Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) has been around for a couple of years now, although the technology has gained avid supporters and customers recently as individuals and businesses become more cost-conscious. VoIP converts the sounds you speak into digital information that can be carried over the Internet connection. If you already pay for Internet connection, you don’t need to pay a separate phone bill by simultaneously using the set up for the VoIP digital phone service.

The good thing about VoIP, users can communicate from their computer to another, paying nothing more than the existing Internet bill, even over long distances or internationally. Most VoIP services require a one time equipment purchase (including a telephone handset) and/or paid service. While the initial cost may be higher than the traditional phone service, over time, you will be able to recoup the investment, and start saving money. Small business can expect to save up to 50% through VoIP than regular phone service.

In determining the best digital phone service for your business, one has to determine first how many phone lines are needed and how sophisticated the calling needs would be. Four phone lines or less may require nothing more than a single purchase of a VoIP device from the service provider, which will handle the conversion of voice into digital information. Features such as caller-ID, call-waiting and voice mail come as standard. For more features and bigger organizations, VoIP providers also offer more sophisticated packages that include the functionality found in a private branch exchange or PBX. A PBX is an internal switch that allows features such as letting employees have personal numbers rather than sharing one throughout the company.

In seeking the best VoIP provider for the set features your business needs, include in the consideration the following points:

(1) The provider must be able to address issues regarding voice quality. Are they going to set aside bandwidth for phone calls, which is the ideal solution, or will they test your connection without charge before installation to verify strength? The provider must also include daily monitoring of the quality of connection and provide you with periodic reports.

(2) Determine if the package you choose will fit into your existing phone and Internet routers. You may want to use the sophisticated functionality of PBX, but if your own system is not compatible, such functionality will never be used.

(3) Consider a provider that will allow you to finance the purchase of your equipment. New phones can be expensive, so financing is desirable. Zero-percent financing over 12 months will let you see savings right away without the upfront investment.

(4) Lastly, consider a system that is easy to install and maintain. Getting up the VoIP service should require no more than plugging the system in and then making phone calls. Maintaining the system should not require full-time personnel, nor should it require expensive periodic maintenance schedules.

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Customers are becoming selective in their purchases. Yet they still continue to buy from trusted and well-known businesses. They look for “value” in their purchases. They are going to buy from someone. They’re likely to buy from businesses that they know and like. That’s why advertising, especially in a down economy, makes your business stronger not just for the short haul, but also long-term.

Advertising Establishes Contact

Advertising is a preferred method for introducing people to products and services and in converting wants into needs. Buyers are always more aware of the most aggressively marketed products. A significant number of sales are lost because the consumer simply did not have enough knowledge of the product. As awareness increases, buyers are more likely to consider purchasing that specific product.

Advertising Educates and Develops Prospects

Consumers prefer to learn more about products through advertising. Advertising becomes the knowledgeable salesperson missing from many stores today. Advertising turns wants into needs. Advertising helps educate and helps differentiate benefits from features.

Advertising Reduces Cost of Sales

In a world with less knowledgeable salespersons, advertising reduces direct selling costs. Knowledgeable customers often know exactly what they want to buy, reducing the time needed to sell them.

Advertising Helps Sell Existing Customers More Products and Services

Shoppers don’t hold the same level of store or brand loyalty compared to past years. The high level of competition from new retail channels as well as within the product lines themselves makes it ever more important to hold onto one’s existing customer pool. Businesses must promote to get former customers to return and to seek new ones.

Advertising Helps Close the Sale

Advertising builds traffic, provides incentives for acting now and links to Web sites, coupons and toll free numbers which all directly can close the sale. Advertising keeps them sold, and reinforces good decisions, creates the best prospects for future sales. It costs less to keep a customer than to find a new one increasing the usage of products you have already bought.

Advertising Gives your Business a Successful Image

Given the common knowledge that bad news travels faster than good, it’s vital to promote a strong brand or company image. A solid presence in advertising projects the image of a company that’s not only ready to do business, but also one that holds an edge.

Advertising Saves Time for Both You and Your Customers

Customers believe advertising saves them time and money in comparison shopping and therefore the customer who has been exposed to advertising is closer to making an informed decision saving you time and money as well.

Advertising Works!

Millions of manufacturers, retailers, service businesses, and individuals advertise every day. Over and over again. In different media, and in multiple platforms. Because it works.

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Cut your costs by moving your business or office into your home. Be a home-based business, ride out these challenging times, and come out of the recession stronger than ever.

Becoming a home-based business allows you to reduce or even eliminate the cost of:

• Office or store rental. Instead of paying rent to someone else, get a tax deduction for having a home office space.
• Commuting. Save on gas and auto expenses by not having to travel or use a car going to your workplace.
• Business-related travel. Since your house is now your business place, some travel to and from your home becomes deductible.
• Food. When you’re hungry, you don’t need to eat-out. Coffee breaks and lunches are far less expensive at home. You also have the option of eating real and healthy foods.
• Insurance. Riders and endorsements on your homeowner’s insurance policies may cost less. You may also deduct a portion of your current insurance as business expense.
• Personnel. Having moved your business at home, you can also have your staff work from their homes. Set up your business as a virtual company and realize savings on employee-related costs.
• Taxes. By using your home for business, you may deduct a portion of your homeowners’ dues and real estate taxes. You may also deduct furniture converted to business use and a portion of the cost of entertaining business associates at home.

Many companies, after shifting to a home-based model, realized substantial cost savings. They then passed these savings to their customers by lowering their prices while maintaining or even increasing profits.

However, some things need consideration before making the big switch from renting a space to becoming home-based. Get professional help to sort issues including zoning laws pertaining to the operation of your home-business. Does your business license restrict you from conducting the business from a residence? Does your neighborhood allow the kind of business that you want to operate at home? Will you bring in too much traffic, or do you have enough parking spaces for your business associates?

But the things that need consideration are minor compared to the benefits of operating your business at home. In fact, according to a survey, personal satisfaction from running a business at home is extremely high compared to those run at a separate location. In the said survey, home-business operators reported to be happier, citing reasons for the high satisfaction ratings including more control over their time, more time with family, greater flexibility to balance home and work, a more relaxed environment, and more time to be involved with their local community or personal interests outside of work.

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Below are seven steps that you can undertake to retain customers and win even during a recession.

Meet face to face with customers. By meeting in person, this shows your customers that you are interested in their business. It also provides you with an opportunity to see things on the customers’ end, and allows you to proactively address any issues before problems arise.

Ask for feedback. Take comments from customers and make sure to follow up on issues that need your attention. This shows to customers that you value their opinions and cares for their concerns by taking actions on what’s needed, required and important.

Give extraordinary service. Outdeliver your promise to customers, and they will be delighted to come back for more business from you. Also make sure to provide after-sales support and customer-centric guarantee of your products and services.

Revisit your offerings. Determine what customers truly want and need from your products and services, not what you think and believe they can do for your customers. Customers’ tastes change; your product and service offerings must reflect these shifting demands.

Be open to changes. For your offerings to continue being successful and marketable, you must heed the current needs of your customers. Be willing to work with your customers. Undertake necessary actions to address their needs in your offerings, and customers will reward your willingness to change and work with by buying more and being loyal to your business.

Be honest and transparent. Avoid using terms and wordings that customers cannot readily understand. This could potentially turn-off customers because those terms and wordings may be perceived that you are hiding something from them. Make customers feel comfortable, and make every effort to show them honesty and transparency in everything that you do.

Provide progress report. Show your customers the work you’ve done, especially highlighting the results you achieved. This will keep customers updated, thereby easing concerns and issues, or answering questions and suspicions. If customers can see tangible results from what you are doing for them, they are more likely to work with you next time or continue doing business with you.

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