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UCaaS vs CPaaS: What’s the Difference?

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 5th May 2022 blog

Explaining the difference between UCaaS and CPaaS.

The evolution of communication software has brought us countless cloud-based business communication tools — such as UCaaS, CPaaS, CCaaS, and the list goes on. While they differ in purpose and …Read More »

The Japan Phone Number Code Explained

Kim Sayers 4th May 2022 blog

Looking to expand your business to the broad APAC and Japanese market or establish a local presence quickly? With the right Japan phone number and service provider, you can easily …Read More »

A Guide to Remote Working for Businesses

Kim Sayers 3rd May 2022 blog

Remote working guide for business in 2022.

Work-from-home business models are on the rise now more than ever. While this is mainly due to the pandemic, it is not the only motive. Even before 2020, remote working …Read More »

What is a Call Group? (Benefits, Strategies, Use Cases)

Kim Sayers 2nd May 2022 blog, Call Management

An effective call flow creates a domino effect for your business. Your caller’s experience and satisfaction, first call resolution rates, and distribution methods all improve. Meanwhile, your hold times, abandonment …Read More »

18 Tips to Increase Call Center Sales

Luke Genoyer 26th April 2022 blog

Do you manage a call center that specializes in selling products? This blog was written for you! No matter what you’re selling and whether it’s inbound or outbound, this post …Read More »

Three 9s and Above: Guide to High-Availability Infrastructure

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 25th April 2022 blog, Call Management

An image of high availability infrastructure and an explanation.

When purchasing cloud services online, you might come across numbers like 99.999% uptime or 99.9% uptime. And as far as uptime goes, “99 point anything” should seem reliable enough. After …Read More »

Phone Calls and the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act

Mikayla Posk 24th October 2017 Learn, Tips

What is the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?

In the beginning of 2017, a reported 73% of United States citizens who died, passed away with some form of debt (credit, auto, mortgage, personal, or student). With such a large number of people living with debt, it is reasonable for people to want to understand their options because in reality, debt and finances are a daily part of our lives, and it can have so much determination on our individual quality of life.

So what is the FDCPA, and how can it help me?

The Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was set in place to protect individuals from being harassed by debt collectors. Harassment in this case would include repeated, inconvenient, and frequent calls through which the debt collector aims to annoy, bully, or threaten an individual into making a payment. The FDCPA has laws to limit the frequency of phone calls a debt collector can make to ensure that no individual falls prey to unfair debt collection practices.

The FDCPA is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure that collectors are not using abusive debt collection practices. A debt collector is an individual who is affiliated with a collection agency, a law group, or a company that buys debt off of debt collection agencies. The FDCPA does not protect against original creditors in each state, although there are some states, like California, that try to protect their citizens from the original creditors. The FDCPA aims to lay out explicit guidelines for fair debt collections practices, and avenues for those in debt to protect themselves against harassment, or false debt accusations. There is a system in place which allows those in debt to validate information given to them by the debt collectors to ensure the information is accurate and not fraudulent. There are also instances where individuals have a right to dispute the debt that they owe, which we will discuss later in this post. The FDCPA’s overall purpose is to protect all parties involved in a fair, and equal way.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

While the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act intends to protect all involved parties, it is still important to know the full scope of your rights in case of an error on their part. Additionally, there is a whole industry of lawyers popping up to defend debt collectors, who spend their days trying to find loopholes to make you (the consumer) pay, regardless of any wrongdoing on the part of the debt collector. Having your own back in this situation, and doing the appropriate research will allow you to avoid falling into any traps.

It is sometimes advantageous to talk to them at least once to better understand the situation and know the exact debt(s) that they are calling to collect. Sometimes, it may even be a mistake that you are on their list, and one phone call would suffice to eliminate the problem. If however, you do actually owe the debt, but still think it is a mistake or you cannot pay it back, you do not have to endure endless phone calls and debt collectors parading themselves through your life. You can send them a notice to end all contact. This must be done via mail, and the only contact they are allowed to make is either to tell you that there will be no further contact, or to file a lawsuit. If they file a lawsuit to sue you for the amount owed, you will not want to ignore the lawsuit. You may try to handle it yourself, but you are entitled to an attorney. If you have hired an attorney, the debt collectors can no longer contact you directly, but must only contact your lawyer.

In order for the claim to be valid, the collector must send a written confirmation of the amount owed, and who the creditor is within the first five days of contacting you. They must also explain the process for you to follow if you believe it was sent in error. If you send the letter explaining why it is an error, the collector must not contact you again until they send proof of the amount owed.

Additionally, if you make a payment toward your debt, if you owe more than one creditor, you can tell the collector where to apply the money, and they must comply with your request. They especially cannot apply any amount paid to a debt that you have explicitly claimed that you do not owe.

If at this point they sue you for a debt that you are not paying, and refuse to accept responsibility for, the court can garnish your funds. Garnishing means that the court can tell the bank to withdraw funds from your account, or they can apply any income straight to the debt. This is legal, if the debt collectors win in court, however they can never garnish money from federal benefits such as social security, or veterans benefits.

Any time a debt collector calls, make sure they identify themselves with their name and their role as a debt collector, they announce who the original creditor is, they notify the consumer of the right to dispute this debt, and that they offer validation of the debt upon request. If they eventually file for a lawsuit, they must do it in accordance with FDCPA laws.

When is debt Collection Illegal?

Here we will examine a list of unfair and abusive debt collection practices that may be used in court as evidence of harassment.

Hours of contact: Debt collectors may only contact you between 8am and 9pm unless you state otherwise. If you tell them that they are not allowed to call during work hours, or if you have a night shift, they may only call during the allotted times.
Continued Communication: After the consumer sends written notice to cease all communication, debt collectors may not contact the consumer again other than to notify them of the cessation of contact, or that they will proceed with a lawsuit.
Frequent calls with intent to annoy: calling over and over again which harasses the consumer.
Contacting place of employment: Debt collectors may not call a consumer’s place of work if they have been directed not to.
Contacting consumer, and not their attorney (if they have one)
Misrepresentation or deceit: Regarding the debt, or the identity of the debt collector (posing as a law enforcement officer).
Publicly publishing consumer’s name or address without their consent.
Threatening legal action
Aggressive or threatening language/ cursing
Sharing information about your debt with third parties
They cannot contact you by shaming you: For example, they cannot post anywhere, especially through mail that you are being pursued by debt collectors.

A consumer can provide each of the elements from the list above as evidence in court against a debt collector if they feel the standards set forth by the FDCPA were not met. Consumers should not dispose of any voicemail, email, mail correspondence in case the situation ever escalates to court.

The FDCPA will defend consumers who have the right to dispute any debt that you think is not legitimate. You do not have to suffer through repeated, and annoying phone calls and debt collectors, and you do not have to fall victim to abusive debt collection practices. You can also hire an attorney to handle your case who is an expert in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act such as GM Law Firm. GM Law Firm has detailed some information about what your rights are, and what to look out for on their website.

Know the signs, now your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and know that you do not have to subject yourself to this kind of treatment.

Where Can I Buy A Universal Toll Free Number?

Valerie Stitt 23rd October 2017 Learn, Tips

Toll Free Number

A toll free number, also known as a “free phone,” is a phone number in which all charges are incurred by the subscriber for receiving incoming calls. All calls placed to a toll free number are completely free for the caller. Toll free numbers can be used by both landline and mobile phone subscribers. Rates may vary depending on the device.

Toll free numbers are often used by businesses to allow their customers to make inquiries or transactions without incurring any costs. Toll free numbers usually have a 3-digit prefix such as 800, 0800, and 1-800. The 800 prefix is common with most toll free numbers, however, the service access numbers may be country specific.

The modern toll-free services that we have today were upgraded from the traditional electromechanical switching systems when computerized systems were developed. However, toll free services like Global Call Forwarding largely make use of both traditional phone systems and computerized cloud systems.

Toll-free numbers are readily available to anyone who need them for business or for personal uses. There are well over a dozen known toll-free numbers provided by call forwarding providers who offer different packages depending on the volume of calls that you are expecting. Being in business for over 20 years, Global Call Forwarding is one of such companies with flexible offers, and excellent prices for subscribers.

What Are Universal Toll Free Numbers?

Universal toll free numbers are similar to regular toll free numbers in the sense that the calling party bears no cost for making a call. Unlike regular toll free numbers, universal toll free numbers can be dialed from anywhere in the world at no cost. Universal toll free numbers also feature a 3-digit 800 prefix followed by an 8 digit dialing code. This code allows customers from anywhere in the world to contact businesses via phone at no cost. Global Call Forwarding currently offers toll free services in more than 150 countries across the world and this has become a very useful tool for businesses and individuals alike.

Universal toll free numbers are essential for all types of businesses. Businesses that are looking for an opportunity to establish a presence in different countries without setting up a physical office can benefit from universal toll free numbers. For businesses with international clients, a universal toll free number is a unique way of establishing global connections between them and their customers.

To get a universal toll free phone number for your business, you must choose a service provider, after which you will be required to select a plan. Choice of plans include minute-to-minute formats or an inclusive payment plan. Global Call Forwarding offers flexible universal toll free number service plans for all users.

Are Universal Toll Free Numbers Real?

Universal toll free numbers are definitely real! This is indicated by the number of multinational corporations that make use of this service to make their businesses more accessible to their clients and prospective customers abroad. However, a number of people are quite skeptical about these numbers; it just seems too good to be true!

If your business has a specific requirement to have a universal toll free number set up in one or more countries, Global Call Forwarding is a call forwarding provider that services clients across more countries as compared to other service providers. Once you are signed up on their website, you will be provided a free trial that offers you first-hand experience in operating your universal toll free number.

The idea of a universal toll free number is a very practical one. Imagine if every business were required to have a contact number for every country where they operate, or where their goods and services are being offered. It would be quite difficult to centralize customer service activities in this manner. Today, a business in the UK can receive calls from their customers in New York through a universal toll free number. This is where Global Call Forwarding comes in by providing this service to businesses quite conveniently.

On the part of the customer or person initiating the call, it does make a lot of sense to be able to call a company in another country for free. Customers feel more comfortable and reassured about a business that has a toll free number through which they can give feedback about products and services or to make inquiries.

How Do Universal Numbers Work?

The process is very simple from when the call is initiated to the receiver. When a customer initiates a call to a universal toll free number, the call is at no cost to the customer. For the receiving party, all calls will be charged based on the selected plan. Customers are aware that 0800, 800, and 1-800 numbers are toll free, unlike local numbers that do not have these prefixes and are often charged at regular local and international rates when called from within a country or from abroad. With Global Call Forwarding, exceptional call services are guaranteed with a subscription.

Universal toll-free numbers make use of both cloud and traditional telephone systems even though most services provided are cloud based or virtual. Global Call Forwarding offer their subscribers full control of their account management with a very easy-to-use platform that gets you connected.

Where Can I Buy Universal Toll Free Numbers?

For businesses looking to get a universal toll-free number, Global Call Forwarding is a leading company that provides access to flexible package plans that are tailored to serve your business and personal uses.

Subscribers are provided the opportunity to buy universal numbers at very affordable rates. When it comes to additional features, Global Call Forwarding offer a suite of features to accommodate your phone number needs. More importantly, their services are seamless as subscribers are provided with very reliable and efficient support.

Buying a toll free number from Global Call Forwarding is very easy as they have put in a lot of effort to ensure that you will have your toll free number ready to use in a matter of minutes. Their website has been optimized for mobile use so that you can have easy access to your account at any time, wherever you may be.

When you choose a Global Call Forwarding plan, you get more than just a telephone number for your business. You will get additional features like a virtual assistant, sms forwarding, rollover minutes, voicemail, advanced call forwarding, and much more!

International Toll Free Number Providers

Valerie Stitt 19th October 2017 Learn, Tips

There are a lot of business owners who are hoping to expand their business in the international market but they do not know how to begin. Taking a look at international toll free number providers and all of the services and features they offer will be ideal because it can help business owners reach more customers. At the same time, these services will make it easier for customers to contact the company they need to connect with.

You should always do a search of the best companies for toll free numbers to be sure that you are getting the best services for your business needs. Once you seek the help of an international toll-free number provider, you will then be given a toll-free number for international customers to call whenever they need to reach you.

Does Your Business Need Services From Toll Free Number Providers?

There are lots of small businesses that are popping up in 2020. It will be hard to compete with all of them because you may be offering similar products or services to what they have.

You can use this technology in order to become more present in the eyes of your customers, offering an additionally beneficial channel of communication in regards to customer service. You will make them feel that you are near even if your office is actually located in a far away location. The uses of a toll-free number can also give you access to various features and tools that will be beneficial for your business such as account management, select country forwarding, black and white lists, and much more!

5 Benefits of Choosing a Reliable International Toll-Free Number Provider

Global Call Forwarding is one of the top-rated international toll-free number providers in 2020. They have been in business since 1996.

Being accessible to your customers is one of the major factors to consider in having a successful business. If your customers are not able to connect with you, they will look at your competition instead. You will lose sales and your customers in the process, especially if they inform the people they know that your company cannot be trusted.

When you use toll-free numbers for your business, your customers can reach you whenever and wherever you are located globally.

Some of the benefits of using toll-free numbers are as follows:

1. You can provide excellent customer service.

What is the one reason why people keep on choosing a certain brand? When they see that the company is always willing to answer their questions, they will be more than willing to recommend that same company to the people that they know. You may have different toll-free numbers for different locations depending on the people you want to reach.

2. You will allow yourself to be present in various locations all at once.

Your physical location may be in a place outside the country that you are trying to target. With the use of toll-free numbers for business provided by international tollfree number providers, your target market will not feel that you are far away. You may come to a point that you are so focused on your international customers that you overlook the customers who are in the same area as your actual office’s location. Make sure that your customers are aware of your presence no matter where you are, whether they are international or local.

3. You do not have to spend a lot of money to get this service.

One of the misconceptions about the services that are provided by international toll-free number providers is that the service is expensive. This is not true at all. Surprisingly, toll free numbers provided by Global Call Forwarding are indeed affordable and you do not have to worry about expensive international calling rates. Aside from the basic toll-free service that you can get, there are some added features that you can use with your number to improve the customer connection even further.

4. You allow yourself to become more flexible.

Since the toll-free numbers you get are very versatile, you can forward the calls to your landline number at home or you may forward them to your phone so that you can still be reached even when you are outside of your office. Since toll-free numbers are portable, they would not require contacts. You can use them with any telephone carrier. Just imagine how convenient this can be to your business! You can be traveling and still attend to your customer’s needs without the barrier of distance.

5. You manage to improve your reputation.

If there is one thing you should realize as a business owner, it is that you have to improve your reputation so that you can reach even more customers. The more positivity about your reputation spreads, the better it is for your business. Buy toll free international numbers and use them when creating various pages throughout social media sites and people will leave their reviews based on the products or services provided from you. International toll-free number providers such as Global Call forwarding will be sufficient for your business needs.

Why Should You Choose Global Call Forwarding As Your International Toll Free Number Provider?

Now that you know some of the benefits that it can provide for your business, you still need to know the reasons why it is ideal to get the services provided by international toll-free number providers such as Global Call Forwarding. Here are some of the benefits that you can expect:

You will come across as a company operating in a specific country, city, or state.
You will be able to centralize incoming calls that you are going to receive. You may not realize how important this is until you start getting many calls from various customers.
You can make your business appear larger than it actually is; sometimes this is important, based on your business strategy.
You can make your business more accessible to different people.
You can also eliminate people’s concerns about calling a number from another country.

Based on all of these reasons mentioned above, do you see how international toll-free number providers such as Global Call Forwarding may actually offer you something that may be immensely beneficial? International toll free numbers can be an excellent move for your business in 2020, especially as companies transition to remote work. The earlier that you invest in it, the higher the rewards are going to be in the future.

How to Forward Calls with T-Mobile

Ned Isaacs 10th October 2017 Learn, Technology

This article discusses the forwarding of incoming calls and text messages to T-Mobile phones. It also gives background on T-Mobile and information on international call forwarding services in general, and the many benefits available.

T-Mobile is one of the most well-known mobile phone companies in the world, and their services are often highly praised for its great quality as well as affordability. Among the many conveniences, they offer their customers, call forwarding is one of the best, enabling their users to route calls as needed. To make things simple with T-Mobile call forwarding, a variety of codes can be utilized for fast, efficient access.

Self-Service Short Codes

Mobile users, with monthly and prepaid T-Mobile accounts, can use self-service shortcodes to activate plan features such as call forwarding. However, non-T-Mobile codes do not work with the Simple Choice Plan with No Credit Check. The process for using self-service shortcodes is straightforward. First, locate the code from the following table. Then, dial the code on your mobile phone and hit the call button.

Short Code	What the Self-service Short Code Does
##004#	Cancel call forwarding
*21Phone Number#	Turn on unconditional call forwarding (CFU) to a number
##21#	Turn off unconditional call forwarding
*61Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding if no reply (CF NRY) to a number
##61#	Turn off call forwarding if no reply
*62Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding when not reachable (CF NRC)
##62#	Turn off call forwarding when not reachable
*67Phone Number#	Turn on call forwarding when busy (CFB
##67#	Turn off call forwarding when busy
*6118056377249**seconds# Insert the desired number of delay seconds	This changes the call forwarding delay time from five to 30 seconds. For example, dialing *6118056377249**12# sets a 12-second delay.
*43#	Turn on call waiting
#43#	Turn off call waiting

Forwarding Calls Using Cell Phone Menus

Mobile phone users can set call forwarding options using the menus on their phones. Each brand of phone is different, and their menu options vary. Below is an example of activating or deactivating call forwarding on an Android HTC One S phone.

To activate or disable call forwarding, do the following:

Touch the “Notification” bar and slide down.
Tap the “Settings” icon.
Scroll to “Phone” and tap “Call.”
Tap “Call Forwarding.”
Tap “Always Forward” to enable or “Disable” to disable call forwarding.

The T-Mobile support web site featured the above example.

Forwarding Text Messages

T-Mobile lacks provision to forward text messages. However, the T-Mobile website offered the suggestion of using a 3rd-party app.

Background on T-Mobile

T-Mobile US has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Its majority shareholder is a German company, Deutsche Telekom (DT). T-Mobile provides wireless voice and data services in the United States to 73 million customers as of the first quarter of 2017. T-Mobile began as VoiceStream Wireless PCS in 1994. After a spin off, a buyout, and a merger, it became T-Mobile in 2013.

T-Mobile operates a 4G LTE network that can reach over 312 million potential subscribers. The term LTE stands for Long Term Evolution (a technical process for high-speed mobile devices), and 4G stands for fourth-generation wireless standard. T-Mobile has roaming agreements with several mobile network providers. It also markets T-Mobile HotSpots, which consists of public and private Wi-Fi networks.

Products and Services

T-Mobile ONE

T-Mobile ONE will be the only rate plan offered in the future while T-Mobile phases out Simple Choice. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes, text messaging, high-speed data (32 GB/ month), High Definition (1080p) video streaming, and 10 GB of High-Speed Mobile Hotspot data at 4G LTE speeds. Beyond the 10 GB limit, Hotspot data slows to 3G speeds

Simple Choice

The Simple Choice plan was part of T-Mobile’s Un-carrier initiative. The plan dropped contracts, subsidized phones, overage fees for data, and early termination fees. T-Mobile no longer offers the Simple Choice plan to new customers although existing subscribers can keep their plans.

Capping Unlimited Data Users

Some users, with unlimited data plans, have been violating T-Mobile’s Terms & Conditions regarding tethering. Tethering is the sharing of a mobile’s internet connection with other devices. This has created speed issues for all other customers, and as a result, T-Mobile is removing user access to unlimited plans and substituting tiered plans.

T-Mobile InReach Program

The InReach Program provides free cell phone service with limited voice minutes for income-eligible families. The Universal Service Fund sponsors the program in some states as well as Puerto Rico.

MetroPCS

MetroPCS merged with T-Mobile in 2013, but continues to offer prepaid wireless services under the MetroPCS brand.

GoSmart Mobile

GoSmart, a branded T-Mobile service, offered no-contract wireless services to “Authorized Dealers.” In 2016, TracFone Wireless bought the brand the accompanying 326,000 GoSmart Mobile customers.

T-Mobile Reviews

One area T-Mobile has gained a tremendous amount of applause for is speed, as their speed in populated areas is superior to that of its competition. Furthermore, T-Mobile offers large amounts of data for very low prices. There are no contracts or termination fees, and they offer a payment plan for phone purchases. Help and support has also greatly advanced in recent years, as it has become a necessity for companies like T-Mobile to offer customers the best support possible. The one major drawback is abysmal rural coverage.

Call Forwarding, Another Perspective

Global Call Forwarding (GCF) provides international call forwarding services. Businesses that purchase those numbers often have offices in other parts of the world but desire to maintain a virtual presence in other locales. These ITFS numbers function as described below.

The caller dials the number.
GCF forwards the call to a programmed destination.
Your business receives the call on a landline, mobile, or PBX system.

GCF also offers many forwarding features with its toll free numbers.

Sequential Forwarding

Sequential ring delivers calls down a list of programmed phone numbers, which is essential for many businesses. For example, if a person is away from their desk, the next number in the list receives the call. The user can set the ringing time for each destination, and the call sequence can have four additional destination numbers.

Time of Day Routing

Time-based call forwarding routes calls based on the time of day or day of the week. For example, from 9 AM to 5 PM, your office number may ring. From 5 PM to 6 PM, you may direct calls to your mobile phone and from 6 PM to 10 PM, to your home phone. You may direct all late night calls and weekend calls to voicemail.

Failover Forwarding

Businesses can program multiple phone numbers or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) accounts that use different Tier 1 carriers. If the first number or SIP account is busy, the system forwards the call to the next number or SIP. Failover forwarding prevents dropped calls.

Advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

IVR establishes a computer greeting system that receives incoming calls. It interacts with callers via prompts and directs calls based on voice or keypad responses from them. The cloud IVR solution can be customized to meet your business needs.

Select Country Forwarding

Select country forwarding directs calls to numbers based on the caller’s geographic location. Therefore, if a person is calling from France, a French-speaking attendant will receive the call.

Forward Fax

This feature receives and forwards faxes to an email address as image files.

SMS Forwarding

Unlike T-Mobile, GCF provides plans to forward SMS messages to your email address. Users must subscribe to an SMS enabled phone number. Users can view the details of SMS messages on the GCF online control panel.

Start-up Business Tips and Resources

Valerie Stitt 9th October 2017 Learn, Tips

What Is A Startup Business?

A startup business is a newly emerged, fast-growing entrepreneurial venture that is designed to meet a specific marketplace need by developing a practical business model based on services, innovative products, a process, or a platform.

In recent years, the terminology, “startup” has become very popular among millennial and young individuals with a strong business mindset. Startup businesses have evolved to be more of a cultural movement with an outlook that is a complete deviation from standard or traditional companies.

The modern day startup business offices are not like the typical offices where a certain dress code is mandatory and a formal setting is to be maintained. Startup founders are often seen wearing casual clothes to meetings; office spaces can look very casual with a very youthful and vibrant atmosphere.

What Is The Difference Between a Startup Business and a Small Business?

Sometimes when you hear the word “startup” being thrown around, many begin to imagine coders, software and app developers, and the likes.

There are so many misconceptions about how this term is being used to describe businesses, that it’s often assumed it can only be applied to tech companies. However, the reality is that a “startup business” does not necessarily mean that it is strictly technology-focused. Startup businesses and small businesses share a number of similarities, but there are a few differences that distinguish both ventures.

Growth

One major difference between startup businesses and traditional small businesses is the way growth is being conceptualized. Startup businesses are designed to grow really fast, that is, they typically tend to rely on technology in order to reach a larger market.

A specific instance of startups is how apps can go from having just a few users upon launch, to millions of users in a matter of a couple months; this is the typical format of many startups.

On the other hand, traditional small businesses are designed to scale up at a slower pace. They usually do not have access to financial support to grow fast and generate revenue like startup businesses, so the growth is more incremental.

Funding

The ways that startup businesses and small businesses seek funding can be quite different. While startup businesses often rely on direct funding from venture capitalists or angel investors, small businesses often have to rely on loans and grants. Generally, startup businesses tend to get more help from their investors as they are actively involved in the operations. However, small businesses will usually report to their banks with respect to their loans or grants.

How to Start a Business

There are a number of obvious reasons why more people are quitting their jobs and starting businesses. Firstly, many people do not get the satisfaction they expect from their jobs. Secondly, there is a shortage of jobs in the labour market – which drives many people to seek out opportunities by establishing their own businesses. Another reason is the fact that many individuals have ideas that provide solution to a specific market need.

While many have great business aspirations, they often do not have a clear picture of what starting and growing a business entails. Many will fail as a result of a lack of preparation or market research. Becoming an entrepreneur is not as easy as many want it to be. It requires hard work, time, and a lot of effort.

Here are a few tips for startups and guidelines that will help you to start your business and make it successful.

Brainstorming

This is one of the most important phases of starting a business. Every business opportunity starts with an idea. These ideas often come in the form of solutions to a problem or they must be able to fill a gap. Whatever your ideas may be, there are many ways by which you can turn them into a viable business.

The brainstorming phase should include extensive research into the field or industry you plan to set up your business. You must identify companies that are already providing a similar solution and think up ways you can offer your services differently at a better rate.

Develop a Business Plan

This stage requires you to go into more details about your business idea. This is the stage where your ideas begin to materialize. A business plan will show in clear terms whether your business will be profitable or not. Also, you need to answer questions like:

Who are your customers?
Target market and size?
How will your business be financed? Will you need to apply for a loan or invest your own money?

A well-written business plan will help you answer these questions.

Business Structure
It is important to identify what type of business structure you want to run. The type of entity that your business is will determine a lot of things like how it is being taxed and its liabilities. If you want to run your business alone, then you must consider a sole proprietorship. Alternatively, a partnership is where there are two or more people involved. There are also other options like a corporation and Limited Liability Corporation.

Register Your Business
Before your business can run as a legal structure, you need to register it at the appropriate government agency. This process will involve registering your business name as well as providing other information about your business.

Determine the Type of Technology to Be Deployed
Every business today is being run with a set of tech tools to improve their efficiency. It is important for you to determine what type of technology will be suitable for your kind of business. Technology such as mobile apps, social media, and enterprise software are tools that can help your business become successful.

Insurance
Many businesses overlook insurance as something that they can get away with until they need it. There are various types of insurance coverage. But it is important to choose the type that best suits your business.

Build a Team
Unless you plan to run a ‘one man’ business, you are going to be faced with the task of hiring the best team to get your business running. The process of hiring a team must be tailored to the gaps that need to be filled in operations. Proper division of tasks and assigning roles to your team can play a major role in whether your business survives or not.

Branding and Advertising
A marketing plan should be put together in order to maximize your advertising and marketing efforts. A proper media campaign should be carried out to spread word about your business along with the products or services that it are being offered.

Four Key Points that a Startup Needs to Succeed:

Customers – You need to identify a need that has not been met by the market. Determine whether you can provide solutions and if the market is right for you.
Product – Your products or services must directly help your customer solve a problem or meet a need or desire. If it’s a product, make it very simple and adaptable to use.
Timing – Every business opportunity has a limited window or period during which it will be viable. Entering a market too early or too late usually comes with great risks due to market uncertainties. The best timing is often when there is already a customer base that has not had their needs satisfied.
Competition – Excess competition against an influx of new customers can make the market quite tough for new entrants. However, this offers many opportunities to disruptions that can take on the competition by creating new opportunities.
Finance – Maximizing profit with minimum risks and costs.

Related: Business Phone Solutions

4 Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business in the 2nd Half of 2017

Luke Genoyer 26th July 2017 Learn, Tips

We hope that 2017 has been good to your business so far. But no matter what happened, there is still time to grow in the 2nd half of the year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasted that global growth would recover from the slowdown in 2016. Halfway through the year, 2017’s outlook remains optimistic, particularly for emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific.

There are plenty of opportunities to grow your business, but you should be using the right marketing strategies. Here are our top 4 marketing strategies to grow your business in the 2nd half of 2017:

1. Mobile Advertising – Marketing Strategies

According to the independent web analytics company StatCounter, mobile exceeded desktop by internet usage, for the first time ever in October 2016. If you make no other changes your business in 2017, you should ensure that your website is mobile-friendly.

Websites benefit from mobile-responsiveness for two key reasons. First, conversions typically increase when mobile users can navigate more easily. Second, Google favors responsive websites in its mobile search results. Check out Google’s Mobile Playbook!

Not sure if your website is mobile-friendly? Test this by grabbing the right side of your browser window and dragging it to the left. Responsive websites will properly deliver your content, while content on an unresponsive website will look cut off or jumbled.

You can also test the mobile responsiveness of your website and view statistics for mobile traffic with Google Analytics. This can be a good way to gauge the responsiveness of your website and identify any necessary changes.

However, success in today’s mobile-centric marketplace requires more than just having a responsive website. New technologies and marketing platforms come out every day and there is great untapped potential as businesses start to adapt. We identified two trending ideas in 2017:

Mobile app: creating an app is more affordable than ever and the potential uses are unlimited. Sell goods and services or improve your overall mobile experience with an app.

Mobile payments: enable customers to pay you with a simple tap on their smartphone. Mobile payment services like Google Wallet, PayPal and Apple Pay are becoming more popular this year.

2. International Marketing Strategies

The global gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 3.5 percent in 2017. The Asia-Pacific region in particular, is estimated to grow at 5.5 percent. Meanwhile, there are booming economies and lots of money to be made all over the world.

New technologies and marketing tools enable businesses to transact with foreign market like never before. International marketing can offer a huge ROI – when it’s done correctly.

Brand awareness is crucial. However, building brand awareness doesn’t necessarily require a major investment – if you have a website. Considering its massive worldwide reach, advertising on search engines and social media is relatively inexpensive. You might also want to try international SEO.

Accessibility is also important when doing business internationally. We wrote about the top reasons to get a virtual phone number for your business, and accessibility is the first reason. Customers feel more comfortable transacting with a business when the business offers a local phone number or support hotline.

Companies use international call forwarding to offer a contact point to customers and prospects in foreign markets. A local or toll free virtual number can serve as a sales or booking hotline or it can serve to let customers know that your business is reachable over the phone. Confused about international call forwarding? Allow us to explain.

Opportunities exist all over the world and there are new marketing strategies to grow your business internationally.

3. Email Marketing Strategies

Email marketing isn’t a new strategy by any means, but it can still bring in new business.
The key to a successful email marketing campaign is providing relevant, valuable and helpful information (think DIY guides, industry news, and blog content). Email marketing should not be used to blast out unwanted sales pitches.

With the help of eMailmonday.com, we identified four top email marketing trends for the 2nd half of 2017:

Responsive emails
It depends on your industry and target market, but anywhere from 20-75% of emails get opened on a mobile device. By sending mobile friendly emails, you can reduce barriers to engagement.
Adapt to the mobile trend by attaching by attaching interactive photo sliders and image galleries to your emails. It’s also useful to include promotional offers and implement buy-it-now functionality in your outbound emails.
Deliver an omnichannel experience
An omnichannel experience builds brand familiarity and helps customers connect with your business. It involves an integrated multi-channel approach that allows customers to easily transition from emails to shopping online, on a desktop or mobile device.Walgreens and Starbucks deliver a consistent experience through email, websites and mobile apps.
HTML5 video attachments
HTML5 video attachments help companies build connections with their audiences through providing high-value content.
Automation
14.2% of people surveyed by a 2017 Litmus study believe that 2017 will be the year of automated emails. There are some tools like MailChimp and Active Campaign to help with email automation.
Welcome emails and abandoned carts emails can generate a big chunk of revenue for a lot of companies.

4. Digital Advertising

Advertising across several digital channels is one of the top marketing strategies in 2017. This is commonly referred to as cross-channel advertising, and it can be done through direct deals with publishers (think Google AdWords, Facebook for Business) and with cross-channel advertising software.

Top digital advertising mediums include paid search, social media and mobile ads. Paid search puts your product in front of a huge audience with high conversion rates, since visitors are already searching for similar products. Social media advertising is a fast-growing segment that can significantly expand your reach and boost brand awareness. We predict Facebook’s continued ascent as a major marketing outlet in 2017. Lastly, mobile ads like banner ads, mobile video ads and in-app ads are becoming more targeted.

No matter what your digital advertising strategy, here are some things to keep in mind:

- Cohesive data: it is important to document all available data points to form a cohesive, integrated consumer database across multiple channels
- Consistent message: it is important to deliver a consistent message to build familiarity with prospective customers.

What marketing strategies do you use to grow your business?

3 Ways Airlines Use Call Forwarding to Increase Sales

Luke Genoyer 17th May 2017 Learn

I published an article a few weeks back, ranking the top 10 budget airlines in Asia and how to reach them. I noticed a trend amongst best in Asia: 60% of these airlines offer international phone numbers. The trend continues even further to major global airlines like Qatar Airways and American Airlines!

In this post, we take a look at how airlines use call forwarding to increase sales.

It can be expensive and complicated to make international calls. Your customers don’t want to dial a long-distance phone number just to book their flight. Instead, they are almost 3x more likely to make free calls.

Due to the industry’s nature, the customer base of any travel company is typically spread across many countries. The AirAsia Group, for example, services affiliates in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thai, India, Japan and the Philippines. (Source: AirAsia Corporate Profile)

Smart airlines provide local phone numbers in their target markets and forward inbound calls internationally. For example, Air Asia offers a local contact number in 15+ countries. This enables their business to maximize its potential in Asia – Pacific markets.

Click here to see how AirAsia makes themselves more accessible to customers.

airlines call forwarding — Source: Shutterstock D#208776862 – Standard License

3 Ways Airlines Use Call Forwarding as a Marketing and Sales Tool:

Call forwarding is a cost-effective marketing tool used by top airlines across the globe to increase sales. Airlines that list local or free phone numbers as a call to action in advertisements are guaranteed to receive more calls. The calls can then be forwarded internationally to any destination in the world.

Here are 3 ways airlines use local numbers as a marketing tool:

Mobile: booking hotline

A local phone number can be used as a reservations hotline to attract more traffic from any target country. Many airlines offer booking hotlines that direct customer inquiries to call centres or sales offices.

Print advertisement: billboards, signs, kiosks

Print advertisements are still very efficient at reaching mobile consumers in 2017. Especially in Asia, airlines advertise their free phone number on public transportation, billboards, kiosks and signs. As you might see in the image, a free phone number is an effective call-to-action.

B2B sales and customer support

Travel agencies and corporate customers shouldn’t have to pay to call you. A local direct line can have a tremendous impact on B2B sales and customer support. Business contacts prefer a phone number that is easy to call.

Local or toll free contact numbers can be advertised on the website to make an airline more accessible and provide better customer support.

Set Up a Call Forwarding Service for Your Airline in 3 Steps:

Global Call Forwarding offers a 15-day free trial to corporate users, so they can test as many as three local or toll-free phone numbers risk-free. Here are 3 steps for airlines that want to set up a call forwarding service:

Identify target markets and view rates

Which countries do most of your passengers come from? Airlines should offer local contact numbers in at least their top 3-5 markets. We can provide international toll free numbers from many of the 195 countries worldwide.

Choose the best call forwarding service provider.

The best providers offer free trials and a money-back guarantee. A call forwarding service provider will package the local/toll free number and forwarding service as one monthly fee.

Forward incoming calls

Forward incoming calls to any destination in the world – sales offices, call centers, cell phones or business headquarters. The potential is virtually unlimited.

Getting an 833 Number – How Much Does it Cost?

Luke Genoyer 10th May 2017 Learn

After the FCC announced 833 numbers, the latest prefix addition to US toll-free numbers, Global Call Forwarding received numerous customer requests. We have provided toll-free numbers for many years, and it has become one of our specialties. In this article, we discuss these numbers and answer some of the inquiries we received.

You have probably heard about toll-free numbers. Collect calls have been around since the 1960s, and toll-free numbers are a great marketing tool because they’re free to call. Instead, the toll-free subscriber, or the called party, bears the cost of the call.

Free phone numbers are so effective and in high demand that many 1-800 number combinations are already taken. As a result, the FCC has introduced new toll-free prefixes over the years, like 844, 855, 888, 877, and 866 numbers. Most recently, the FCC announced that new 833 numbers were released on June 3^rd, 2017.

Many of our customers want to learn more about the prefix 833 – their capabilities, functionality, and how much they cost. We’re happy to help you with the process and ensure you have the best options for obtaining the U.S. toll-free number you desire.

What Is an 833 Number?

833 numbers are being auctioned because of the high demand for toll-free numbers. 833 toll free numbers are just like 800 numbers, the only difference is the prefix. This means callers must dial 1-833 instead of 1-800.

Like any other toll-free number, 833 numbers are a great marketing tool. They are accessible within the United States and Canada. 833 numbers are free to call from these countries!

We’ve also observed that because 833 is the newest prefix, subscribers of these numbers have the highest likelihood of getting a “fresh” number that other businesses have not used in the past.

Vanity Numbers

Vanity numbers with the 833 prefix are customized toll-free numbers with a specific string of digits you request. Companies typically request vanity numbers with their company name, slogan, or products/services to better communicate their business. For example, a company that sells dog food might request 1-833-DOG-FOOD.

We’ve observed that 833 vanity numbers have been in high demand once the new prefix becomes available. Global Call Forwarding can help you reserve the correct 833 numbers.

How to Get an 833 Toll-Free Number?

833 toll-free numbers have been available since June 3^rd, 2017. Contact a call forwarding service provider to get an 833 number. Providers are taking requests for these numbers, which are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Here are some things to keep in mind:

The allocation process for 833 numbers is updated from the previous process
Each provider is only allocated a maximum of 2,000 numbers up front, regardless of size. (i.e., Sprint, Global Call Forwarding, and Verizon each get a maximum of 2,000 numbers)
You can still get an 833 number after the release date, but the availability of specific vanity numbers might be limited

How Much Does an 833 Number Cost?

There are many toll-free service providers in 2025, and the cost of 833 varies among providers. Most providers offer 833 at a monthly rate. The package will typically include the 833 number, the forwarding service (to route calls to your desired destination), and a set number of minutes to use throughout the month. The provider might charge a per-minute rate if you exceed your set number of minutes.

In addition to the cost of the number, it’s essential to look at the service provider’s reputation. Be wary of hidden charges and providers that require you to sign a contract. The service should be offered on a month-to-month basis with no termination fees.

Bottom Line

833’s are the latest toll-free prefix. Call Global Call Forwarding today to reserve your number! We offer free consultations over the phone and a free trial program in 2025. We would love to help your business grow.

Top 7 Destinations for Medical Tourism in the World

Valerie Stitt 14th March 2017 Learn

Overview

Tourism has existed for a very long time. However, medical tourism has become increasingly popular in recent times and this is because a lot of people are now looking towards the industry to deal with issues that affect their health.

Medical tourism is the process of traveling from your home country to another country in order to seek medical care. According to a study completed by the Medical Tourism Association, more Americans are traveling abroad in order to seek medical attention elsewhere. Most people travel for medical care because the cost for treatment is less expensive in foreign countries than in their home country. Others embark on medical trips because they want to undergo a process that is illegal in their home country. There are lots of medical procedures that people undergo while traveling abroad. However, the most common treatments are plastic surgery, heart surgery, and even dentistry.

Why Medical Tourism?

There are lots of reasons why people embark on medical tourism. A few of them are discussed below.

It is Cost Efficient: This is probably the number one reason why most people decide to go overseas for medical treatment. By seeking help abroad, this saves on cost for elective procedures. For instance, the price for a particular treatment may be 50% less expensive in another country. Some procedures cost more than $10,000 in the United States, meaning that medical tourists can save $5,000 or more.
Quality Service: It is human nature to assume that if something is cheap then it is likely to be of lower quality, but for a well-planned medical tour, the situation is always different. Most people embark on medical tourism to receive quality services from world renowned medical centers. Most medical tourist centers have been accredited by the JCI; (Joint Commission International) which means the quality standards of medical services delivered will be one of the best any patient can ever receive.
Professional Treatment: Another reason why people go abroad on medical trips is to receive treatment from top professionals. Most of the surgeons who treat international patients have been trained in some of the best medical schools in the world. The hospitals in these countries offer state of-the-art facilities with services to international patients that are equal or greater to the services that are offered in their home country.
Latest Technology: International patients have attested to the fact that they had greater access to treatments using the latest technology in the medical industry. Numerous medical tourism hubs offer tourists across the world the benefits of quality medical facilities at lower costs.
Opportunity to Travel Abroad: Medical tourism allows patients an opportunity to travel abroad and experience life in other countries. Some people may even choose to recuperate in the country where they received the medical treatment.

Top 7 Worldwide Medical Tourism Destinations

More countries across the world are opening up their health systems to medical tourists by providing affordable costs; combining the experience with comfortable accommodations. The following 7 countries are known for providing the best medical care for international patients. Note that these medical tourism destinations have been properly scrutinized and rest assured that the clinics in many of these countries have been awarded JCI accreditation.

India: You are probably wondering why India of all countries should make the list since it is known for ancient medicine. However, if you are looking for one of the best destinations for medical treatment, India should always come to mind. There are many trained and qualified medical professionals who are capable of treating some of the worst ailments in the world today. Indian doctors work very fast to diagnose you and start treatment immediately – which means a shorter waiting time for patients. The costs are also very affordable when compared to other countries.
Singapore: Over the years, Singapore has been able to come up with formidable policies that have resulted in a massive boost to its economy. This has helped it establish its place as one of the most developed countries in the world. Singapore boasts world class medical centers that are operated by some of the best professionals you will find in the medical field. The country has received awards for its state-of-the-art medical service delivery. When considering a country to travel to for medical treatment, Singapore should come to mind.
South Korea: South Korea is also one of the countries of the world that has experienced massive development in recent times. It boasts some of the best medical centers in the world. Hospitals in South Korea have a reputation not only in cosmetic surgery but for treating chronic injuries that people sustain when they get involved in serious accidents.
Costa Rica: Though Costa Rica is more famous for having some of the best tourist attractions in the world, it has also cemented its place as one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world. Cost Rica provides social stability and transparency for its patients and provides them treatment using the latest healthcare technology.
Thailand: Thailand has been able to build its reputation as one of the best medical tourism centers in the world. The quality of service delivery in Thailand is excellent and the health costs are low; which makes it one of the most affordable destinations for medical treatment.
Germany: Germany also ranks in as one of the best countries to visit for medical treatment. They have excellent medical equipment, a wide range of specialized medical professionals, and some of the best medical facilities in the world, which has made it one of the best tourism destinations.
United Arab Emirates: UAE is gradually building its reputation as one of the best providers of high-class health services. They boast of the best medical professionals and expertise that specializes in plastic surgery, abdominal surgery, dental care and many others. This makes them one of the favorite destinations to consider when planning for your next medical trip.

Whichever country you choose in your medical travels, take into consideration that destination is not more important than finding the right treatment for a certain condition. There is no compromise on care just to visit a certain country.