Small businesses, home-based businesses, and self-employed individuals
have been turning to internet telephone service (also called broadband
phone or VOIP) in droves. What is the attraction? As a self-employed,
telecommuting, small-business-owning freelance writer, I can provide some
insight.
I switched my business to internet phones early in 2005. Despite a few
hiccups, I'm not going back to landlines. Internet phone service has too
many advantages, which I'll describe for you. I also have some tips for
avoiding possible rough patches.
VOIP Internet Phone Small Business and SOHO Advantages
VOIP Advantage No. 1: Look bigger.
* If your small business has to seem large, a virtual PBX with a
dial-by-name directory might help. These systems cost thousands to
install. But many VOIP companies let you rent this service for less than a
hundred dollars a month.
* Give each member of your team their own outside line. With most VOIP
companies, each line costs around $10.
* Get one or more 1-800 numbers at around $10/month.
VOIP Advantage No 2. Freedom of movement.
* Freedom to travel. When I went to Sacramento to visit a friend, I ended
up extending my stay to a whole month. I couldn't have done that without
regular phone access. With VOIP, my Massachusetts number follows me
wherever I go.
* Tropical adventures. I regularly work with a virtual assistant company
that takes phone calls on their Quebec phone number everyday. That
wouldn't be so strange except they're in the Philippines. They're using
the same small business VOIP phone service sold right here in North
America. True, VOIP companies don't generally guarantee their services
will work outside the country of purchase. But the internet is the
internet, whether in Fargo or the South Pacific. With the growth of
broadband to virtually every non-pariah nation on earth, your second
office really could be in a tropical paradise--or year-round ski resort.
Isn't that the freedom you hoped being your own boss would bring?
* Telecommuting. Feel a cold coming? Work from home! With VOIP, even the
receptionist may be able to telecommute!
* Voicemail by email. You don't have to be by the phone to get voicemail.
This is the perfect service for busy people and email addicts. Bonus: the
message (in a file similar those used on MP3 players) can be stored
indefinitely.
Internet Phone Advantage 3. Cost
* Make lots of calls? Many VOIP providers' unlimited-calling plans cost
just $20 to $80 a month.
* Features such as call waiting, caller ID, hold, call forwarding, and
multiple ring-to numbers are usually costly extras with landline service.
With most VOIP services, those are built-in features.
SOHO VOIP: Tips for Making it Work for Your Business
SOHO VOIP Tip 1. Test internet phoning out before committing.
Yes, some VOIP connections are so scratchy and patchy they sound like cell
phones. That's usually because of a problem in the internet connection.
Such problems may not be apparent in ordinary web browsing and file
downloading. Go with a service that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try
VOIP out where you live and work. Make sure to try inbound and outbound
calls.
Small Business Internet Phone Tip 2. Phoning from a laptop.
With VOIP telephones, you don't need a computer. But you can use your
computer as a phone. A piece of software called a "softphone" uses your
computer's speakers and microphone. If your laptop is running too many
programs at once, calls will deteriorate. Higher-end laptops shouldn't
have this problem.
SOHO Internet Phones Tip 3. Go with an established VOIP company.
You don't want to lose your telephone service and possibly your number.
Yet only a few VOIP companies have roots before 2000. Choose a service
with deep enough roots to survive a VOIP industry shake-out.
Small Biz Internet Phoning Tip 4. Choose a provider carefully before
putting the number on your business cards.
Switching VOIP companies is at least as much of a pain as switching
landline phone companies. In fact, there is typically no outward
number-portability. You can bring a number in, but good luck taking it
with you. Researching in early 2005, I found no nationwide VOIP services
officially offering outward number portability.
Choose a VOIP provider with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test the
service out thoroughly. One thing is likely: you may want to switch VOIP
providers, but you won't want to go back to landline.
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