Become Mobile-Friendly and Increase Sales
Many note the major differences between big and small business, stressing how differences in size necessitate alternative approaches to regular operations. In a recent Dynamic Business article, contributor Rene Sugo explored the idea if the size of the business really does matter when considering voice communications options like hosted PBX.
“Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, the simple fact is that unless you’re offering a localized product or service, you’ll want your business to reach as many people as possible,” Sugo wrote. “The best way to do this is to ensure that your business has a national presence, which for many small businesses is a Catch-22 – you can’t expand nationally without a larger customer base, yet you can’t acquire more customers without expanding your reach. The good news is, there’s a solution and it lies within this new high-tech concept called the ‘cloud.’ The cloud simple means a service that is hosted on the internet and is accessible from anywhere by anyone.”
Sugo noted that the cloud presents a virtually infinite number of opportunities for businesses to get past any geographical barriers and expand their reach. Telecommuting is one significant trend that has been enabled and driven by the cloud and hosted services.
Virtual Phone Service Providers
To provide hosted PBX services, companies like AccessDirect utilize the cloud to deliver a virtual phone service that provides all the benefits of traditional public branch exchange services at significantly reduced costs. With cloud-hosted PBX systems, also known as a virtual phone service, users receive many advanced features such as voicemail, voicemail to email, call forwarding, auto attendant and customized call routing in addition to standard communication functionality.
“Most providers also offer the ability to manage your virtual phone service via an online portal, which means you can say goodbye to unnecessary maintenance costs and the need to call a technician every time you want to make a change to your system,” Sugo wrote. “Improve productivity, minimize operating expenses and demonstrate your focus on service and efficiency while avoiding the size or location prejudice that some customers may have, it’s a win-win situation. Move into the cloud and the size of your business is entirely up to you.”
Mobile-Friendly Business Websites Are Rewarded
In another recent Dynamic Business article, contributor Simon J. Weies explained that because more consumers are using mobile devices to interact with companies, SMBs and large corporations alike need to be mobile friendly. Over the course of this year, the number of mobile phones will outnumber desktop computers, and now roughly two-thirds of all local searches are performed on mobile phones.
According to Weies, one of the keys to attracting business is through the use of good mobile web design that loads quickly and is optimized for mobile screens. Websites not optimized for mobile can lose a company customers, as users become frustrated trying to locate important information about the business. Weies noted that 61 percent of visitors to mobile-friendly sites wind up calling the business.
