Technology Enhances Business Potential
Technology is changing the way that business is done, and as eWeek.com contributor Nathan Eddy recently revealed, more small and medium-sized businesses are using smartphones and tablets to run their business than ever before. According to a recent j2 Global survey, 40 percent of respondents indicated a preference for doing business on a smart device such as an iPhone or iPad.
The survey had a few other interesting findings, including that more small businesses are increasingly using texting to communicate. Furthermore, only 33 percent of respondents indicated that they still listen to voicemail messages from business contacts, while only 18 percent admitted listening to a voicemail from an unknown number.
Employees who use personal devices for work purposes are still concerned about privacy, and the survey found 75 percent of respondents unwilling to share their personal mobile phone number with other staff. Furthermore, 81 percent were not willing to share their number with partners or investors and 82 percent did not wish to share this information with vendors. This data highlights how more small business owners are concerned with implementing technology that both enables enhanced employee productivity and allows personal and business contacts to be filtered and separated.
“In an increasingly mobile work world, small businesses are finding themselves juggling multiple devices and maneuvering the grey area between their personal and professional lives,” Mike Pugh, j2 Global’s vice president of marketing, said in a recent statement. “With virtual phone systems, small businesses are able to stay connected no matter the device they’re using and can do business anytime, anywhere while keeping personal contact information private.”
Using Technology to Enhance Business Potential
For new or small businesses, technology can be even more integral, and something as seemingly simple as professional business voicemail can make all the difference and unlock unlimited business potential. If a small business is struggling with a negative reputation, strategies such as implementing a professional answering service from AccessDirect can consistently reinforce the company’s positive developments. Companies can leverage their professional voicemail systems by recording greetings that emphasize their main value propositions and drive business.
Writing for Business 2 Community, contributor Katherine Evans outlined numerous tips for keeping potential customers interested and engaged when they call a business. Evans suggested that business representatives always remember that first impressions are important, try to add a personal touch to each interaction and practice empathy. Additional tips include having a thorough knowledge and understanding of both the audience and the company, treating each customer like an individual, avoiding putting people on hold whenever possible and always providing a professional voicemail for missed incoming calls.
“Telephone etiquette is something so important to a business’ success and reputation yet many people seem to let it fall by the wayside,” Evans wrote. “Your potential customers should be made to feel valued or else they’ll hang up and look to one of your competitors … When a potential customer calls, they are looking for reasons as to why they should choose you as their service provider. So, first impressions are all-important, they can be boosted in a number of ways, including the phone number you are providing, the welcome message you record and the length of time it takes for you to answer the call.”
Enhance your business potential with virtual phone systems from AccessDirect. Find out more by giving us a call at 877-599-6500 today!
