Virtual Receptionist – Can you afford to miss a customer call?

The Virtual Receptionist is an Automated Attendant telephony feature that allows phone calls to your business to be routed to the appropriate extension without the need for a live person.  Many Automated Attendant systems offer a simple menu (Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Service, etc.) and also allow the caller to reach a live operator.  Automated Attendant features can be part of your telephone system, especially PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems or more advanced IVRs (Interactive Voice Response) systems.

The Automated Attendant is an excellent telephony feature for the small business that needs to stay connected with customers, does not want to pay a full time receptionist, and yet wants a professional, easy-to-use system for routing calls to the appropriate person.  If you have any questions about adding a Virtual Receptionist to your business, call Affordable Telephone Systems today.  They offer the best small business telephone systems and will advise you on the best way to add any new features and functionality to improve your business communications.

Affordable Telephone Systems         866-666-9650

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Video Conferencing – Cost effective visual collaboration for your business

Video conferencing or video telecommunications conferencing allows 2 or more locations to communicate via two-way audio and video.  This visual collaboration was introduced in the United States in the early ‘70s and has now become extremely popular with the availability of low cost, high capacity broadband services.  Powerful desktop computing and advanced compression techniques have propelled the use of video conferencing in business, especially education and medicine.

Video conferencing allows geographically distributed organizations to meet as if they were all sitting in the same room.  The ability to visually collaborate with others without having to physically travel to another location has made it practical for small businesses to grow their footprint without significantly raising costs.  It supports work-from-home telecommuting without sacrificing integration and team involvement.

Video conferencing is a great way to connect and collaborate with your remote offices and your business clients.  If you have any questions about the best way to integrate video conferencing into your phone and data network, contact Affordable Telephone Systems.  They offer the best telephone systems for smallbusinesses and will help you add features and functionality to improve your business communications.

Affordable Telephone Systems          866-666-9650

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7 VoIP Phone Features to Improve your Growing Business

Many small businesses are making the switch to VoIP phone systems.  There are some great advantages to cloud-based phone systems.  Here are a few for you to consider as your business grows and matures:

1. Call Routing – If your small business has a mobile workforce (sales or technicians on the road), then this feature may be just what you need. Find me / follow me call routing allows you to create a list of phone numbers where you can be found, before your call ends up in voicemail.  Don’t let those critical call backs go unanswered.  Consider call routing for your small business professionals.
2. Call Detail Reports – Don’t manage your business in the dark.  Learn how you company spends its time through extensive call detail reporting.  VoIP systems have all the data to help you manage your business effectively.  Review details of your call history including call origination, destination, duration and cost.  Compare month over month and be on top of your game.
3.  Auto Attendant – Many VoIP systems include an automated attendant feature that helps route calls without the expense of a full time receptionist.  Your business will appear more professional and more available.  Your customers will appreciate the ability to get to the person or department they need right away.
4. Call Screening – Have you been in a meeting but anticipating an important phone call, excuse yourself to answer the phone only to be interrupted by a telemarketing call.  Call screening delivers the data to keep you focused where you need to be.  Caller ID information allows you to prioritize calls and decide how the caller is to be handled.
5. Music on Hold – If your company has to put callers on hold for information look up, to confer with experts or supervisors, or simply to help direct the caller to the right destination, don’t subject your clients to deadly silence or lousy elevator music.  VoIP phone systems allow you to choose what your caller hears.  Important messaging, improved music, lasting impressions.
6. Coaching Tools – Don’t give your employees advice after it’s too late. Coaching can be much more effective during the call whether it is information on policies, how to handle a difficult customer, or just training a new employee on how you want your business presented.  Handle these coaching opportunities in real time with Barge and Whisper features which allow you to monitor or assist without the client being aware.
7. Do Not Disturb – The Do Not Disturb feature protects your valuable time with clients, in conference, or during lunch meetings.  Best of all, you can program the system to offer the caller another destination or your voicemail so they feel cared for, not ignored.

There are many great phone features today both in traditional phone systems and in cloud-based VoIP systems.  Let your local expert help you discover what phone systems best meet your business needs.  Affordable Telephone Systems provides consultation and installation of traditional and VoIP phone systems for small business.  Choose a reliable business partner who can help with all your phone, cabling, and security needs.  Call Affordable Telephone Systems today!   1-866-666-9650

Affordable Telephone Systems

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