4 Considerations When You Give Up Your Office Phone Line

With so many companies relying on mobile technology these days, it seems almost quaint to use an old-school landline to do business. Is it time to surrender tradition and embrace the alternatives to a landline?

There are many pros and cons to consider before your organization transitions to new technology. You will want to preserve the integrity of your brand’s contact methods, but you also want the ability to connect with new clients.

Here are four ways to make the shift away from an office line easier.

1. Phone number consistency

Whether you are a long-established organization or a budding startup, it’s important to consider how a change in your phone number could impact your clients. Will it be hard for people to locate a new number, if you decide to transition away from your landline?

Contact the phone company and see if you can port over a number, so that your customers don’t have to change their address books. Keeping the same phone number can ensure that you receive all your customer calls.

2. The value of data

Mobile phones can do quite a bit more than the average office landline. Companies are using smartphones as points of sale at trade shows and conventions. They can send invoices on the go, fill out paperwork, apply digital signatures, and stay in touch with an office from anywhere.

Clients recognize the value of mobile devices for doing business, and they expect companies to be consistently available over the phone or via email, even if you are not in the office.

3. Mobile connectivity

Before making the switch away from a traditional landline, it’s important to check the cellular reception in your area. Some office buildings stand in dead spots — areas where cell tower signals cannot reach.

The last thing your company needs is dropped calls during crucial sales communications. Most cellular companies post reception maps online, so you can check your office area for service gaps.

4. Call forwarding

You can set up a virtual office phone, by forwarding business calls to any number of remote phones.

Rather than replacing your office landline, this service will push all calls to other landlines or cellphones. This ensures that clients will always reach a live person at your company. The option also allows you to maintain other useful business line services, such as voicemail to email, fax to email, and international phone number support.

Originally posted on July 26, 2013 @ 5:45 am