Blog Archives - Page 9 of 10 - United World Telecom

Virtual Phone Numbers for Billboards

Posted on August 16, 2019October 2, 2025 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!

The Challenges of Running a Powerful Sales Team

Posted on July 29, 2019October 2, 2025 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 — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100016228275

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.

Sales Management: Business Phone Systems for Small Business

Posted on July 26, 2019April 30, 2025 by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Stockphoto.com - O#100191557818 ID#100186088462

Small businesses have different needs and requirements than other types of businesses. So, if you’re thinking of starting your own small business or wondering how you can better manage the small business you already have, you may want to consider different types of phone line systems to choose from. Especially if your small business is sales-driven, you’re going to need your phone to close leads and keep your customers happy. With these business phone systems for small businesses, you can ensure that your sales management efforts won’t go in vain. And, that your customers and employees will be happy with their communication abilities.

Traditional Landlines for Small Business Sales Management

Certainly, you can choose a traditional landline for your small business phone. But, if you want to be able to transfer calls to different employee extensions, it’ll need to be a PBX landline system. This means a public branch exchange, which is the capability of routing to different destinations. Otherwise, you’d only be able to answer one call at a time from one specific phone unit.

A Trusted Source of Communication

Landline phones are your traditional phone lines which are installed and managed by your local telephone provider. Calls are run through copper wiring that eventually runs them to a local exchange, which then routes the call to the desired location. Traditional phone lines may work for your new startup if you don’t have internet, as they are one of the only types of systems that currently don’t require a broadband connection. And, they do offer some standard features like caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, and even conference calling.

VoIP for Small Business Sales Management

If you have an internet connection for your small business, you can benefit from a broader range in a selection of phone line systems, including VoIP. This type of business phone system is one of the most versatile, as it doesn’t need to use copper wiring and phone lines to carry phone calls to their destinations. Rather, it uses the internet. This allows VoIP systems to boast many unique benefits including ease of use, advanced features like SMS to email and call attendant and is even compatible with various business software tools like CRMs. Not to mention, VoIP systems are typically dramatically less expensive than traditional phone lines, which can help your small business sales management team by providing more money for sales incentives!

Business Phone Systems for Small Business — Source: Stockphoto.com – O#100100911520 ID#100186088462

Virtual Call Services for Small Business Sales Management

Finally, one of the last small business phone systems to consider as a new startup is a virtual call service. This entails purchasing and managing a business phone line right over the internet. So, you don’t need to purchase costly phone equipment, as other systems may require. Typically, when small businesses choose this type of phone system, they route their business number to an already existing phone, whether a business landline or a smartphone. Essentially, a virtual call service is an extension or a feature that you can add to an already established phone line. This allows you to have a personal number and a business phone line combined.

If you have a small business, like a virtual call center, you can use a virtual call service as a way to provide your remote sales employees with their own extensions, voicemail boxes, and customized greetings.

Getting Your Small Business Phone Number Through United World Telecom

Now that you know about the various business phone systems to choose from for your new or already established small business, you can choose your own business phone number.

Whether you need a local number to reach a specific customer audience or you want to provide customers with a customized toll free vanity phone number, United World Telecom can help! Our business phone numbers can be packaged to specifically meet your small business needs. This way, you aren’t paying for things you don’t need. And, you can use the savings to better motivate and manage your sales team. To learn more about how we can help to set up your new small business phone number, contact us today.

Signius Communications

Signius Communications has been based in the United States for almost a century. Their service enables your organization to benefit from highly-trained staff equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Helping clients both large and small, Signus offers 13 locations and a staff of over 200 agents. Their services can save on operational costs and make your organization exceptionally efficient at processing inbound calls.

Stericycle

Looking for a B2B medical answering service? If so, Stericycle, Inc. provides telecom solutions for commercial companies. With over 25 years of experience, Stericycle has grown from a small medical waste management company to an industry leader. Their offerings encompass complex and highly-regulated areas in the medical industry, including patient access services, customer contact, and much more.

Sound Telecom

Founded nearly three decades ago, Sound Telecom provides 24/7/365 telephone medical answering services. They serve customers throughout the United States and British Columbia, Canada. What separates Sound Telecom from its competitors is the sheer diversity of its state-of-the-art telecom services. Among these are online chat, email response, voice logging, and a web-based portal for easier access to account data. Some of Sound Telecom’s clients include American Red Cross, Blue Cross, Siemens Medical Solutions, and many more.

Top Medical Answering Service Comparison Review — Source: Stockphoto.com O#100048065961- ID#100067081677

Creating Your Own Medical Answering Service with United World Telecom

If your organization wants to keep its medical answering service in-house to save money and create a more customized service, United World Telecom is the perfect service provider for your virtual answering service needs. By using virtual phone numbers of various types (i.e. toll free numbers, vanity numbers, geographic numbers) and customizable functionalities, your organization can specifically tailor how inbound calls are received, processed, and answered.

The first step is to choose virtual phone numbers that enable your clientele to reach your business without incurring long distance fees and service blockages. Considering that United World Telecom offers virtual phone numbers in over 140+ countries worldwide and nearly every city/geographic region, your organization can accommodate callers no matter where they’re located. At www.unitedworldtelecom.com, you’ll encounter a series of dropdown menus that enable you to choose the country code and number type, as well as determine the destination number where calls can be routed to. Setup is easy and virtual answering services can be used almost immediately after placing an order.

Furthermore, United World Telecom’s service enables endless functionality depending on your business model. For instance, if you’re looking for an after-hours answering service, the add-on “time of day routing” can be used. This enables your business to route calls outside of regular operating hours to a call processing facility in another location. Also, by using a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), inbound callers use a directory system to navigate through your company’s various departments and personnel. This enables them to obtain the information they need and speak with a company representative. Overall, these medical answering service features can make your medical organization substantially more efficient.

Making Professional Outbound Calls from a Virtual Phone Number

Posted on June 25, 2019October 2, 2025 by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100005523906 ID#100200144052

Making Professional Outbound Calls from a Virtual Phone Number

Have you wondered about making professional outbound calls from a virtual phone number? It’s simple. You can make calls from your cell phone, home landline, or any number of your choosing. In doing so, your virtual phone number will appear as the number on the receiver’s caller ID.

Businesses Need the Right Tools for Professional Communication

Life is busy; entrepreneurs are always on the go. Imagine being able to use your cell phone to call clients, but have your business line (a virtual phone number you own) show up on their caller ID when you call them. This is more professional and allows for many other features to work alongside the virtual phone number.

Outbound Calling Keeps Your Business Image Aligned

When it comes to business, time is money. Being reliable and returning calls in a timely manner should be a top priority. Making professional outbound calls from a virtual phone number helps you prioritize your customers. The flexibility in using virtual phone numbers for business is unsurpassed, and there are many other additional benefits they include.

Here are just a few:

Keeping Work and Personal Phone Numbers Separate

When you purchase a virtual phone number for business, you can still use the mobile phone and/ or landline phone you already own. However, you also get a business number with many features and your personal phone number still remains private. You’ll always know when calls are made to your business number, and a customized ring can be used for those calls.

Virtual Phone Numbers Help You Boost Professionalism

If you know a business-related call is coming in, you can prepare for the call with the way you answer the phone. Whether it is your actual greeting when you answer or your tone, these details matter. Being able to receive a business call wherever you are, allows you to get things done out of the office while keeping you in touch with your market. Adding features to partner up with the virtual phone number can also help your business to appear larger and more established. Adding features such as extensions can help to get calls routed to the correct department or person more quickly. This can help to increase customer satisfaction, which can impact overall business success.

Making Professional Outbound Calls — Source: Stockphoto.com O#100005523906 ID#100200144052

Never Miss a Call

Missing a call can mean missing a sale or a client altogether. The flexibility that is offered by virtual phone numbers allows for you to make and receive business calls and texts from anywhere, take multiple calls at a time by routing them to another person or team within the organization, or allow the caller to leave a message in a customized voicemail message inbox.

Get Set Up Easily and in Minutes

Set up of virtual phone numbers is easy and quick. There is no hardware that needs to be installed. Everything is cloud-based, including the control panel, and providers such as United World Telecom make everything seamless. They keep it super simple with a walkthrough of setup and a customer service team that is available around the clock to answer any questions.

Making professional outbound calls from a virtual phone number beats making outbound calls from a personal mobile phone number or landline. Establishing a rapport with your market that is professional is key to staying power. Your customers and clients need to see you as reliable, trustworthy, and robust, so they feel comfortable investing in your business. Using virtual phone numbers is an easy way to build upon all of these things.

Get Outbound Calling Virtual Numbers from United World Telecom

Purchasing a virtual phone number from United World Telecom allows you to have a local, international, or toll free phone number for your business. You can use it to make outbound calls and you can receive inbound calls through it. Virtual numbers allow you to expand your business to international markets while keeping overhead costs down. With over 20 years in the business of offering telecommunication solutions for businesses all over the world, United World Telecom understands how important it is for customers to be able to reach you and for you to be able to get in touch with those customers as well.

What is Telemarketing? Everything You Need To Know

Posted on June 24, 2019October 2, 2025 by Becki Meerbeek

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100062064173 ID#100200144052

If you’re looking for ways to better market your business, you may be wondering, “what is telemarketing?” While there are plenty of ways to reach a target audience, teleselling has been one of the best and most affordable ways to reach potential clientele. And, most businesses who choose to telemarket to potential clientele benefit from a low risk way to continue to develop successfully.

What is Telemarketing? The Ins and Outs

Basically, telemarketing is the use of phones to reach potential clientele. Because teleselling is a broad term that involves any method a business can use to reach other businesses or potential customers, it can be used in a number of ways. Some of the ways telemarketing is utilized includes:

Basic outreach to create lead interest
Providing information
Offering opportunities
Gaining feedback from past clientele
Procuring leads
Managing business appointments
Improving customer services

What is Inbound Telemarketing?

Inbound telemarketing is a type of telemarketing which involves reaching out to customers a company has already accrued. It works to engage with current customers to introduce new products and gain a lasting customer-business relationship. Some examples of inbound marketing include offering a 24/7 customer line in which customers can reach a customer service agent all hours of the day. Or, a hotline for customers to reach to ask questions about products and/or services.

What is Outbound Telemarketing?

Contrary to inbound telemarketing, outbound telemarketing involves calling people who are not already customers. Typically, the goal of outbound telemarketing is to convert a phone lead into a business sale. This is done in three stages:

Lead Generation: Before outbound tmarketing can take place, one needs to establish a lead source. Typically, businesses will use lead generation tools like business websites, email blasts, and surveys to establish client needs before making cold calls. This will help to identify leads which have a greater potential for conversion.

Sales: Once leads are generating, the next step is to cold call leads to inform the customer about the product or service. However, this can get tricky as many people won’t answer phone calls from numbers they don’t recognize. One way to get around this is by using a calling prefix that matches your lead’s current area code. Once the client gains information about your product or services, you can ask for and finalize the sale.

Follow Up: Finally, the last step of outbound marketing is to follow up with a client to address any questions or concerns. This helps to keep the business relationship on healthy terms and can keep you from having to outsource customer service.

All about telemarketing — Source: Stockphoto.com O#100062068693 ID#100200144052

Some Benefits of Telemarketing

Choosing telemarketing as a way to reach target audiences, whether they are other businesses or personal phone lines, is a great way to grow business. Furthermore, teleselling offers a number of benefits including:

Cutting time and the cost of lead generation by creating product/service interest right over the phone.
Improving customer services by offering clientele direct access to telemarketer phone lines.
Increasing the effectiveness of appointment setting for business.
Offering better customer satisfaction by specifying client needs.
Revealing a client base ready to purchase a product or service.
Reaching out to current clients to improve customer relationships and upsell products or services.

Closing: Investing in Telemarketing for Your Business

Now that you have the answer to the question, “what is telemarketing?,” you may now realize that marketing is what your business needs to convert more leads into customers. United World Telecom can help to make implementing a telemarketing infrastructure as easy as can be by offering virtual phone numbers and 1-800 toll free numbers that can reach phone lines in any part of the world. Plus, we provide access to a number of other marketing services like SMS forwarding, call recording, and more. To create your custom telemarketing phone number and begin your telemarketing journey to reach more potential clientele, contact us today.

Is Your Business Still Using a Landline? Times Have Changed!

Posted on June 11, 2019October 2, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100176443260 ID#100200144052

Landlines have been seeing a decline in not only personal use but business use as well. This is due to many factors, including the ease and usefulness of a mobile phone, and also because of the flexibility in the workplace. Workers out at lunch do not want to miss an urgent call so that a work phone will be instituted on their behalf. As for workers who work from home or co-working spaces, a mobile phone line is necessary. Because of this, most offices have gotten rid of their landlines completely. Is Your Business Still Using a Landline? Times Have Changed!

Virtual Technologies Support Today’s Dynamic Businesses

Companies are created to grow and change, and it would be a hassle to move in mass amounts of wires every year when you could simply install a powerful WiFi network. Landlines also restrict businesses to one spot. Employees would not have the freedom to leave their desks while waiting for an urgent phone call. Mobile phones are incredibly useful for employees who do not work regular business hours and need more flexibility as well. One example is workers who need to contact international clients in different time zones.

Mobile phones have also increased the number of meetings done over FaceTime and Skype. Instead of having to travel to multiple businesses, you can meet with your colleagues face-to-face wherever you currently are. As long as you have WiFi, you are available. Video conferencing has now become the chosen way to host meetings for many businesses across the world.

Gaining More Flexibility and Freedom with a Virtual Phone System

While virtual phone providers can solve some of the problems associated with the landline, such as being restricted to one location, it can not solve all of them. With a mobile line, you can gain access to even more features with your virtual phone line such as SMS messaging. Most Americans, especially the younger generations, prefer text messages to phone calls. Most Millenials hate speaking on the phone and will ignore a phone call from a business. However, if they’re sent a text message, it’s likely they’ll respond or at least read the message and the information.

Are Business Landlines Common?

Landlines can still be found in many businesses, but those companies have been in business for several years when there were no other options. Many new companies are worried about alternative business developments such as access to bike racks, stocking healthy snacks, pet-friendly workplaces, and meditation rooms. These growing businesses aren’t interested in having a working landline. As landline numbers decrease in homes across the country, business landlines are corresponding accordingly.

If you’re still choosing a virtual phone system to use for your business or office, you can select between VoIP lines and a landline. VoIP, though, has a lower setup cost and much lower maintenance costs than landlines.

Advancing into the Future with VoIP

VoIP or internet calling uses the internet to place your phone calls. This system has been around for a long time, but only recently has VoIP become the best way to place calls. Because of consistent technological achievements over the years, WiFi connections have become very reliable.

If you’re still not convinced that you should ditch the landline, consider a few of these points:

VoIP offers many multimedia options, including video, unlike landlines, which only offers voice calling.
Your business can expand easier without the addition of multiple phone sets and installing wires.
Feature options are limited when choosing a landline, while VoIP comes with call waiting, call forwarding, and many others.
Cordless phone sets for landlines will not work during a power outage.
VoIP allows you to use mobile phones, landline phones, computers, laptops, and tablets to communicate.
You can port your numbers easily with VoIP and make calls from your mobile phone wherever you go.
VoIP has the benefit of rejecting anonymous callers, if you prefer.
Auto attendants, voicemail to email, and voicemail to text are all available with a VoIP connection.

Opening a Virtual Location Abroad

Posted on June 11, 2019April 30, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100083445092

Starting a business in your home country isn’t easy, but it’s even harder to open a business abroad. Also, if you already have an established business in America, it takes a lot of research and planning to expand overseas. That’s why opening a virtual location abroad or creating a virtual store is often your best option. It can save you precious time and salvage your resources.

Virtual Locations Allow for Easy Access into New Countries

Virtual locations give businesses an option for creating a local presence in any foreign country. Having a local presence in another country is crucial for companies to earn trust from the local clients and customers that will be potentially purchasing your products. Customers are more likely to trust a business that is located in their home country because they know that they can get in contact with that business if anything was to go wrong with the product that they purchased.

Virtual offices also offer a quick and temporary solution to expansion. When you decide to bite the bullet and work to have a presence in another country, you can quickly begin working abroad and start generating leads with a virtual office. These offices are convenient because they can be managed from your original place of business in your home country. They are also very affordable because you will not have to purchase real estate in another country. It is a significant first step in order to build your contact list in other countries.

Opening A Virtual Location Abroad — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100029873283

Virtual Offices Offer Instant Access

Virtual offices also offer a more accessible entrance into foreign markets since you do not have to deal with certain legalities in another country. When opening a non-virtual office, you must be aware of and adhere to the legal standards and operations of that country. With a virtual office, you only need to comply with the laws that apply to your home country. However, if you are shipping products, then you must adhere to the rules of exporting between countries as well.
In time, your customers and clients may approach you to create an entity in that foreign country. If that is your ultimate goal, then in time, you should have the means from generating leads months prior, plus the customer base to open a thriving business abroad.

The first step to opening a virtual location abroad is to set up a virtual phone system. United World Telecom offers numbers in over 150 countries. You can choose local numbers, international toll free numbers, and UIFN numbers, among others.

Why do You Need a Virtual Phone System?

To interact with your customers and clients abroad, of course! Having a phone number that your prospective customers can reach in case they have a problem with a product is the first step in building trust with your new clientele. And we all know that businesses with bad reputations never last long.

A virtual phone system also offers several different features that can be very beneficial for your business and make communication much more manageable. Some features with a virtual phone system include call forwarding, automatic greetings, auto-attendants, phone extensions, and voicemail to email.

After a few months or years, you can decide whether or not a virtual office is enough or if you want to build a brick and mortar store in your country of choice.

If you do decide to expand physically to another country, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Do your research on business laws and taxation from country to country.
Study and understand cultural differences and language barriers
Educate yourself on the politics and history of the country that you enter
Hire a lawyer to help you navigate the new country’s laws and regulations
Network with local businesses in order to trade knowledge and build professional relationships
Overestimate. Give yourself a longer timeline in case things pop up that you aren’t ready for

If you believe your business is ready for expansion, visit www.unitedworldtelecom.com, to get started today!

Using Phone Numbers with Extensions

Posted on June 11, 2019April 30, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100216440032

When starting your own business, one of the best decisions you can make is using phone numbers with extensions. Virtual phone systems come with a variety of features including extension numbers. As departments are added and more employees are hired, you will eventually need to find a way to keep everyone in contact with each other through one line. Extension numbers are the easiest way to keep your entire company together under one number. They enable your customers and clients can use to find exactly who they need with just the press of a number.

What are Phone Extensions?

Extensions are assigned numbers under one main business phone number. You can assign these extensions to members of your team or individual departments that get multiple phone calls such as a customer service department or a sales department.

Phone extensions are also helpful for customers and clients that need to get into contact with one specific person. With a virtual phone number system, you will have the feature of an auto attendant, which can be in charge of greeting your customers and automatically routing them to the right employee or division of the business. This way, if your customers do not know the exact extension they need for a department or an employee, they can figure it out through a menu of options.

You can also create shortcuts between employees with phone extensions. Your employees will have an easier time contacting different members of their team when they each have their own extension.

using phone extensions — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100211228754

How Do They Work?

Extensions are a group of numbers that follow your main business number. These are usually four-digits long. It is up to you how many digits you want to use after your extension. For example, if you have two employees at your company with their own extensions, you can assign them 123 and 456 or any combination that works for you. When a customer calls, they will use the form of business phone number + 123 or 456 depending on who they want to reach. The employee at 123 can also simply pick up his or her company phone and dial 456 to contact the other employee and vice versa. These extensions can also be under a different department. Therefore if the sales department extension is 9 and a customer wanted to reach one of these two employees directly, they would have to dial the business phone number + 9 + 123.

Extensions can also be used as a way to monitor the effectiveness of ad campaigns. If you decide to advertise the business phone number with an extension, you can track how many phone calls are received from that extension from your account. You could also use different extensions on multiple forms of advertising to find out which ones are working the best for your company and which ones you should stop using.

Extensions as Part of a Virtual Phone System

One of the best parts about using a virtual phone system with extensions is that you can reach out to employees and departments located in most parts of the world. If your finance department is located in Montana, but your customer service department is located in India, you can still be under the same business phone number umbrella. This is also good for companies that have employees who travel abroad. Because although an employee is based in Montana, if they are going to work in France, you can still reach them through their business number for no additional cost.

Virtual Phone Numbers

Extensions can be used within a virtual phone system. A virtual phone system uses VoIP to forward calls from one device to another. The phone numbers are connected over the internet and you are charged based on the rates of whichever VoIP provider you choose. Phone extensions work similarly to virtual phone systems. They can be forwarded to another device as well as a voicemail box. In essence, extensions and virtual phone systems work the same way. Contact us to learn more about virtual phone systems for your business.

Ways Climate Change is Altering the Way You Do Business

Posted on June 11, 2019October 2, 2025 by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100183422770

It may not be extremely obvious to some, but climate change is altering our world so drastically that all businesses will need to undergo some form of transformation in order to stay afloat. Top investors are increasingly demanding that more organizations create environmental action plans and consider risks to the business that are caused by shifting consumer attitudes.

Climate Change: The Future is Looking Bleak

In October of last year, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that if we continue at the rate we are going currently, global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius is likely between the years of 2030 and 2052. At this level of warning, there will be irreversible damage and a dramatic increase in climate-related risks to health, food security, water supplies, human safety, and economic development. While it is still possible, this report detailed that steps to limit this global warming will require immediate and extensive efforts related to energy, land, urban infrastructure, and industrial systems.

How it affects Business

With regard to business specifically, there are undeniable ways climate change is altering the way you do business. This should give each and every business owner pause in analyzing the effects and putting plans and efforts in place to mitigate the risks.

Climate Change & Risk Assessment

Some of the ways climate change is altering the way you do business are in how insurance companies are assessing natural disaster risk. This is something that you may not be immediately aware of, but climate change is affecting how insurance companies run as a whole in relation to businesses and homes. Companies like IKEA and Coca-Cola openly promote topics like water scarcity and deforestation, helping to make these topics better known to the general public. These types of impacts are prompting companies to invest in new processes and technologies in order to mitigate risk.

There are also other impacts, like making the transition to a carbon-free economy and new trends related to how customers, investors, regulators, and businesses make decisions. How climate change is altering the ways we do business is becoming a more well-known topic. Because it is evident that this is the reality we are facing, business owners cannot afford to turn their backs on the impending future ahead.

protecting the environment — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 ID#100150599160

Planning is the Key to a Stronger Strategy

Today, companies that truly listen to their stakeholders and take a significant stand on sustainability, values, climate resiliency, and adaptation are in a much better position to serve and retain customers in the long-run. The truth is, a company’s strategy must include a carefully designed path that helps the company achieve high financial performance. In order to sustain successful financial performance, a business owner has to have a clear understanding of how the business is impacting society. It’s important to understand how trends affect the macro – everything from wage growth levels to climate change – will affect the company’s potential growth.

How the Climate May Affect Your Business

You must assess and act on risks and opportunities related to climate change. More sustainable investments can transform a business, reduce risks, and tap into opportunities. Every initiative is unique and investments in clean energy can help reduce risk. Taking initiative is also attractive to talent and conservation efforts aimed at protecting natural resources. It can lead to discovering new markets as well as full climate-risk assessments that enable investors to make better-informed decisions.

You Can Prepare with Careful Planning

When it comes to the ways climate change is altering the way you do business if you haven’t felt it yet, be prepared. The examples are broad and varied. They may include harsher working conditions, changes in material supply and demand, changing environments and infrastructure needs, public perception, and extreme weather. However, there are ways to prepare ahead of time.

Companies and investors are acknowledging the dangers posed by climate change and extreme weather. Many businesses now consider risks posed by environmental factors to be even more dangerous than cyber-attacks and turbulent markets. You should be analyzing the risks related to your specific business in the present. There is more pressure than ever from consumers to make products more climate-friendly and make other changes related to climate change. This is the new normal and any company leader that does not choose to acknowledge this and act accordingly is very likely to drive their business into extinction.

Why Business Leaders Need to Focus on Sustainability Efforts

Posted on June 7, 2019October 2, 2025 by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100023244232 ID#100200144052

It is one thing to acknowledge an issue and it is an entirely different thing to actually decide to do something about it and act on those plans. The conversation regarding building more sustainable and global businesses has gained a lot of momentum over the last decade. There is encouraging news regarding significant initiatives from various corners of the world. The bottom line is this: sustainability efforts should be on the agenda of every single business leader. Consumers increasingly expect business leaders to play their role in not only delivering economic growth, but also working to improve the lives of customers and employees while protecting the environment.

The Need for Sustainability Cannot Be Ignored Any Longer

Expressing intentions is no longer sufficient. Sustainability is becoming more important for companies across all sectors. It is a business approach to create long-term value by considering how a given organization operates in social, ecological, and economic environments. Developing and implementing these strategies are meant to foster a company’s longevity. This is why business leaders need to focus on sustainability efforts.

Additional Reasons Why Business Leaders Need to Focus on Sustainability Include:

Government Regulations: Federal, state and local governments are enacting additional regulations to protect the environment. Adopting sustainability efforts will help to ensure that your company will be able to meet the changing regulations in a timely manner
Public Relations: A growing number of consumers care about environmental issues. This sector of the population is investing in companies who are enacting sustainability policies.
Attracting Employees: Employees want to attach themselves to brands that care about the environment and social responsibility as a whole.
Increased Sales: Sustainability commitments are resulting in improved sales.
Attracting Investors: Like consumers, investors want to invest in a company that is socially responsible.
Feeding Creativity and Innovation: Challenging employees to come up with better ways to do things is inspiring.
Enhanced Productivity: Targeting one area with sustainability efforts may lead to improvement in other areas as well.
Reducing Risk: Reducing the risk of fines and lawsuits by being in compliance keeps costs down.
Brand Trust and Loyalty: Branding your company as one that is committed to sustainability efforts is a great way to gain consumer confidence, trust, and loyalty.

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100012722104 ID#100200144052

Sustainability is the Future

Companies are moving toward more sustainable practices by reducing waste, creating a greener supply chain, looking at water efficiency, optimizing material usage, increasing productivity, addressing labor conditions, setting targets on water replenishment, taking steps with regard to energy efficiency, and more.

Sustainability and Business

When examining why business leaders need to focus on sustainability, it is imperative to understand these efforts are good for the environment, for consumers, and for business. Any business leader that does not grasp this is taking the risk of being left behind the competition. There are other risks, such as promising and not delivering or addressing one issue without being solid on compliance with regard to sustainability in other areas. For business leaders to address sustainability appropriately, these risks should be assessed and plans should be in place to address these issues.

Improving Sustainability is a Work in Progress

Just like there is no “one solution” for every business model, there is no “one solution” across the board for implementing sustainability efforts in every business. The best course to take is in analyzing the ambitions and individual stakes of each company. A few steps management teams can take in improving sustainability efforts include:

Aligning the company strategy with sustainability efforts.
Address compliance first (pollution and energy efficiency, human rights, labor responsibilities, regulations in waste management, etc.) before addressing competitive advantage.
Develop proactive sustainability strategies rather than reactive ones. When looking at why business leaders need to focus on sustainability efforts, you should recognize the impact of sustainability and develop proactive strategies rather than waiting until there is a crisis (i.e. public anger for unfair labor practices) to implement such efforts.
Transparency is key. An open environment in an organization leads to improved performance. This has been proven time and time again. The way to accomplish transparency is through open and clear communication with all stakeholders.

Putting Sustainability Plans into Action

In speeding up sustainability efforts, business leaders should focus on issues that are specific to your business. This includes building a clear business case for focusing on sustainability, reinventing your business model, and developing a compelling value-creating story for investors. This is especially helpful when presenting your case for focusing on sustainability. This is a major challenge, but it is also one that matters beyond individual organizations.

Looking at why business leaders need to focus on sustainability efforts is a critical first step, however, action is the next step that must be taken.

The Links Between the Economy and the Environment

Posted on June 4, 2019October 2, 2025 by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Stockphoto.com O#100161657762 ID#100200144052

In November 2018, the current U.S. administration published a significant report detailing the advance of climate change. The news was bad and it also came with a price tag. The report detailed the damage that is being observed and the financial losses that are projected. In summary, the outcome is a result of what humans have constructed and are still constructing, which is not best suited for the world the way it is. As time goes on, the cost to live in this world could increase by hundreds of billions of dollars per year. The links between the economy and the environment are clearly shown.

The Evidence of Climate Change We’re Seeing Right Now

In recent years, thousands of Americans have died as a result of extreme weather events tied to climate change. This has included hurricanes, which have been fueled by very warm seas to other extremes, such as drought. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said, “This report shows how climate change will affect every single one of our communities. The president says outrageous things like climate change is a hoax engineered by the Chinese and raking forests will prevent catastrophic wildfires, but serious consequences like collapsing coastal housing prices and trillions of dollars in stranded fossil fuel assets await us if we don’t act.”

Climate Change May Prove to be Financially Crippling

The United States National Climate assessments since 2000 have focused on showing the links between the economy and the environment and how much Americans stand to lose to climate change. The costs that are discussed include household expenses, the availability and price of food, energy, and other goods that people use on a daily basis in modern society.

These effects extend beyond the US. The report states, “The impacts of climate change, variability, and extreme events outside the United States are affecting and are virtually certain to increasingly affect U.S. trade and economy, including import and export prices and businesses with overseas operations and supply chains.” The report also states, “Now it’s seen much more as a societal or economic issue than a narrow environmental one.” And that is what it takes for many to gather the full scope of an issue… a clear, eye-opening breakdown of how something will affect them, the economy, and society as a whole.

economy vs environment — Source: Stockphoto.com O#= 100255318752 ID#100200144052

Dire Situations Ahead if Action Isn’t Taken

A section of the report analyzes the estimates of economic loss across the U.S. economy by sector. This section points to the fact that policy, as well as technological and behavioral changes that result in significantly lowering emissions, can cut the potential financial damage across many of these sectors by approximately 50 percent.

Even in a best-case situation, Americans will still have to pay tens of billions of dollars more per year to deal with the acceleration of climate change.

The climate change report goes on to show how climate change is putting different regions in the country in difficult financial situations:

In Pennsylvania, aging bridges may not fare well against more extreme storms, and water and wastewater systems need almost $30 billion in investment. In general, about 90 percent of the northeast is built on infrastructure poorly suited to adjust to rising seas. “Projected future costs are estimated to continue along a steep upward trend relative to what is being experienced today,” the report states. More than 60 percent of big southeastern cities see heat-wave trends above the national average, and three of them, Birmingham, Ala., New Orleans and Raleigh, N.C., are exceeding the rest of the country across all major heat-wave measures. Anchored by California’s clean-tech economy, the Southwest is seeing much of the nation’s new energy investment. Legacy power technologies, such as water-cooled power plants, will continue to work for decades, however, and will be less effective as temperatures make cooling sources too hot. Hot water could reduce efficiency of these power plants by 15 percent by 2050. In the Midwest, a major producer of corn and soybeans, increased temperatures, rainfall and humidity have eroded soil and allowed harmful pests and pathogens to thrive, according to the report. Rising growing-season temperatures in the region are projected to be the largest single factor contributing to declines of U.S. agriculture production.

If the Environment Collapses, so Will the Economy

There are growing threats to supply chains, global trade, and the price of goods. Other international issues include humanitarian aid, national security, and what the report refers to as “transboundary resources,” which include water, fish, and minerals co-managed by neighboring countries. The link between the economy and the environment is clear and must be addressed immediately.

Though adaptation efforts are currently being put into effect at various levels across the nation, they are often minimal in comparison with the challenges we face. Acknowledging the connection between the economy and the environment and addressing the full range of climate change will require substantial change in business practices and procedures across all organizations and sectors. It also requires substantial change on the part of individuals, laws, and capital investment. The goal is not to adapt to a new normal that will essentially remain the same, but to prepare lives and infrastructure with a forward-looking mindset that takes into account the “now” and the “what’s to come.”

Getting a Toll Free Number for Your Business is Easy

Posted on May 10, 2019April 30, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 - ID#100171762674

Getting a toll free number for your business is a convenient way to boost your communication with your customers. You can find toll free numbers from a variety of providers with different plan options.

Some businesses can benefit from a toll free number more than others. For example, if you are a startup, local, or a small business, a toll free number makes sense for you because it gives your business instant credibility. It is also suitable for growth because with a toll free number you can reach a national audience. E-commerce businesses and home-based businesses can also benefit from toll free numbers because if you do not have a physical address for a store, you need a reliable way for your customers to get in contact with you. Franchise businesses can also benefit from a toll free number; whether you have already franchised your business or want to head in that direction. It is a great way to keep all of your companies working under one number.

If your business falls into one of these types of companies, then you should be thinking critically about getting an 800 number. If you’re still on the fence, that may be because you are unsure of the way that it works. An 800 number is a useful number for businesses of all types because it provides a link between customer and business that does not cost the customer anything to call. Toll free numbers also are a way to connect people from across the country with your business. They are especially vital for companies that need to spend time on the phone with their customers. They are simple to set up and easy to transfer as well. If you want to personalize the toll free number to a vanity number like 1-800-DOGFOOD, most providers will offer options for such personalization which can make your business more recognizable.

Benefits of Getting a Toll Free Number

So once you have decided your business can benefit from a toll free number, how do you go about getting one? Follow these steps to get started with your new toll free number today!

Research multiple providers

The first step to finding the right service provider for your business is by doing your research. Compare rates and plans of the top toll free number providers. Each provider will have slightly different features and prices. It is necessary that you figure out which provider has the features that you need within your budget for your toll free line. Some providers have monthly payment plans while others will charge by the minute with no minimum. You should collect data on how many calls you receive and need to make currently to find out the best plan that works for you.

Research the features

Once you have narrowed down your search by the plan, you must make sure that the providers you have narrowed down offer the right features for your business. Some providers will offer features like call recording, unlimited extensions, customized greetings, and simultaneous ringing. Remember your business’ needs and budget when deciding on features.

Contact United World Telecom or another service provider of your choosing

Many companies offer 1-800 toll-free numbers, so do your research before choosing the best provider for your business. Since you’re already here, you may have decided that United World Telecom is the best option for your business. United World Telecom offers several ways of getting in contact with them. You can get started by calling our toll free number at 1(877)898-8646, using our online chat box, or by ordering online via UnitedWorldTelecom.com.

Set up an account

Once you have chosen the right service for a business, you can start to set up your account right away. Choose the number that you want and if you decided to go with a vanity number, try to pick one that closely matches your business. After setting up an account, you should be up and ready to go the same day.

Route your phone lines

A toll free number can be routed to the phone lines that you already have. You may need to choose to have a PBX set up on the premise or to opt for a cloud-based PBX. If you select the cloud, you can be ready to go without having to install a PBX. There is also an option to route the toll-free number to a landline as well. Once you’ve signed up and set up your account, you’re done! You’re all ready to start taking calls within the hour!

Designing Business Cards? Use a Virtual Phone Number

Posted on May 10, 2019October 2, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 - ID#100059450683

As the world goes more and more virtual, one thing is still consistent: business cards. If you do not have a business card that you can bring with you to networking events, you are missing out on a lot of opportunities and new contacts. So if everyone has a business card, how are yours supposed to stand out among the masses? Whether you are designing business cards for the first time or looking to revamp your old business cards, check out these eight tips to creating a better business card.

Tips for Designing Business Cards

Adhere to basic design standards

The standards for designing business cards as follows:

- 300dpi has the best image reproduction
- Typography should be minimal but not so small that it is illegible
- Use CMYK to design your cards
- Make sure that your copy is 5mm or more away from the edge
- When it comes to choosing a font, be sure to find one that is easy to read and stand out. Stay away from script type, unless you’re a calligraphy business showing off your original work. (However, even then it should be very legible.)

Start with the most important information

Different standard business card sizes vary depending on the country that you are in. This is probably because wallet sizes differ from place to place. Either way, a business card will be easy to hold onto and store. You will be working with a small canvas for creativity, but you must make sure that you include your most relevant contact information. After all of the crucial information is stated on the card then you can begin to get creative with your design around the type.

Avoid simple mistakes

Before printing your business card, be sure that you provide a bleed that is stated on your printer. Also, level borders around the card should be avoided in case the card isn’t cut perfectly. Misaligned borders are glaringly obvious to anyone you will be giving your card out to. It is like having a stain on your t-shirt on a first date; it’s all the other person will notice.

Designing Business Cards Designer on Laptop — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100053809749

Use a virtual phone number

Highlight your virtual phone number on your business card. Business cards provide an easy way to exchange contact information with prospective clients and collaborators. Business cards are a great way to get people to call your business.

Think outside of the box

Most business cards are printed on the same type of material. This is usually because it is the most affordable option, but if you’re willing to spend a little more, you can take a bold design stance with your business cards using more creative options. Formats like wood, plastics, metals, and slate are all options for printing your cards. The business card still needs to be compact and portable, but as long as you keep that in mind when choosing an alternative material, you can’t go wrong with a card that stands out from other business cards.

Opt for a special finish

There are places to cut costs, but when choosing business cards, you shouldn’t be cutting costs on the finish. You can choose from metallic inks, foil blocking, and more specialized finishes. These finishes make your business cards look more expensive and visually appealing. Because of this, people will be more likely to remember your business card.

Create a business card with multiple uses

You can get creative here. When your business card doubles as something like a seed bag you can plant, a treat for a dog, or a phone holder, then your business card is less likely to end up in the recycling bin.

Recycle old Business Card designs

If you have a stack of old business cards that you don’t want to use anymore (most people do!), you don’t have to throw them out. You can recycle them. And this applies not just to old business cards either, you can reuse old birthday cards or destination postcards. If you want an easy way to recycle, merely print out some stickers to stick over the old cards. Or if you’re artistic, then you can take your old cards and illustrate something by hand over the top.

Whether you decide to go to someone to have your cards created professionally or if you choose to create your own, remember to double and triple-check your work before printing. The worst outcome could be that you end up with thousands of useless cards that display the wrong phone number on them, or some other mishap! A keen eye for detail is a must; business cards are one of the key points of marketing and business communication, so the little things matter a whole lot.

Expert Tips for Expanding into Australia with Australian Toll Free Numbers

Posted on March 28, 2019October 2, 2025 by Magaly Fuentes

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100002331709

Australia offers great opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses. Although it’s on the other side of the world in relation to America, Australia is currently one of the most exciting locations for investors, regardless of their industry. The nation is home to around 24 million people and yet few entrepreneurs realize that it’s one of the world’s most lucrative economies. In fact, it is the 12th largest in the world. So, this gives you a great opportunity for expanding into Australia with Australian toll free numbers. Here are some expert tips on how to choose Australia for your next virtual business expansion.

australia tips — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100002331709

Take Advantage of Cloud Phone Numbers

A cloud phone number, such as an Australian toll free number is a virtual business number that operates through the internet. Unlike standard phone numbers, cloud phone numbers do not require any dedicated hardware or expensive software. Companies who provide virtual Australian toll free numbers route all calls made to the number to the number of your choice. It can be your landline, office phone, cell phone, or VoIP line. You will never miss a call again.

Use Australian Toll Free Numbers For Marketing

This is an easy way to test how successful your marketing campaigns are and how many leads they are pulling in. You simply use a different Australian toll free number for each of your marketing campaigns. For example, one for your website, one for your email marketing, one for your TV marketing, and another for your business cards. Now you can track your calls and see which numbers are bringing in the most new customers.

Don’t Limit Your Types of Virtual Phone Numbers

You don’t have to limit yourself to Australian toll free numbers. When you choose a provider like United World Telecom, you can also choose from Australian virtual local numbers and vanity numbers. This is a great way to boost your brand and show your customers that you have a strong presence in Australia. They won’t even know they are calling a virtual number. All numbers have a local ringback tone, so it will sound just the same as if your customers were calling a neighbor.

Your Business Will Benefit From a Range of Advanced Features

You’ll be glad that you signed up for your Australian toll free numbers with United World Telecom because you also get a suite of advanced features that you won’t find anywhere else. These include:

Local ringback tones
Rollover minutes
Failover forwarding
Simultaneous ringing
Black and white lists
Voicemail to email
Fax to email
Call recording
AI call insights
Call activity reports
CRM integrations

Stay Portable with an Australian Toll Free Number

The portability of Australian toll free numbers should not be underestimated. Let’s say you want to move your business to a different area than your current location. No problem. You can easily take your toll free numbers with you and your customers will not have to start using a different number. Whether you are moving out of state or across the world, your numbers will stay the same. This means you can maintain the same reliable relationship will all your customers without a problem.

Strengthen Customer Relations

It’s a known fact that toll free numbers can improve customer relations. Why would people want to do business with you if they are unable to get in touch with your company? Whether a customer has an issue with a product, wants to find out more about a service, or is having difficulty making an order, toll free numbers can not only make their life easier, they can also make the customer keep coming back for more. And customer loyalty is a valuable commodity.

The more comfortable your customers feel with your business, the less likely they are to turn to your competitors.

Give Your Company Credibility

Another important aspect of Australian toll free numbers is the fact that they boost your company’s credibility. This is particularly the case if you buy a vanity toll free number. A vanity number can make your company stand out from the rest because it ties in specifically to your brand. It gives your company a professional appearance that will impress customers everywhere.

You’ll Never Miss Another Call

With Australian local and toll free numbers, you can have all your calls routed to the number or numbers of your choice. You can even have calls routed to several different numbers at the same time until someone answers. These options enable you to handle calls from different time zones, so you don’t drop calls and your customers are always satisfied.

Contact United World Telecom today and find out more about how you can use Australian toll free numbers and local and toll free numbers in more than 140 countries to expand your business’s global reach.

7 Quick Tips for Increasing Your Business’s Reach with Toll Free Numbers

Posted on March 8, 2019October 2, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

Are you thinking about getting a toll free number for your business? If you are running an eCommerce store or need to provide a customer service line, then you will want to consider getting one for your business. A toll free number is a national phone line that your customers can call for free from anywhere in the US. Virtual toll free phone numbers free up office space by connecting through the internet instead of a landline, which means you can connect your phone number to forward to any device of your choosing. Providing your customers with a phone line that they can call offers a way for your customers to reach out when they have an issue, and it creates another avenue in which they can make a purchase. If you’re still not sure how you can make your toll free phone number work for your business, check out these 7 quick pointers aimed at upping your business’s reach.

7 quick tips — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100204677960

1. Make It Easy To Remember

Providing a toll free number for your business allows you to advertise with one number. No matter where your employees, stores, or customers are located, you can provide everyone with one number to dial. When your customers see this toll free number advertised somewhere they will automatically know it is for your brand, therefore, when you choose the toll free number that you want, make sure you choose one that has a nice flow to it or consider getting a vanity number.

2. Handle Higher Call Volumes

Toll free numbers are equipped with the ability to handle large calling volumes. Since they work in the Cloud, you won’t have to worry about a call dropping because toll free numbers offer call forwarding, meaning a phone call can be transferred instantly to the next available person.

3. Be Available 24/7

When a store is available at all times, a customer is more likely to trust that company with their business. Being able to answer your customers’ questions, take orders, and offer your customers a way to pay their bills over the phone at any time will create an instantly better relationship with your business and your customers. Customers won’t appreciate it if there isn’t a single phone number for them to contact if they have an issue.

4. Use IVR to Send Your Customers to the Right Agent

When your customers call your business, you can choose to greet them with an automatic message or send them straight to an available person. One way to tackle higher call volumes is to greet all of your customers with an initial welcome and continue onto a menu. Explain menu options so that your customer can choose with whom they want to speak to. For example, if they are looking to talk to someone in customer service, they can easily press a number to speak to customer service, but if they want to pay their bill, they can push the number that will direct them to the accounting office instead.

5. If You’re Going to Move, Port Your Number

If you have already invested in a toll free number and want to move locations, you can still move and keep your initial toll free number. If a move is better for your business, your toll free number won’t hold you back. You can still keep the number that you have been advertising with for years.

6. Reach a Larger Audience

Since toll free numbers work on a national level, you can promote your business outside of your town. Even if your shop is located in one neighborhood in one state, you can still advertise your products to customers located all over the US. When you have a toll free number, you offer your customers a free way to get into contact with your business. Which builds a certain level of trust.

7. Use Your Toll Free Number for Marketing Campaigns

You can try out new ways of marketing by associating each campaign with a different toll free number and then measure which numbers are getting the most calls. This will quickly help you to figure out what means of campaigning are working and where you can change up your direction.

Expand Your Company Instantly to New Locations with Virtual Phone Numbers

Posted on March 5, 2019April 19, 2021 by Ilsa Morales

Thanks to the internet and virtual phone numbers, many businesses have gone global with ease. However, to compete in this new global landscape, new companies must be prepared to take their businesses outside of their local habitats and out into the wide world. Because of the worldwide scale, the competition is growing, and companies need to stand out in order to compete.

expand your company — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100158330686

Expanding to New Markets

Business opportunities are growing because of the number of businesses joining the expanding marketplace. Customers from all over the globe are now more easily reached, and modern companies must be able to take on the responsibilities of serving these new international customers. Opportunities also arise at every corner, and a business must be ready to jump on them.

In the past, international business was a challenging field to compete in and available only to a specific group of huge companies with massive resources. As enhancements in technology and the telecom industry have improved, it is now easier than ever to reach a broader audience in untouched international marketplaces.

Virtual Phone Numbers

Telecom technology has been advancing in recent years and with it came the introduction of international virtual phone numbers. International virtual phone numbers are numbers that can be hosted from your business in America but they can look like a number from almost any country in the world, including China, Australia, New Zealand, and more. These virtual phone numbers are not tied to a physical device and they work through a service called the cloud.

All calls travel instantly through the cloud and are forwarded to your local phone lines, such as a landline or your cell phone. If your company wants to expand to another state they can use a local phone number that works just like the international number. You will be provided with a local area code and phone number that will be forwarded instantly to the device or devices of your choosing. For example, if you have many customers in New Zealand but are located in Australia, you can get New Zealand virtual numbers that Japanese customers are more comfortable calling. It makes your customers feel like they are closer to your business even if you are located halfway across the country.

Why Use a Virtual Phone Number?

1. Minimize costs: Using local phone numbers eliminates long-distance calling fees. Plus, you are able to expand your businesses to different parts of the country without having to build a store in multiple cities. You can run a fully functional and very profitable company with a large customer following from only one location. Virtual numbers also make it simpler for international customers to reach out and vice versa.

2. Create a local presence: As mentioned previously, creating a local presence makes your clients feel more comfortable. By using a local phone number, you can also use one agent that is dedicated to this particular area, giving the calls a personalized touch. This way, your customers know who they will be speaking to and your agents already know who is reaching out to them.

3. Virtual numbers provide flexibility to your employees: If you or your employees travel a lot, it may be hard to stay in touch. But, when you use a virtual phone number, all of your employees can stay connected through the cloud and whatever device they choose to work on because the virtual phone number can be tied to multiple devices. Therefore, your employees will never need to miss a call only because they are working from another location.

4. You don’t have to spend a lot to portray a professional image: Virtual numbers come with amazing features that will make your company look like it is a vast enterprise. Not only that, there are very few startup costs to adding a virtual phone line. Toll-free vanity numbers are also a cost-effective advertising tool that can take your business to the next level.

From start-ups to large businesses, all companies can benefit from using virtual phone numbers. It is an excellent way for businesses to “add” new locations without having to move. They also add flexibility to your business hours and can help your company establish relationships with your customers. They are also a great tool to use for contact centers looking to improve their customer service.

5 Marketing Industry Secrets & Why Toll Free Numbers Are Awesome

Posted on March 5, 2019July 6, 2023 by Ilsa Morales

Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100220944526

Having a strong marketing team will give your business the boost it needs to get an edge over the competition. The marketing landscape and how you contact customers is always changing. From the rise of the information age to social media, and running a successful contact center, the options could be overwhelming. There are a few ways that you can be sure your business stays ahead of these trends.

Marketing demands both analytical and creatively-minded employees that can execute untraditional thinking that has also undergone careful analysis. Focus on building a core marketing team that can think outside of the box while staying in budget. The most important thing that any marketer knows is that it is all about the customer. In order to please your customers and run a successful business, keep the following 5 Marketing Industry Secrets in mind.

1. Look To Your Competition

The best place to begin is to look at other businesses in your industry, or even other industries, and see what is working for them. Once you have honed in on a few marketing strategies, you can reverse engineer them into working for your brand. All of these marketing strategies will have been created with a long and careful planning process which analyzes risks and rewards. You can begin the process by adding your own creative spin and running the numbers for your particular business.

2. Think Outside of the Box

While learning from other successful businesses and reverse-engineering is the best way to get started, eventually you are going to have come up with ways to not only compete with those other businesses but to beat them at their own game. Find ways to market in ways that other industries haven’t stumbled upon yet. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks because no matter the outcome you will have gained experience.

3. Communicate

Something businesses often overlook is how often they should be communicating with their customers. The truth is although you may not have 24 hours in a day to speak with your customers, you need to be available to them. It is important to place on your website all the ways that your customers can reach you, that way they feel they can trust you and your product. The easier you are to get ahold of, the more confidence customers will have in your product. Advertise your toll free number on billboards, your website, your social media sites, and infographic flyers. Whatever way you choose to advertise your company, your toll free number should be visible. If your business does not yet have social media sites or toll free numbers, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Most social media sites are free unless you choose to pay for extra marketing strategies. Toll free phone numbers have few startup costs because there is no equipment required to get started and many companies have a variety of plans to choose from that will be affordable for your company. Toll free numbers and social media sites make it easy for your customers to get in touch, while toll free numbers add a professional touch that your small business may not have had before.

4. Never Change and Always Improve

This may sound contradictory, but your company needs to remain a steady and reliable establishment in your customers’ eyes, but your company cannot take a lax stance on the changing marketing landscapes. Tried and true methods will work, but not if you want your business to be more than mediocre.

5. Be Results-Oriented

There are many ideas floating around about the best way to market your business, but none of it matters if the results aren’t there. On day one of your new business venture, you should begin building data. Consider all aspects of your business when analyzing your data stream. Be aware of what is performing well and what can be altered or cut loose from your budget. Starting out strong with this measuring tool will ensure that your business can keep up and overtake the competition by understanding what drives your revenue.

Wellness for Employees in Call Centers

Posted on March 4, 2019October 2, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

The best way to benefit your company is to improve the quality of life of the employees that help you run your business. If employees have access to wellness programs that enhance their performance and reduce their health risks, your business can, in turn, mirror the happiness and healthiness of its employees.

wellness for employees in call centers — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100228678088

Employees who are happy with their companies generally have more energy at work and take fewer sick days. Creating a wellness program for call center employees is essential to creating a healthy workplace environment. Because call center employees must be seated at their desks throughout the day and generally have strict schedules to follow, they are at risk for a variety of health issues.

Investing in your call center employees can have a significant impact on your business if you are willing to make the investment. These ventures can include a fitness center, education on wellness techniques, company health fairs, access to free or low-cost flu shots, weight loss programs, providing healthy foods and snacks, and programs to help employees quit smoking.

You might be thinking that the costs for these programs are too high, but in truth, they are worth it in the end. Call center representatives become the face of your company when a customer has a question or a problem. If your call center employees are unhappy and unhealthy, they will become irritable over the phone or forgetful. Because your clients are the most essential part of your business, it is vital that the person they speak to is helpful and friendly. Once you create an environment where employees enjoy coming to work, you can stand back and watch as your business grows.

Some businesses make budget cuts to their employees’ healthcare because of rising costs and unstable economies. However, cutting back or eliminating these incentives will not benefit your business in the long run. Giving your employees the opportunity to see a doctor the moment they get sick or providing a place for them to workout before or after work keeps insurance premiums at lower costs. Research has shown that businesses who cut these from their budgets will eventually see their premiums rise by 10% each year. Providing healthcare onsite or on-demand can also reduce the spread of illnesses. This is essential because employees who work in a call center are in very close quarters, so if one person gets sick, eventually everyone will catch it as well.

Once your business begins to provide these incentives to your employees, you will find that employees are more likely to be motivated to get in shape. You can encourage this motivation by doing company-wide fitness challenges with monetary incentives or prizes.

If you are thinking of beginning a wellness program for your call center employees, but you have a limited budget, take note of what your employees would like to see from you. This will reduce the possibility of wasted money on a program that won’t be used. If you were thinking of adding a yoga studio to your building, find out if the majority of your employees would be interested in participating first. A small way to boost wellness in your employees is to encourage standing up and stretching between calls. You can also print out an infographic of different stretches that can easily be done at a desk and hand them out for those who might feel silly starting this practice. To encourage your employees to eat healthier, provide healthier snacks and plenty of water and tea instead of soda and juices. You can also organize a group walk during lunch breaks or offer to subsidize fitness memberships.

Another low-cost option is to utilize a spare room and turn it into a meditation or nap room where employees can recharge their batteries. Encourage wellness to all of your employees and celebrate employees who reach healthy milestones, too. If a call center employee takes on an office-wide weight loss challenge and returns with significant results, be sure to reward them for their hard work! Other employees will see these results and might be inspired to try it out for themselves.

Providing wellness programs is a logical business decision with a high ROI. After all, when your employees are happy and healthy, they’re going to work better for your company overall.

Reasons a Business Phone Number Makes Sense for Freelancers, Solopreneurs, and Startups

Posted on December 20, 2018October 2, 2025 by Ilsa Morales

When you are just starting in a new business endeavor, there are a few things that can wait and a few that can’t. You might think that having a business phone number is on the list of “something that can wait.” Since you already have a mobile phone number, you can use that for work, right? Yes and no. Sure that could work, but it makes you look unprofessional, it becomes harder to separate work and life, and it’s more likely that you’ll miss important phone calls. If you intend to watch your business grow, then reasoning that you can get a business phone number later when your budget is larger can cause many problems. First, it is hard to switch over from one to the other because when your business is progressing, the worst thing to do would be to change your phone number. Secondly, because you would be missing out on many features, it may not be a good option. If you are a freelancer, a solopreneur, or a startup, there are many reasons why a business phone number makes sense for you; here’s a look:

reasons a business phone number — Source: Stockphoto.com O#23559 – ID#100199640926

1. Professional Appearance

If you are a freelancer or beginning a startup, you’re most likely working from your home or a coffee shop and not a highly-equipped office. This could turn some people off. They may not think that you are capable of running a business properly without having a permanent office location. With a virtual business phone number, you can give the appearance of running a larger company. The variety of features available to you, such as personalized voicemail, call forwarding, customized greeting menus, and call transfer services make it highly appealing and easy to accent your appearance.

2. No More Dropped Calls

Virtual phone numbers work on a cloud-based system, which means that no call will be lost. Not only can you set up your preferences to be forwarded to the right person during business hours, but after hours you can set up phone calls to be sent to a voicemail feature that you can personalize to your preferences. In addition to that, with call forwarding and voicemail to fax or email, you will never miss a voicemail message either.

3.Clear Calls

Cell phone signals can be tricky, but virtual phone numbers, which work from the Cloud, work on a fixed network. Plus, they are dedicated to your business and were created to handle large call volumes.

4. It’s Affordable

If the main reason you aren’t springing for a business phone number is because you don’t think your budget will allow for it, think again. Virtual phone number sites offer several different plans for all stages of business. From freelancers to corporations, you can find an affordable plan that comes with all of the professional features, but you’ll only have to pay for the minutes you use.

5. More Personal Time

When you are a freelancer, solopreneur, or a startup, it can be hard to create boundaries between your burgeoning business and your personal time. But personal time and self-care are just as important as your business. If you find yourself spending all of your extra time thinking about and working on your business, the company could suffer. It’s good to take time off and enjoy life in between work periods. Cut out time in your day to spend with friends and family. Having balance in your life is the key to success. With a virtual phone number, you can set up business hours where customers can call you and reach you directly, as well as out of business hours where they have access to your voicemail. You can get back to them as soon as you are back in the “office.” Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you won’t need a break.

6. No Robocallers

One of the best features on a business phone number is that you can choose an automated greeting where your customer can then select an option of where they would like to be directed. Robocallers will get stuck in the menu options and eventually will be timed out and hung up on. Instead of having your phone line clogged with robocalls, you can spend more time talking to your actual customers. Robocallers have become a massive issue in the past few years, and a majority of phone numbers have been compromised. At United World Telecom you can also sort phone numbers into black and white lists. The Black List blocks unwanted callers from reaching you which means once a robocaller tries to contact you, they won’t be able to call again from that number.