18 Feb
Best Practices Phone Handling Processes for Small Businesses
Posted in Business by video 18 CommentsQuestion about business
What kind of business license do I need for an internet business or ebay business?I am planning a business. I will start out with baskets for new babies and if all goes well I will make the extra investment for wedding baskets, and then so on and forth. By baskets I mean gift baskets. I have researched local business license, but I am not sure if a local business is the right way to go, so I am thinking internet or Ebay. What kind of license do you need for these types of businesses.
Effective phone handling processes help to ensure a company has a professional image. The productivity of an office can be significantly increased by utilizing effective procedures for managing telephone calls. Using small business PBX systems for incoming and outgoing calls requires an effective process in order to avoid problems such as losing important calls and transferring telephone calls to the wrong person.
>
Let’s take a look at ways to improve the handling of incoming and outgoing business calls and how SMBs are using small business PBX systems to portray a more professional, seamless client experience.
Managing Incoming Call Volume
The typical small business often spends a great deal more time than they realize attempting to answer calls, return calls, transfer calls, check messages, etc. Without the help of intuitive small business PBX systems, employees often try to juggle the process by keeping notes regarding the times of day the people they frequently call are available, writing paper notes or sending emails to return calls, or asking the caller to hang up and try their party’s direct line.
Not only does the process feel ‘choppy’ to the client, but also trying to juggle the call load can become quite confusing! Even if employees and associates set regular phone hours, they are often on other calls or away from their desks throughout the day. Advanced small business PBX systems include software that allows a receptionist to see on a computer screen whether or not a line is busy. The receptionist can then ask the caller if he or she would like to hold or be transferred to voice mail.
If a caller does leave a message, some of the more advanced small business PBX systems will even send the recipient and email with an audio file attached that can be opened and listened to online. Busy executives often don’t have the time to call in and check voicemail. Opening an audio file from email is not only fast, but the email itself becomes a ‘to do’ item that must be handled like other emails.
Ensuring Consistency on Outgoing Calls
Since phone and email are the primary ways in which most small businesses interact with their customers, having a process that looks and feels professional is critical. One of the first things to consider when making outgoing calls is the caller ID message.
Just about everyone has caller ID now. Home based businesses making calls from home office often use their home phone service to make calls. Consider the way these calls appear when they reach the customer. Do you want them to see your name, or your company’s name? If you prefer that your company name appear on caller ID, it’s a good idea to open another phone line in your business name.
However, many small businesses today rely on remote employees to interface with clients. Though you may have a business line with your company’s name on caller ID in your home, remote employees won’t. When a client receives calls from numerous different caller IDs, it can give the impression of a somewhat disjointed operation.
One way to solve this problem is by using small business PBX systems that can be set up in multiple locations, but are tied to a single account. This way, a remote employee in New York who is 3,000 miles away from your California office can have a small business PBX phone systems unit placed in his or her home that makes calls through your network. When the call is made, the caller ID will show your company name. From the client’s perspective any calls received using small business PBX systems in your network may as well be coming from a single location.
A More Professional Look Sets You Apart From the Competition
Most small business owners don’t realize how affordable high quality small business PBX phone systems can be – and that’s great news for the growing business. Many of your competitors may be portraying an unprofessional image simply because they don’t realize how easy it is to do so.
Small businesses can incorporate small business PBX systems starting at around $1000. Though this may have a higher up-front cost than just opening a business phone line, you’ll save money for years to come by choosing small business PBX systems that utilize VOIP technology that virtually eliminate costly phone company fees and long distance charges.
To improve productivity in the office and create a professional business image, utilizing best practices while handling telephone calls for large corporations and companies with small business PBX systems is vital.
Related posts:
- Small Business Loan for Women Question about businessWhat kind of business license do I need...
- How are Business Credit Cards Being Affected by the Recession? Question about businessWhat kind of business license do I need...
- The Seven Steps to Creating an Inspired Business Plan Question about businessWhat kind of business license do I need...
- Why Do so Many Small Businesses Fail? Question about businessHow to write a business proposal for selling...
- How to Make Your Local Business More Successful Question about businessWhat business minor should I get in addition...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Chev
on February 18 2010
Hi,
i have found a site to be usefull, just check this out
guzen
on February 18 2010
Rania you are the most important woman in the world!
earthlink
on February 18 2010
Palestinian beauty!!!
JJ
on February 18 2010
you've got it back to front. First you look for a niche in the market that needs to be addressed or you note a shortage of demand. If you are not addressing these keep your money in your pocket.
Business opportunities come from hobbies expanded, new technology (e.g. become the Blue Ray expert), niche markets e.g. something a cultural group wants or needs, changes in law create opportunities for experts to emerge, changes in demographics e,g, more children in the area.
Look around. Ask people around you.
How to start will depend on the idea – some businesses start part time until they get enough customers to move on – some start as web based businesses and others just have to bite the bullet and go bigtime. Whatever you do please do a business plan before you start – work out the details on profitability, time needed to make it work etc before you commit any money to the idea.
Need a great business plan format try. http://www.australiansmallbusiness.com.au/Easy-Business-Plan-Pack-p-16143.html
nacao
on February 18 2010
Surely THIS (getting education to embrace right-brained thinking) is what our Western world needs to clean out the poisoned thinking that has brought us into the mess we currently experience? Surely once we have sorted ourselves out, then we are in a position to help those in the Third Word? You are a great lady and a very positive force for these urgent, historic and pivotal times. May you and your family experience abundant Love and Blessings.
SarahR
on February 18 2010
Hiiiiiii..
I think you have to choose the Marketing section in Human Resource Management(HRM) because in marketing you get the nice job in the good reputed company on a high post..
psychic
on February 19 2010
The Western World has been dumbed down by a systematic focus on logic and left-brain reasoning. In this way, a country can create un-thinking masses who can be easily controlled. Also, left-brain thinking creates an ‘us and them’ mentality. It creates a ‘problem-focussed’ mentality. It creates a ‘me’ rather than a ‘we’ society. Right-brain thinking creates a ‘we’ society – a society where respect, sharing, solution-focus, inventiveness and genuine inquiry into difference happen.
cooolioooo
on February 19 2010
business school is the right field to study, if you choose your college carefully, some have an entrepreneurship track/program
truth
on February 19 2010
haha he said ma’am instead of your majesty
But I love Queen Rania, she is not only beautiful but smart, and caring
rails
on February 19 2010
I just can say that you are just a great smart queen wish you can do something for the poor jordanians. I like your accent and the sense of humour you have.
Ken
on February 19 2010
You need to keep accurate records when running a business. This will be your best defense if you ever get audited.
For IRS purposes, you need to make a profit every 3 out of 5 years to have the IRS prove that you are not running a business. Otherwise, it is up to you to prove that you are running a business and not doing a hobby. You can prove that you are running a business by keeping your business accounts and personal accounts separate.
You can write off any legitimate business expense including dinners with clients, car expenses, equipment, etc.
Having a separate checking account and credit card is a good idea. However, it isn't necessary. You can comingle your business and personal expenses using your personal accounts. But, if you do this, then it will be harder for you to prove that you are running a business.
For your revenues, you don't need a corporate account to make you deposits. You just need to make the deposits in your separate account that you use for business.
You can read Publication 334 for more information.
Mikelo
on February 19 2010
How about a book store, if you are looking retail?
I cant say if it would work in your town, you need to do marketing research to see what would succeed in your town.
Also in business .. Location, Location, Location is VERY important to success .. not only do you need the right business, you need the right location ..
Passion, YES .. you do have to work long hours but passion because you believe in what you are doing.
I work from home and have the utmost compassion and belief for what I do, I believe that is what brings me success ..
If you don't like books, don't like to read .. then a book store probably wont make sense. Did deep .. Only you know what you really want to do.
GL!
jpro
on February 19 2010
Hey Rania.
You make some good points
.
Maybe certain real issues should be brought to the forefront. Multinational corporatism should not override national sovereignty. This is the number one issue on the global stage and you know it.
Secondly, the people are aware of the lies and spin being pushed by the same powers trying to maintain control. It’s having a negative effect and it isn’t going to last much longer.
Now as for the educational system, you already know.
watch?v=CWGsj5NgZ5Y
urbantool
on February 20 2010
For the world to progress into a better world, if EDUCATION is the key, then BUREAUCRACY is the stopper.
With the average global IQ going DOWN, and critical information being ridiculed into entertainment, will people ever understand?
With the dumbing down of MEDIA ENTERTAINED nations, education may just be the only way to stimulate brains to learn to think again. And maybe turn the average IQ back up again?
But will the ever growing bureaucratic OVERHEAD allow this to happen?
corpo
on February 21 2010
I say this too.
You probably won’t post this.
In fact, you shouldn’t.
The people that you are representing gambled away our future in the derivatives market.
We are broke.
You know it and I know it.
So who is it that you are defending exactly?
Wayne R.
on February 21 2010
Yes, the courses you speak of will help you to become a Business Analyst.
A BA can be on the client side or the IT side. If on the client side, they are interfacing with work group domains that process the work and review what they need. They generate requirements and then work with the IT side to update or generate processes and applications to fullfil the business needs.
If you're a BA on the IT side of the house, then you're taking all the requirements and developing processes and application solutions. Your job is to work with the client to generate a business solutions document (there are many names for it) and get signoff. Then, you need to make sure that solution becomes reality by working with systems analysts, programmers, and testers. You're generally responsible for the delivery of the solution. Although, if the solution revolves around process changes with other work group domains, you normally work with a PM (Project Manager). Never the less, you have end to end responsibilities for the IT delivery to insure the client gets what they need (and paying for).
With the offshoring of work to cheap labor, to remain associated with software development, the BA role is a good profession.
Austinite
on February 21 2010
You can't post a Proposal for Sale of Business here. It is a comprehensive document similar to a business plan with dozens to hundreds of pages. Contact a broker like VR Business Brokers and see if you can get help. Yours is a unique business driven by personal contacts and is not easily sold.
The Invisible Woman
on February 21 2010
The requirements vary according to your state. Call the business license office for your county and just ask them if you need a business license to operate an internet store. I live in Georgia, and in my county, you do.