long-term relationships with customers is essential to the longevity of your company. No wants a business treating them as just another number.

For example, by using nationwide toll free numbers, your SaaS startup can circumvent problems with intra-regional and international calls. These problems typically manifest as:

  • Long-distance fees,
  • Service blockages,
  • Or simply the preferences of your customer base to deal with a startup that they perceive as a domestic entity.

Virtual Numbers for Your SaaS Business

Luckily, United World Telecom offers countless phone numbers to add to your arsenal. With an inventory of over 140+ countries and countless cities/regions, you can accommodate your customers’ needs impeccably. This, in turn, leads to more sales conversions for your SaaS startup – no matter which industry you specialize in.

How To Set Up a Business Phone System in your Office

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#158404048 ID#285781720

Need to give customers a way to reach your business by telephone? Setting up a business phone system is something nearly every business owner will have to do at some point. Get to know the process before diving in. This way, you can have a clear sense of how to get set up quickly and effectively. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to set up the best business phone system for your office. Thus, you can get back to helping your customers.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Type of Business Phone System for Your Office

Before you can go about setting up your business phone system, you’ll have to choose between the various types. Since they all work a bit differently, different systems may be better for different businesses, based on specific needs. Some of the best business phone systems include the following options.

A Multi-Line Phone System

This type of phone system can handle multiple calls at once. This is because they all route to a main system that can then transfer calls to connected business lines. It uses traditional copper wiring. So, they are more basic and may not offer as many features as other phone systems. But, they’re easy to operate, as they’re very traditional. And, they’re known for being sturdy and reliable systems. Finally, they can be set up with both toll-free and local business numbers. So, multi-line systems may be a great option for many types of businesses.

Using a PBX Phone System

A PBX system offers all the same functionality of the multi-line system, but it has one major difference. Rather than housing all calling data in one main telephone unit, it’s all routed to a separate, centralized device. Or, rather than a device, a cloud (internet) software. Plus, it’s highly adjustable as it’s basically a personalized phone system for the office. So, it can offer a number of customizable features that may make doing business easier and more efficient.

VoIP Phone System

This phone system connects phone calls to business phone lines using broadband internet connection rather than traditional copper wiring. This makes phone calls on these systems fast and reliable as there is internet access all over the world. This offers the ability to house a number of business phone numbers and lines from one business office. And, provides other capabilities like the option to connect various business software to your phone lines like your internet CRM. Finally, since it works over the internet, you don’t have to have a physical business phone unit to utilize it. So, you can route calls directly to any telephone you want, including mobile devices.

best business phone system
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#158315940 ID#4097042

A Few Notes About Cloud-Based Systems

It’s important to note that both VoIP and PBX phone systems are cloud based phone systems. A cloud based business phone system is essentially a phone system that uses the internet. But, it does so to store business phone call data and connect calls. The internet business phone system is the most commonly used and set up for business needs. So, the following instructions will apply to these types of systems.

Step 2: Choosing Your Service

Once you’ve chosen the best business phone system for your office, you need to choose a phone service. So, choose one that can meet your needs. Certainly, you want to choose a company that can offer all business phone services in one place. If so, consider the business phone systems from United World Telecom. UWT offers virtual phone numbers, toll free numbers, and local numbers of all kinds.

Step 3: Choosing Your Business Phone Number(s)

After you have chosen your phone service, you can go about selecting the type of business phone number you want. And, the number to go with that line. If you want to offer your consumers a free, easy-to-remember phone number, choose a toll free number. Or, select a vanity number that’s relatable to your business by choosing digits associated with letters on the phone keypad. Want to call specific audience bases in certain areas of the world? You can select a local phone number so your business number has the same area code as your target audience.

Step 4: Choose Your Business Phone Features

You know the ins and outs of your business phone system, who your provider is, and have chosen your number. Now, it’s time to select from the various features of a business phone line. If you go with United World Telecom, you’ll have a number of virtual number features to choose from including:

Choose the features you know that your business can benefit from. And, set them up before starting to take calls. Once you have features chosen, you can begin passing out your new business phone numbers and taking business calls!

In Closing: Getting Help Setting Up Your Business Phone Line

Interested in the best business phone system for your office? Contact United World Telecom today to receive top-rated service for your business phone line system. And, take advantage of all of the cloud-based phone system features for your new business phone system.

Virtual Phone Numbers for Billboards

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Stockphoto.com - O#:100001862068 ID#100186088462

Whether your company is large or small, virtual phone numbers on your billboard ads may be exactly what your business needs. When operating a business, marketing typically plays a big role. Knowing which types of marketing strategies to employ and mapping out the process of when to launch the campaign, how long it should be, and the details of the campaign are other integral parts of the process. Billboard advertising has been around since the mid-1800s, but with advances in technology, it’s more effective than ever. 

Should I Invest in Billboard Advertising?

Billboard advertising is a tried-and-true tool for marketing. They are so commonplace that we may often overlook their usability. However, when planning an advertising strategy, this is an option to consider. 

Benefits of Billboard Advertising for Your Business

Billboard advertising is not only still in-use out of habit. They remain in use due to the results they produce. The fundamental concept behind billboard advertising is still sound, and new technologies have introduced additional ways to use billboards. Some of the benefits of billboard advertising for your business include:

  • Billboard advertising allows for geographically targeted marketing.
  • Simple, clear information on a billboard has a big impact.
  • Repetition drills in messages when people drive or walk by billboards regularly.
  • Strategically placed billboard signs allow you to capture the attention of your audience more directly. These ads are unavoidable and in-your-face, unlike ads on TV, computers, or smartphones.
  • Digital billboards have opened new possibilities for using these innovative marketing tools.

Is Billboard Advertising Only for Large Organizations?

Whether your business is small, local and newly-established, or large and long-established, billboard advertising can be very effective. Using the right messaging and the right location, billboards can work really well for businesses of all sizes. Including those that are just starting out. 

What About Virtual Phone Numbers for Billboards?

Using virtual phone numbers for billboards brings another layer of usability and effectiveness to the table. With virtual phone numbers for billboards, you can use different virtual numbers for each marketing campaign. The purpose of this is to track the effectiveness of each specific campaign. 

Billboards with virtual phone numbers
Source: Stockphoto.com – O#100005892288 #100186088462

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

Rather than through the use of a traditional hard-wired landline, a virtual phone number works through the use of the Internet. Calls made to virtual phone numbers can be automatically forwarded to a main office line or any other landline or mobile line of your choosing. While this allows for all calls to be answered in one central location, the calls that come through virtual phone numbers can be tracked and recorded for both marketing and training purposes. This allows for you to measure how many calls came through from the billboard ad with a specific virtual phone number. Virtual phone numbers are extremely cost-efficient and, like billboards, they represent a very effective marketing tool. 

What Makes Billboard Advertising Different Than Other Types of Advertising?

Billboards hold a very unique place within the advertising world due to their physical presence. They are not fleeting like a TV commercial, a radio ad, or an Internet ad. Billboards typically stand on the side of the road with a very large and visible message. 

In Closing

There is no single magic solution that will fill all of your organization’s growing and changing marketing needs. With that said, when used correctly, utilizing billboard advertising and virtual phone numbers together can do things that all other methods cannot. If you have a clear message with a call to action that you want to convey to your target audience, then billboards with virtual phone numbers may be exactly what your organization needs. Tracking your campaigns to review results and make modifications is one of the best reasons to have virtual numbers. Contact United World Telecom today to learn more!  

How to Manage an Effective Sales Team

Posted on by Magaly Fuentes

Source: DepositPhotos.com - O#:10312371 ID#27446420

Growing a sales-based business is not an easy task. It may be the single most difficult challenge a business owner can face. The success of any business depends on implementing the right strategies concerning brand development, marketing, sales, and customer service. Success doesn’t come instantly, but if one builds a solid foundation for the brand and is then able to manage an effective sales team, the sky is the limit.

Business Management Basics

Having a true passion for the business you are managing is extremely important for your success in your position. It is also important for the success of the company. There is a need for strong skills in the areas of business planning, strategy, finance, and marketing. There is also a need for communication skills, leadership skills, and a strong understanding of motivating and rewarding employees. A clear strategic vision for the company is a necessity. So is the ability to make informed management decisions based on research and analysis of the market, competitors, and other external and internal forces. Understanding the impact these aspects have on your business is critical.

What Makes an Effective Sales Team?

  • A strong, centralized sales culture and environment, established by the manager and carried forward by those on the sales team
  • Natural energy/ synergy between members
  • Meaningful relationship building with clients/customers
  • Great time management skills
  • Ongoing learning
  • Accountability
  • Communication and collaboration
  • Structured goals
  • Celebration of successes

Tips for Managing an Effective Sales Team

  • Recruit the best people for the job
  • Know how to sell
  • Provide consistent coaching
  • Inspire your team to succeed
  • Set the pace for the sales team
  • Clearly define a process
  • Measure the team’s performance
  • Manage the forward pipeline
  • Communicate effectively with your sales team
  • Protect the time of those on your team
  • Celebrate team successes

Sales Team Tools

Advances in technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and process automation have changed the landscape for sales teams over the last few years. With that in mind, some sales tools can help to improve a team’s overall performance, automate normally time-consuming tasks, and support significant transformations in the sales process. The tools are generally focused on the following:

  • Communications and conferencing tools
  • Content sharing and content management
  • Analytics
  • Account-based sales and marketing
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
  • Email management
  • Performance management
  • Sales engagement
  • Sales and market intel
  • Lead generation
  • Productivity
  • Contract management
sales team management
Source: DepositPhotos.com – O#211240456 #27446420

Measuring Successes

The quality of any sales team strategy is only as good as its execution, and sales metrics are the guideposts. The best sales team managers know how to manage an effective sales team from beginning to close of the sale. They focus on a clear set of metrics and key performance indicators along the way. This information is then used to increase the effectiveness of decisions moving forward.

Growing a Sales-Based Business

It takes a lot to be successful in sales. You need to know your customer well and you need to be resilient when it comes to dealing with rejection. You need to know when to talk and when to listen. You also need to know when to lean on technology. This will help improve your processes, help you close a higher number of deals, and shift the time normally spent on those tasks to other things.

The potential benefit of the many tools on the market today is exciting. If you really want to tap into how to manage an effective sales team, make use of the best tools out there. Contact United World Telecom today to learn more. This can help you can spend less time researching and doing tedious things and more time selling and managing your sales team.

How To Get a Toll Free Number

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100007588082

A toll free number is an 800 number typically used for business. These numbers allow for a convenient way to call long distance. Additionally, they provide businesses with a way to offer a completely free option for customers to reach out to them. Regardless of your reasons for needing one, you’ll need to know how to get a toll free number to begin using one. So, to help, we’ve come up with step-by-step instructions on getting your very own 800 number.

1. Determine Your Needs for a Toll Free Number

You can use toll free numbers for a number of things. However, a toll number is typically used as a business phone line. These numbers can help to make business better by:

  • Eliminating long distance fees. Customers can call businesses from anywhere in the country and world, as calls from these types of numbers are always considered local.
  • Can work for remote offices: Since they can be added to internet phone systems and even to mobile phones, they’re a great choice for businesses with remote employees.They’re recognizable and memorable: Toll free numbers are typically 1-800 numbers that can be used to help with branding efforts, as they’re easier to recognize and remember. Plus, you can choose your own vanity number to give your number a personalized, professional touch.

2. Figure out Which Features You’ll Need

Are you going to want your toll number to be able to take voicemail recordings? Do you want to offer customers the chance to hear a pre-recorded greeting before reaching their representative? Do you want voice messages to be sent in written form as text messages or directly to your email inbox? Depending on what you want your toll free number to do, you’ll need to determine the features you need before choosing your toll free number and selecting your provider.

3. Selecting Your Toll Free Number Provider

Choosing your toll number provider will depend on your financial budget and the features you’ll need. Global phone service providers like United World Telecom can set you up with mobile toll free business numbers that come with any and all the advanced features you’ll need. And, offer them at a great, affordable price.

How to get a toll free number
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4. Choosing Your Toll Free Number

Because they are customizable, you can choose your own number. This gives you an edge, as you can select a number that associates with your business, services, branding, and goods. So, rather than offering your consumers a random phone number, give them one to remember by using the letters associated with each telephone keypad number. For example, if you repair cars for a living, choose a number like 800-AUT-OFIX.

5. Checking Toll Free Number Availability

Even though you may already have a toll free number in mind that makes it memorable for your consumers, you have to first see if it’s available. Your toll number service provider will be able to tell you if the number you want is already taken or not. But, remember, there are more options for toll numbers other than 800, as you can also choose the variations 855, 866, 877, and 888 as well. So, even if your number isn’t available with 800, you can still keep the last 7 digits and choose from the other options instead.

6. Designating the Phone Number to a Business Phone Line

When you’ve determined the number you want and its availability, you can finally decide which phone to route the number to. Certainly, this can be any mobile device. They can route to other business phone systems as well, like cloud systems, VoIP systems, and multiple line systems. After you’ve selected the line your toll number is routed to, you can start to dial out and receive calls from this number. And, provide your customers with a free way to reach you.

Getting Your Toll Free Number Today

Now you know how to get a toll free number for your business. So, if you’re certain that they can help to provide a professional touch to your business, find out more about all of the features to choose from on United World Telecom’s website. And, contact us today to get started on the process of selecting your own business phone number today.

How To Get a Business Phone Number

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100189500444

If you’ve recently started a business, you’re going to have to establish some type of business phone line. No matter if your business is large or small, or if you’re a B2B business or B2C type of establishment, you’ll need to give clients a way to reach you via telephone. Whether you need to set up a structured VoIP phone system or are going to have calls routed right to your cell phone, virtual phone numbers provide a great way to make business phone numbers memorable and build client trust. If you’re wondering how to get a business phone number that benefits both your business and your clientele base, here’s how to get started.

Choose Your Business Phone Type

Before you can go about setting up and choosing your new number for business, you’ll need to choose the type of business phone line you’ll need. Fortunately, with advancements in cellular and internet technology, you no longer have to establish phone systems and call rooms. Rather, you can simply have your business phone number set up directly on your smartphone. In either case, virtual phone numbers provide the flexibility and free calling services for your customers you want to provide.

In many cases, business phone lines may differ due to varying business sizes and needs. For example, if you have a virtual call center and don’t have a physical office where you and your employees meet, you may want to choose to establish your business number on cellular devices. And, you can even add extensions to each line so each employee has a personal business line. But, on the other hand, if your business consists of a physical establishment with multiple departments, you may wish to consider the functionality of a VoIP system.

Select Your Business Phone Number

Now that you know which phone you want your business number routed to, you can select your business phone number. At United World Telecom, we offer a few different options for the type of phone number you select. You can either choose a local number in your area or that of your target client base, or a toll free number. Local numbers can help to reach consumer bases in target areas, even if you aren’t located anywhere close. And, toll free numbers offer you the ability to create your own branded telephone number. As well as offer your customers a completely free way for them to call your business.

The Option of a Vanity Toll Free Number

When choosing a toll free number, think of numbers that can translate into lettering that benefits your branding. For example, if you own a taxi service, you may want to choose a toll free vanity number like 800-CAB-TAXI (800-222-8294 translated on the keypad). This way, your customers can more easily recognize your number and will be more willing to pick up or call you back.

Get a Business Phone Number
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Set up You Customized Business Phone Line Options

After you’ve chosen your number and verified that it’s available, it will be connected to your chosen phone line system. Then, you can go about setting up your customized business greeting and creating your voicemail recordings.

The business phone greeting is optional. But, it’s a simple way to have an idea about what a customer might be calling about right off the bat. When a customer dials your business phone number, a recorded greeting will provide them with options to more easily forward them to the correct department. Or, simply give you a better idea of what the call may be about. For example, you could set up your greeting to provide an option like, “For customer service requests, press 8.”

When you’re not around, you can have your virtual phone line forward calls to another number. Or, you can go the traditional route of a voicemail. If you want to give your customers a way to leave you voice messages, you’ll need to create a business voicemail recording once your phone line is set up.

Set up Your Employee Extensions

Instead of having to forward calls to the right employees every time a customer calls, extensions give employees individual phone numbers. But, they are all extensions of the same number: your business number. So, if you’d rather not have to forward calls and give your employees the capability of giving out their own business phone numbers, you’ll have to select extensions, which are usually four-digit numbers, that are designated to each employee. Once established, your customers can dial your business phone number with the additional extension to reach the specific employee of their choosing.

Getting Your Business Phone Number Through United World Telecom

Now that you know how to get a business phone number, it’s time to get started. Here at United World Telecom, we offer businesses many customizable options when it comes to choosing a business phone number. Whatever feature you need for your business, we can help to provide a business phone number that does what you need. If you need a new business phone number, visit our website to learn more about all of our vanity phone number features. It’s time you allowed your customers to reach you the way you want them to!

Sales Management: Business Phone Systems for Enterprises

Posted on by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100090735038

With blossoming technologies, business phone systems have been changing over the years. If you’ve recently started a sales business or you want to utilize better phone capabilities, researching various types of business phone lines is important. This way, you can select a phone system that’s great for your clientele, while also allowing your sales team to operate better. Thus, increasing efficiency and sales closings. In this article, we weigh the differences in the various phone systems you have to choose from for your sales business. And, offer the information you need to select the type of phone system that’s best for your sales management objectives.

Multiple Phone Line Systems for a Sales Business

If you tried to do sales on a typical phone line, you’d eventually end up with a situation in which more than one person needs to use the phone. Or, more than one customer dials in at once. If you don’t want to miss important sales leads or you want to have your employees dial sales leads at the same time, you’ll need multiple lines. A multiple phone line system is just that, a system that offers multiple lines routed to the same number.

These systems allow outside numbers to dial into one main phone that’s connected to multiple other lines. This allows for the capability to transfer calls to various phones. It also allows business employees to communicate with each other effectively.

VoIP Phone Systems for a Sales Business

Rather than traditional phone lines, the VoIP phone system uses internet connection to send telephone calls. This translates to many specific benefits like ease of setup, customized and cutting-edge features, and even better pricing. Furthermore, VoIP systems allow for the introduction of tollfree business numbers. This gives your sales business a way to create a branded, more memorable number associated with your industry. For example, if you manage a team that sells garage doors, you could choose a toll free number like, 1-800-GAR-AGES.

Further Functionality for Sales Teams

Additionally, VoIP systems allow you to choose extension numbers for each of your sales employees. This way, they can give out their individual business numbers so they can stay connected with sales leads to increase the likelihood of closing.

As a part of sales management, you’re likely to utilize CRM systems that allow you to document clientele. One of the advanced features of a VoIP system is that it can connect with software systems, including CRMs. So, if you think that this type of business phone system is the best for your company, make sure to choose one that integrates with your current business software like your CRM.

Due to its customizable features and adaptability, VoIP systems are a great option for sales-driven businesses. And, they can definitely help in your sales management efforts by keeping things organized and your calling customers satisfied.

PBX Phone Systems for Sales Businesses

PBX, or private branch exchange, is a type of business phone system that offers a way to have a private phone line for business. It allows for customizable features of other advanced phone systems like call forwarding, voicemail, routing, and conference calls. However, it does differ from your standard multiple line system. This is because it doesn’t route directly to your phone unit, but can do so through a cloud (internet storage) or another VoIP system. Most people choose PBX systems because they provide more functionality than a multiple phone system but aren’t as expensive as other options. Again, if you have a smaller business, this may be a good option for your sales team. But, if you need advanced features and can live with the functionality of a standard multiple phone line system, this may be a good choice for your business.

Get Your Business Phone Numbers Through United World Telecom

No matter what types of business phone line systems you consider for better sales management, you’ll need to have a business phone number to go with that system. Whether you need a local number, toll free number, or a vanity phone number, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to learn more about setting up your new business phone number!

The Challenges of Running a Powerful Sales Team

Posted on by Tom Senkus

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100070836811

If you’re in charge of managing a high-performing sales team, you’re probably aware of the many challenges that you’ll encounter daily. With the hectic pace, the variety of personnel, and quotas to meet, sales management is one of the most difficult occupations.

Managing a Sales Team Effectively

Failure to appropriately tackle these challenges could stymie your company’s efforts from achieving maximum success. You may even experience a less-than-stable work environment. And worst-case scenario, mismanagement can cost you your job.

The following are some of the most common challenges you will encounter as a sales manager. We will then provide tips on how to overcome these challenges effectively.

Sales Team Challenge #1: Attracting and Retaining Talent

Effective sales management is highly dependent on the quality of its personnel. As a manager, you may be experiencing high turnover that hinders your efforts. Or, you may be constantly attracting less than stellar performers. In truth, the best way to attract and retain talent is by setting up incentives and creating a positive work culture.

First, you want to make sure that you’re setting commissions and bonuses at competitive rates. Do some research and try to find the median in your industry’s hiring process – and simply offer more than that. Remember, salespeople are motivated to find better-paying work and stick with companies that help them succeed.

sales meeting
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Sales Team Challenge #2: Time Management with Prioritizing

If there’s one resource you wish you could have more for your sales team, it’s time. Unfortunately, there is only so much manpower to accomplish the many tasks throughout the day. This can be a challenge for managers that always feel like they’re falling behind.

The solution? Try to look for more efficient ways of doing tasks that drain your time. If necessary, run down the list of the day’s events and see where there is room for improvement. Chances are, some activities may be mission-critical, but get left behind in favor of other work. For instance, you may have deadlines that could jeopardize a long-term client versus getting your sales team to follow up on new leads. Both tasks take significant amounts of time. But considering that attracting clients takes 5x the effort than holding on to new ones, the choice is clear.

That’s where prioritizing comes in handy. Prioritizing can often seem like choosing between “impossible” situation after “impossible” situation. However, there are usually tasks that must be done for the greater good and longevity of your sales team.

Sales Team Challenge #3: Inspiring a Competitive Team

It may seem like a contradiction, but having a competitive spirit among your sales team is necessary for a high-functioning company. To do this, you’ll need to coach your sales team through constant incentive and thoughtful comparisons between colleagues. After all, most sales reps go into sales in order to actualize their potential, so it’s your responsibility to foster a positive environment.

You’ll want to highlight top-performers and give them the spotlight, while also showing how up-and-comers are able to attain the same success. Bear in mind that what motivates some will not motivate others, so you’ll want to discover what each rep values. Some may be looking for more flexibility to have time off with their family; others may be looking to make as much money as possible. You’ll want to discover what makes your top reps more successful and see what’s holding back under-performers.

Sales Team Challenge #4: Aligning Your Team with Your Marketing Department

For most organizations, your sales team is separate from your marketing team. Because marketing is responsible for attracting new leads and retaining customers, there may be a disconnect between the two. After all, they’re on the front lines – whereas the marketing department serves as support staff.

As a manager, you should have regular meetings with your company’s marketing team just like you do with your sales team. You’ll want to make sure that your marketing team is united around common goals so that your sales team is better served. For instance, your marketing department may be focusing on social media ads, whereas your demanding better online catalogs for clients to place consistent orders. By ensuring that these goals are aligned, you help avoid miscommunication and wasted effort that doesn’t serve the company.

About United World Telecom

United World Telecom is a leading service provider for cloud phone and toll free number solutions. If you are interested in purchasing a toll free phone number for your business phone get in touch with our sales department so we can assist you or visit our service page.