3 Ways to Increase Profits Using Your Office Phone System

By Morgan J Johnson

You may not give a lot of thought to your work phone. It sits on your desk, it provides you with a device to make and take phone calls and receive messages, and that's about it - right? Actually, phone systems have evolved a great deal over time, with Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones leading the way to help your business stay organized, project a professional image, and improve processes and efficiency - thus saving you money. However, did you know that certain business phone systems can not only help you save, but can also aid in increasing profits? There are numerous features to maximize money-making by leveraging the power of your phone system. Let's examine just a few of the many ways you can use a business phone system to increase your bottom line.

First, make your phone system appear "local." Most business phone systems will give you a phone number local to your physical location - but virtual phone systems can also provide you with specific local numbers to make it appear as though you have offices in a particular location. It's no secret that appearing local to potential customers or clients can help seal the deal; people love to buy from someone they know and recent trends show that buying local is an important sentiment right now.

 

But how does it work? Imagine that you have a call center based in Ohio, but want to appeal to businesses or clients based in Philadelphia. You can actually create a local Philadelphia number to ring in Ohio, providing a local business feel and personal touch that many out-of-area businesses can't provide. You can then add phone numbers to your system easily and determine who receives the calls to those "local" numbers.

Next, increase your presence and revenue with virtual offices. We've established that you can get a local number even if you are not located in that area - but what if you would actually like to expand beyond your headquarters or flagship location? Doing so can be costly and risky. However, utilizing phone system features like virtual offices allow you to expand your business without reaching too deeply into your pockets. By hiring remote workers or contract sales people, you can test whether opening a new location is viable, or can have representatives of your business available in certain areas at all times. Your business phone system can then be extended to your new hires, freelancers, or telecommuters; you can furnish these employees with a Softphone so they may make and receive calls from their own laptop, or you can even provide them with their own extension to project the appearance that they work in-office and are a part of your in-house team. See here for more information about soft phones and their capabilities.

Further, business calls can be forwarded to employee cell or home phones if they won't be present in an office location at all - this helps to maintain a unified professional image, even if your remote workers are making and taking sales calls from their living room or the local coffee shop. This is especially useful with the rise of coworking and office shares, particularly for start-ups and small businesses. If all of your employees are not in one central location, you can still make it appear as though they are.

And finally, never miss important calls or sales. We all know that missing crucial calls can cost your business in the form of lost revenue, but it can also negatively impact you by leaving clients or customers disappointed and frustrated that they can't get in touch. In the 21st century, it's assumed and expected that everyone is constantly available, whether it's by email, office phone, or cell.

Thanks to advancements like "Mobile Twinning," you and your employees can receive office calls anywhere, anytime. This means that when your phone rings in the office, you can simultaneously receive that call on your cell phone, ensuring that important calls are taken immediately and not directed to voicemail. Additionally, many business phone system providers also have apps for smartphones that make receiving messages and calls from work easier than ever.

Of course, you can always give out your cell phone number to clients or customers to remain in constant contact. However, some employers and employees prefer not to give out personal cell phone numbers for various reasons - one of which is that salespeople who are departing your company may be able to take customers or clients with them if they have a way of remaining in touch. Though your ex-employees may have taken advantage of Mobile Twinning features in the past, business calls meant for them will not ring on their cells once they are no longer employed; they will only ring in-office. That way, you can direct those calls appropriately to a different team member and customers won't accidentally contact ex-employees. This helps you save face and ensures your contacts are safely where they belong - with you.

The beauty of the above strategies is that they are not one-time deals; these are features that you can continually use to your business' advantage, every day. How else have you used your phone system to increase your bottom line? Do you have any more tips?

 

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