Working From Home. How’s It Working?

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A new report from Gallup suggests that while many workplaces are returning to a “normal” in-office activity but that a nearly two-thirds majority of employees who have been working remotely since the beginning of the coronavirus would like to continue working from home. While 30% of those people responding to the survey said they were concerned about COVID-19, 35% would like to continue working remotely. For those who have adjusted their lives to working remotely, there are benefits as weRead More…

When it Comes to Cloud Phone Service – One Size Does Not Fit All

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If you are thinking about moving your business telephone service to the cloud, there are some major differences between providers you need to know. While switching to digital phone service (or Voice over Internet Protocol – VoIP) you still need to be aware of details like how many users you need to support, what features you will need, and what equipment you will be using. But first, take a step back and assess what type of cloud phone provider you want to use. If you find yourself asking “Read More…

The Secret to Providing Fast Customer Service

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Whether or not “the customer is always right” may be debatable, the customer does have the final word. If you treat your customers with respect and provide good service, odds re they will continue to be your customers. On the other hand, it only takes one bad customer experience to lose a client. According to a report from Dimensional Research, 96% of customers were much more likely to change their behavior after receiving poor customer service. A typical response from customers shows that 5Read More…

Do This Before Choosing a Cloud Phone Provider, or You’ll Be Sorry

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Do This Before Choosing a Cloud Phone Provider, or You’ll Be Sorry

No matter the size of your business, using outdated technology can be a drain on your company and hindrance to the point of losing out to the competition. Being able to reach out to new customers and properly manage the customer base you currently have are critical to your day-to-day operations as well as your bottom line. In the digital age, more and more companies are adopting cloud-based telephone service over conventional phone service to expedite their business communications. If youRead More…

Toll-Free Phone Numbers – What You Need to Know

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Toll-Free Phone Numbers – What You Need to Know

The benefit of toll-free telephone numbers for businesses is to enhance your marketing by giving customers and potential customers a free option to contact you. Many phone carriers offer toll-free numbers with a multitude of options. So, the question you need to ask yourself is, “Do I need a toll-free phone number?” While a toll-free number is free to your customers, it will add a cost to your service. One advantage of a toll-free phone number is the ability to personalize it to fit yoRead More…

Security: Cloud-Based Phones Vs Landline Phones

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Security: Cloud-Based Phones Vs Landline Phones

Security is always a concern these days and for good reason. Data breaches can be extremely costly. Remember the Target breach in 2013? It ultimately ended up costing the retail giant $162 million. The Epsilon breach back in 2011 topped-out at 4 billion dollars. Most breaches aren’t as costly as these famous cases. But, all infringements are expensive and can take years to fix. The bottom line is this – businesses need to be proactive to minimize the chances that of a breach in data. BelievRead More…

Some VoIP Facts That May Surprise You

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Some VoIP Facts That May Surprise You

A recent FCC Voice Telephone Services report, states that two-thirds of companies in the US still use switched access telephone lines (PSTN or POTS). Why have they not made the switch to cloud-based telephone or VoIP (voice over internet protocol)? Well, there are many reasons. One of the most common myths about cloud-based phone service is that the quality is worse or not as reliable as that of conventional telephone lines. The truth is cloud-based telephone technology has evolved to a point whRead More…

The Dangers of Accepting “The New Normal”

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on The Dangers of Accepting “The New Normal”

January 2020 seems like a lifetime ago for many of us. For business owners, it may feel like a good deal longer. But that’s the last time many of us can remember operating under normal parameters before COVID-19 changed everything. For months we’ve had to cope with crippling uncertainty and ulcer-inducing anxiety. They’ve had to adjust to a state of affairs that’s terrifyingly referred to as “The New Normal”. A state of affairs that’s anathema to the tireless entrepreneur. BusinRead More…

Charting a Course to Safely Restart the North Carolina Economy

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Charting a Course to Safely Restart the North Carolina Economy

With signs that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic may finally be receding into our rearview mirror, it’s time to focus our attention on restarting North Carolina’s economy. But where do we start on the roadmap to recovery? Certainly, we don’t want to do anything to fuel the second wave of potentially more severe infections or mortality. However, we need to recognize the catastrophic economic hardship inflicted on businesses and workers. A slow road into a recession is one thing. It’sRead More…

Do This Before You Reopen Your Business

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Do This Before You Reopen Your Business

As businesses worldwide begin coming out of their coronavirus induced hibernation, the world is a very different place. Having a plan for reopening your business is imperative. Also critical is having a plan to communicate with your customers what to expect. Even before they walk in your door, your customers are faced with a laundry list of do and don’ts. They must be made aware of any services you may have (temporarily) modified or discontinued as well as precautions you are taking and procedRead More…