When it comes to getting 800 numbers as a small business, there are a number of features that need to be considered.
Depending on what type of plan you use, many of these features may be included.
However, a feature doesn't do you any good if you don't understand what it is and how it can benefit you.
Here is a quick look at some of the 800 number features which are most often used by small businesses.
Small Business 800 Numbers - Features to Consider • Extensions - Name Directory In many cases, you can have an unlimited number of extensions which will allow returning customers to reach someone directly.
It will also improve overall call flow.
Along with extensions, a name directory can serve as an excellent compliment.
This feature allows small business 800 numbers to have one of the most recognized options of Fortune 500 companies.
By simply entering an employee or department name, your callers can find exactly who they want to talk to without the hassle of being transferred multiple times.
• Call Forwarding When it comes to small business 800 numbers, call forwarding allows your employees to be contacted through the 800 number, even when they are out of the building.
Calls can forwarded to home phones, company phones, or cell phones.
This is a particularly useful feature for small businesses with only a few employees because it ensures that your customers will always reach who they need.
Plus, if you are running a small business by yourself, you won't have to sit at home all day to make sure that every call reaches you.
Instead, you can just forward the calls to your cell phone.
• Call Screening Call screening and announcing is just as important to some small businesses as call forwarding.
Call screening will allow you to choose to either: answer the call, send the call directly to voice mail, or see who is calling before making a decision.
The best part is that your callers will be on hold, listening to music, so they don't hear dead air while you are deciding what to do.
• Call Reporting Along with the more obvious features of an 800 number for small businesses, having an easy to use admin area or call reporting area is just as important.
This will allow you to keep track of calls and voice mails with a simple report.
You can even keep a record of each phone call that comes in.
This is particularly useful for lead gathering because when you use an 800 number, you will always see who is calling, even if they have a restricted or "unavailable" phone number.
• Time Based Greeting Another important feature that is often overlooked is away greetings, also known as time based greetings.
These are greetings that automatically play based upon what time it is.
For example, if you close at 5 pm, every call after that time will receive an away greeting which states your hours of operation.
Then, you can have the caller automatically transferred to a voice mail account.
You can also set up an away greeting for employees that are on vacation.
That way the caller doesn't expect an immediate response.
There are a number of other small business 800 number features that should be considered such as reading voice mails, unlimited call handling, on hold music, and much more.
However, as with all types of products, the features will only be as useful as you allow them to be, so make sure that don't only have all of the features that you need, but that you are actually using them.
Depending on what type of plan you use, many of these features may be included.
However, a feature doesn't do you any good if you don't understand what it is and how it can benefit you.
Here is a quick look at some of the 800 number features which are most often used by small businesses.
Small Business 800 Numbers - Features to Consider • Extensions - Name Directory In many cases, you can have an unlimited number of extensions which will allow returning customers to reach someone directly.
It will also improve overall call flow.
Along with extensions, a name directory can serve as an excellent compliment.
This feature allows small business 800 numbers to have one of the most recognized options of Fortune 500 companies.
By simply entering an employee or department name, your callers can find exactly who they want to talk to without the hassle of being transferred multiple times.
• Call Forwarding When it comes to small business 800 numbers, call forwarding allows your employees to be contacted through the 800 number, even when they are out of the building.
Calls can forwarded to home phones, company phones, or cell phones.
This is a particularly useful feature for small businesses with only a few employees because it ensures that your customers will always reach who they need.
Plus, if you are running a small business by yourself, you won't have to sit at home all day to make sure that every call reaches you.
Instead, you can just forward the calls to your cell phone.
• Call Screening Call screening and announcing is just as important to some small businesses as call forwarding.
Call screening will allow you to choose to either: answer the call, send the call directly to voice mail, or see who is calling before making a decision.
The best part is that your callers will be on hold, listening to music, so they don't hear dead air while you are deciding what to do.
• Call Reporting Along with the more obvious features of an 800 number for small businesses, having an easy to use admin area or call reporting area is just as important.
This will allow you to keep track of calls and voice mails with a simple report.
You can even keep a record of each phone call that comes in.
This is particularly useful for lead gathering because when you use an 800 number, you will always see who is calling, even if they have a restricted or "unavailable" phone number.
• Time Based Greeting Another important feature that is often overlooked is away greetings, also known as time based greetings.
These are greetings that automatically play based upon what time it is.
For example, if you close at 5 pm, every call after that time will receive an away greeting which states your hours of operation.
Then, you can have the caller automatically transferred to a voice mail account.
You can also set up an away greeting for employees that are on vacation.
That way the caller doesn't expect an immediate response.
There are a number of other small business 800 number features that should be considered such as reading voice mails, unlimited call handling, on hold music, and much more.
However, as with all types of products, the features will only be as useful as you allow them to be, so make sure that don't only have all of the features that you need, but that you are actually using them.
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