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Nigeria Phone Number Guide: An Explainer

nigeria phone guide

A Nigeria phone number is a vital asset for businesses looking to make their mark in the heart of West Africa. With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria offers a …Read More »

Understanding Telephone Numbering Plans Globally

Understanding global telephone numbering plans.

Telephone numbers typically get assigned according to national telephone numbering plans, such as the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the United States and Canada. These plans can be “open” …Read More »

5 Toll-Free FlexDial Use Cases

An image of toll-free flexdial use cases.

Well-run businesses understand the importance of communication and accessibility. Whether communicating with customers, leads, or internally with employees, phone calls remain among the most effective ways to exchange information. While …Read More »

The Pros and Cons of Toll-Free FlexDial

The pros and cons of toll-free flexdial.

A quick overview of the pros and cons of Toll-Free FlexDial, a global cloud communications solution. Understanding The Advantages And Disadvantages of FlexDial Toll-Free FlexDial has emerged as a pioneering …Read More »

Mexico Phone Number Guide: An Explainer

An image of Mexico's phone numbers format with an example.

A Mexico phone number serves as a strategic tool for businesses looking to expand into this vibrant market. Thanks to its strategic geographical location, Mexico has the second-largest economy in …Read More »

UK Phone Number Guide: An Explainer

The ultimate guide to UK phone numbers.

The United Kingdom, as the third-largest economy in Europe, boasts a flexible and transparent business market that encourages entrepreneurial growth. It stands as one of the global financial hubs, with …Read More »

What is Meant by Inbound and Outbound Calls?

Are you in the market to outsource your customer service needs? Then, you are looking for either an inbound or outbound call center. But how do you decide which one is suitable for you? That starts by understanding the difference between inbound and outbound calls and which is the one your company needs.

Inbound vs. Outbound Calls

Both inbound and outbound calling are customer service tactics used to generate sales through phone conversations. And so, they are usually conducted by customer service teams or call centers. Deciding which service your business needs is based on what type of calls you receive more. Does your business run on calls coming in from customers and prospects? Or, do you make your sales, like a telemarketing company, by calling customers, making a pitch, and selling a product? In other words, do you have a high volume of incoming or outgoing calls?

What are Inbound Calls?

Inbound calls are types of calls that a customer makes in order to connect with a contact center or a call center. The help desk also responds to inbound calls just like a contact center, but calls initiated to a help desk will usually come from employees and less likely from a customer.

Inbound and outbound calls can be attended to exclusively or in a combination of both by the call center.

Customers who initiate an inbound call to a call center will usually be doing so to make inquiries about products and services, as well as to make complaints. The information gathered by the call center agent is then used to find a resolution to the complaint or to provide information that the customer has enquired upon.

There are several metrics that are used to measure the performance of an inbound call agent, these include average handle time (AHT), time in the queue, and first call resolution (FCR). Inbound call centers occasionally enumerate the service goals that the call center will aim for in a service-level agreement (SLA).

Due to advancements in communication technology, inbound call agents now communicate with customers via other means such as chat and emails, which allows customers’ needs to be met from a variety of methods.

What is an Inbound Call Center?

An inbound call center is a company that responds to calls initiated by customers.

Inbound call centers are designed to provide customer support or service. In many cases, inbound call centers have been found to be a part of the sales division by taking sales orders and also serving as an internal help desk for organizations and businesses.

Customers will call a business for a variety of reasons, such as:

  • To ask information about a product or service
  • Make an appointment or reservation
  • Resolve an issue
  • Connect with customer service
  • Make a payment
  • Register a complaint
  • Get support or assistance
  • Leave feedback and suggestions, and more.

In most cases, many organizations do not directly handle inbound calls. They usually contract that aspect to external inbound call centers. Businesses rely on external call centers to receive inbound calls because it is typically cheaper to purchase the service, rather than paying the cost of employing several call center agents, along with implementing an actual call center into their business.

Most businesses take advantage of incurring the cost of inbound calls on a “per minute” charging basis compared to incurring the financial burden of acquiring calling equipment and staff that the task needs. Appointment setters, customer service, inbound call centers, and customer or tech support teams are the ones that usually take care of inbound calls. Agents answer the call and help customers through positive interactions. An inbound calling service, therefore, is a suitable option for a business with a high incoming call volume.

What are Outbound Calls?

Unlike an inbound call that is initiated by the customer, an outbound call is a call to a customer from the call center or on behalf of a business. Have you ever received a call from a strange number with a voice that could be that of a man or a lady asking for or giving information about a product or service? That is what an outbound call is.

Outbound calls are part of a series of activities that businesses engage in by utilizing call centers to reach out to their customers and prospects.

Modern technology has improved the features of outbound calls that assist call centers in doing a better and effective job. New features such as auto-dialing and predictive dialing are tools that help call center agents maximize their time more efficiently.

Another great tool that helps in making outbound calls more efficient is the automatic call-back tool. Other features such as call scheduling, as well as customer relationship management tools all help to enhance the quality of outbound calls. Call center agents who have information about customer behavior are equipped to make better-quality outbound calls.

Generally, outbound calls have improved in efficiency over the last decade with improvements made to enterprise software, which are readily available and are at the disposal of the call center.

The typical nature of an outbound can include:

  • Fundraising calls
  • Sales calls
  • Telemarketing
  • Calls for contact list updating purposes
  • Surveys
  • Verification services

What is an Outbound Call Center?

An outbound call center is a type of business activity center that consists of a collection of call center agents who make calls to existing and prospective customers on behalf of clients and businesses.

Outbound calls are often facilitated with the use of modern technology in order for them to be efficient. With the help of tools like a predictive dialer, a large volume of calls can be made within a shorter time.

These are some of the uses of outbound call centers:

  • Make sales pitches
  • Generate and qualify new leads
  • Conducting market research
  • Provide company updates
  • Raise funds or donations
  • Appointment setting
  • Follow-up on previous purchases or visits
  • Leave reminders for renewals or appointments
  • Proactive customer service
  • Upselling and cross-selling
  • Collect feedback and surveys, and more.

This type of calling is generally more sales-focused. Sales teams and appointment setters use outbound calling due to their high outgoing call volume. They call clients on a list determined by metrics and market research to pitch a product or service, renew appointments, or collect data. And so, an enterprise that needs to make multiple sales calls will find an outbound calling service more useful. Basically, if more than 50% of your calls are outbound, then you can be considered an outbound call center.

Differences Between Inbound And Outbound Call Centers

The type of calls that take place at a call center ultimately determines whether that call center is an inbound call center or an outbound call center. This is the main factor that can differentiate between one or the other.

If over 50% of calls that take place at a call center are inbound, that call center functions as an inbound call center. The same criterion applies to outbound call centers.

If you operate a call center, determining the type of call center that you are operating or planning to operate is key to implementing the protocols and systems you want to run in your call center.

For example, if your call center handles primarily inbound calls, there may not be a need for technology devices like a predictive dialer. Your focus will be more on tools that are more suited to inbound calls.

For call centers engaged in outbound call activities, more resources are available in software programs that will help make them more efficient. Tools such as call scheduling, predictive dialing, and automatic callback are some of the essentials for an outbound calling center. Calling features such as call monitoring, which is great for listening in on outgoing calls should also be utilized for those interested in maximizing the services offered.

Related: Call Center Trends in 2023

Technology Used for Inbound and Outbound Calls

Depending on whether your company makes more inbound or outbound calls, you will require different technology and software to ensure smooth running. Virtual phone service providers like Global Call Forwarding offer these tools and features along with your business number to enhance your customer relations.

Inbound calling benefits from:

  • Call forwarding: to forward and direct calls to different office locations or during specific days and hours
  • Metrics and call activity: making note of average handle times (AHT), queue times, average speed of answering (ASA), customer effort score (CES), etc.
  • Call tracking: tracking when and where incoming calls are coming from
  • Extensions: for different offices or departments
  • Call transfer: the ability to transfer to different offices and departments
  • Interactive voice response (IVR): to welcome and direct callers through a series of menus.

Outbound calling technology includes:

  • Outbound calling with customizable caller ID: to call clients with a caller ID of a virtual number purchased for a specific location
  • Dialers: predictive or automatic dialing technology
  • Outbound IVR: proactively engage customers through voice calls, SMS or email, and by delivering personalized customer experience
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) systems: to record and note customer data and engagement.

Assisting and Empowering Call-Focused Businesses

Inbound and outbound calling can enhance the way your company interacts with returning and prospective customers. You can outsource your business communication needs to inbound or outbound call centers. Or, purchase your business number with Global Call Forwarding and get communication tools and features that support your calls. Call us today to learn more.

8 Ways to Protect Your Internet Privacy

We live very digital lives. Almost everything we do has some connection to the online, virtual world. Emails, e-commerce accounts, work/office accounts, social media, smartphones, and even smart home systems. And so, it’s never been more important than now to talk about internet privacy and how you can protect yourself when online.

Why Internet Privacy is Important

Not everyone spends time paying attention to every move or decision they make when they’re online. Others become victims to scams from people pretending to be from big companies, banks, etc. And it all starts because they snatched your contact information and profile at some point when you were online. Hacking cases have increased over the years with hackers finding new and creative ways to get into your accounts and locking you out of them. And with a lot of our sensitive information being stored on the cloud, we need to be more careful. Here are some ways you can protect your internet privacy:

1. Have a Variety of Passwords and Have Passwords Everywhere

Every account you make or sign up for should be protected by a password. However, no matter how tempting and easy it seems to have one password for all accounts, don’t do it. Have strong and different passwords for different accounts. Use characters, numbers, words that cannot be easily associated with you, and make them long. Accounts with weak passwords are easy to break into and hack. Lock your phone, computer, laptop, and all other devices with passwords or codes.

2. Keep Your Main Email Address Private

This not only helps you avoid scam emails and calls but also ensures your email isn’t sold to telemarketers or hackers. Similarly, you may want to keep your personal phone number private as well. It’s wise to create a separate email account for online shopping purposes so you don’t have to share your main account.

3. Know Which Sites are Tracking You

When visiting websites, your browser discloses information about you, your surf history, and preferences. This can be used to later profile and target you for marketing purposes. Some believe that surfing the web through Incognito mode will prevent tracking, but that’s not true. You would need to use special tools like Kaspersky Internet Security to evade online tracking.

4. Check Social Media Privacy Settings

Another part of maintaining internet privacy is watching your social media accounts. Check and update privacy settings on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Social accounts store a lot of information about you. And if not set up to be private, a lot of this information is visible to other users.

5. Review Permissions Asked by Mobile Apps

When downloading a new app for your phone or tablet, they may request permission to access your camera, contacts, files, etc. For some apps, like Instagram, using your camera and files is necessary. But other apps use this information for marketing purposes and more. And so, pay attention when giving permissions to new apps.

6. Be Careful With Web Browser Extensions

Do the same for browser extensions. They too ask for permission to access your information and storage, and spying tendencies. Don’t install them unless absolutely necessary.

7. Back-Up Your Data and Get an Internet Security Package

Maintain a continuous back-up of your data just in case it was hacked or your laptop/computer crashes. Also, invest in a malware protector that shields your computer and the internet from malicious activity. McAfee and Norton are common and safe options to stop malicious software and viruses from entering your PC.

8. Be Careful When Signing Up For New Services

Look up the “Terms and Conditions” and “Privacy Policies” for services that you join or use. This will let you know what they do with the information they store. And you can decide accordingly whether you want to continue or dismiss the service.

Protect Yourself When You Are Online

We all know the common rules such as don’t open attachments or links by unknown people and make strong and difficult passwords. But there is more to internet privacy than that. Therefore, it is important to update your passwords and PC software regularly. Utilize anti-virus software and be aware of the different ways scammers creep into people’s accounts. Update your internet privacy and keep your information safe today.

What is an IVR?

IVR stands for interactive voice response. It is a highly effective technology and a simple tool that allows a computer to communicate using a voice and digital tones that are typed into a keypad. In other words, it is the charming voice that lets you know your menu options when you dial a company’s customer service line. The IVR allows customers to interact with its system through their own keypad at home, where they can then be transferred to the point of contact that will best suit their needs. IVR systems are pre-recorded by a human or they can be dynamically generated into audio instructions through a computer “voice.” These systems are also designed to be able to handle a large call volume and can even be used to make outbound calls.

IVR systems are typically used for retail orders, travel information, weather conditions, utilities, mobile purchases, and banking payments. IVRs are sometimes called voice response units, or VRU. These systems are simple and effective tools, but some managers and business owners are unaware of how much they can actually help their companies. The IVR can route phone calls, enable the identification of callers, reduce costs, and increase efficiency within any business.

what is ivr
Source: Stockphoto.com O#1202 – ID#100150145640

IVR systems have been around since the 1970s, but they are much more impressive for businesses now. The earliest voice response systems had limited vocabularies, but once more companies began to invest in the technology, telephone lines and hardware evolved and became more intelligent. Today, the software is much more commonplace, therefore it is cheaper, more specialized, and easier to use than ever before.

What can IVR Systems Do?

As previously mentioned IVR’s can create customized greetings that you can choose to record yourself or if you prefer, you can use pre-recorded IVR messages. IVR’s can also collect useful information from callers. When callers listen to your recorded messages, they can choose their best menu option and their calls will be directed to the most useful department, or your customers can choose to contact an agent directly.

IVR’s can also create automated responses to customers’ most frequently asked questions. That way customers can find out the information they need quickly without having to speak to an agent. Having an IVR system also means that your company can now handle a large number of incoming phone calls at once. If your company has been struggling to stay in touch with your customers, the IVR will make sure that each customer gets their needs met or adds them to a queue if every agent is busy. Usually, these systems will have an option to let the caller leave their information in a voicemail so that an agent can call them back if they do not want to wait in the queue.

IVR: The Best Option for Business Communication

An IVR is such a simple tool that a smaller business can use the system to make their company seem like a larger corporation. Even if there are very few people working for your company, you can still use the IVR as an impressive way to direct your customers to the right professional for their needs.

The Benefits of an IVR System

There are several benefits that happen for a company when you use an IVR system. IVR increases first contact resolution because customers are directed to the most qualified agent for their questions. It also affects the consistency of the agents working for your company. If your agents specialize in one specific area, they will be more efficient at meeting the needs of their customers’ inquiries. This is because they will be skilled with specific problems and will not need to defer to management or other agents.

IVR systems are also cost-efficient since they can replace a customer service agent or receptionist that would usually be in charge of directing calls. Even smaller businesses can afford an IVR system, which makes them an ideal investment for businesses of all sizes. IVR systems are a very professional option since they give customers a chance to be greeted professionally while having their problems handled quickly, or redirected automatically to the right department.

Get a Business Number for a Samsung Galaxy J7

Every company, whether a large enterprise or small business, needs a business phone number to stay connected with its customers. And so, it is important to invest in a business number from a reliable phone service provider. Choose a provider that offers virtual communications solutions. They will keep you perpetually reachable by forwarding incoming calls to a number of your choice. This can be your personal or home phone, or a budget phone used for business. Let’s look at how you can get a business number for a Samsung Galaxy J7.

Business Phone Numbers: A Business’ Best Friend

A business phone number lets you reach customers from anywhere in the world. And a virtual business number gives you the added benefit of eliminating geographical boundaries and time zones. Virtual numbers route calls over the internet and uses international call forwarding to make you always reachable and accessible. Call forwarding automatically forwards incoming calls to a number that you choose. And this number can be located anywhere in the world, which allows you to grow your business in different areas and gain new clients.

And the best part? You can choose from a variety of phone number types. For example, if you are looking to expand your business to a different city, state, or country, you can get a virtual number that is a local number. This lets the customers in that location call your business without incurring any extra or international charges. Or, you can get a toll free number which bills the receiver instead of the caller. Again, this makes calling free for your customers. So, business phone numbers make calling your company easy and keep you within reach.

Using the Galaxy J7 for Work

The Samsung Galaxy J7, released in 2015 as part of Samsung’s Galaxy J series, makes for a good-quality budget phone. This phone is available with 16GB and 32GB storage and runs on the Octa-core 1.6GHz processor with 2GB of RAM. You can get this phone for as low as $199 at Best Buy, which makes the phone a smart choice for a business phone. You don’t need your business cell phone to do a lot but you should have good storage, a decent processor, and reliable service.

Samsung Galaxy J7
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#166754220 ID#161885456

Ready to Get a Business Phone Number for Your Samsung Galaxy J7? Global Call Forwarding Can Help

Global Call Forwarding makes it super easy to get a business phone number for any phone, including the Samsung Galaxy J7. Just go through the sign-up process and you’ll have your number ready to use within a few minutes! To get a business number with Global Call Forwarding, follow the below steps:

  • Step 1: Go to our website: globalcallforwarding.com
  • Step 2: On the top left, under “Select Your New Phone Number,” enter details for the type of number you need:
    • Country code
    • Type of number (choose from “Toll Free,” “Mobile,” “Universal Toll Free (UIFN),” city/state area code, and so on)
    • Then, select a number from the available options or select “Port/Transfer My Number” to port an existing number
  • Step 3: On the right-hand side, under the “Forward Incoming Calls To” section, select the code for the destination number and enter the number. This is where you would like to direct your incoming calls.
  • Step 4: Then, click on “View Rates” and review the plans offered: “Basic,” “Value,” “Power,” “Premium,” “Enterprise.”
  • Step 5: Once you’ve selected a plan based on the number of monthly minutes required, review optional features and add-ons offered, such as Rollover Minutes, Call Recording, Outbound Calling.
  • Step 6: Fill in any additional contact information required, agree to the “Terms and Conditions” and then complete your submission.

Once submitted, a customer service rep will be in touch with you to review any other information required. And then, within a few minutes, you will have a business phone number for your enterprise.

Need More Convincing?

Still not sure if your company can benefit from a business phone number from Global Call Forwarding? Reach out to us at 1-(888)-908-6171 or “Chat With Us” through our website to learn more.

Calling Brazil for Business? Use a Local Number to Build Trust

The largest country in both South America and Latin America, Brazil has a population of over over 214 million people. Due to mass immigration over the years, this country is one of the most multicultural and ethnically diverse. As a result, it’s an excellent market to tap into. With today’s global business market, not choosing an international presence for your business can be a huge mistake. What should you keep in mind when calling Brazil as your business expands?

Why Create A Presence In Brazil?

Brazil, the largest economy in all of South America, has been continuously expanding its international presence. Brazil’s most prosperous industries include tourism, agriculture, forestry, and coffee. The technology sector is also gaining significant interest in Brazil as well. Sectors such as data science, analytics, product management, and development are gaining prominence. Despite the political instability, Brazil is making strides in its tech industry and tech companies are looking to expand their branches within the country.

Businesses are now using the internet to extend their reach to include Brazil. Brazil’s youth and millennials are making the most of online businesses by investing in and supporting them. To expand your business to Brazil from an international country, a virtual phone number is a great way to start. Getting a Brazil phone number will not only build trust with locals but also gives your business an international presence.

Calling Brazil for Business Use a Local Number to Build Trust
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#164486392 ID#111872696

Brazil’s Telecommunications Infrastructure

Most of Brazil’s modern technology is located in the central/ southern regions. The north/ northeast regions, on the other hand, lack basic analog PSTN telephone lines. Brazilian numbers have an eight-digit number for landlines with a two-digit area code and a nine-digit number for mobile phones. However, when calling Brazil from an international number, you must first enter the international access code from the calling country. For example, 011 from the United States or 00 from Europe. Then, enter Brazil’s country code +55, followed by the two-digit area code, and then the eight- or nine-digit number.

Brazil ranks sixth in the number of internet users worldwide. Most Brazilians use mobile and VoIP services instead of landlines. Many technologies are bringing broadband internet to customers through DSL, cable, and 3G/4G services. This means that users are continuously active on the internet. Therefore, investing in a virtual phone number for your business will help you create and maintain a virtual presence in Brazilian markets.

How A Local Number Can Build Trust

Virtual phone numbers will bring you closer to your customers by encouraging them to trust your company. Customers are more likely to call a local number as they do not have to pay extra for the call. Calling local numbers is feasible, less expensive, and time-saving. Therefore, having a local phone number makes your company more approachable to your customers.

Customers, or potential customers, are wary of numbers they do not recognize and most will hesitate to answer those calls. Therefore, when calling Brazil, having a Brazilian virtual phone number will give you an advantage. Brazilian virtual phone numbers are local or toll free numbers with Brazilian area codes. Calls to these numbers are forwarded over a cloud-based system to your business lines. This allows you to connect with Brazilian customers, even from outside the country.

Where Can You Get A Brazilian Virtual Number?

Virtual phone numbers from Global Call Forwarding come with a variety of features such as call forwarding, call recording, simultaneous ringing, time of day routing, and more. Purchase your Brazil local numbers today!

To obtain a Brazil virtual number, follow these steps:

  • Go to the Global Call Forwarding website.
  • Then, select Brazil in the top left selection box for “Select Your New Phone Number.”
  • Next, select the type of number you want.
  • Choose from Toll Free, Toll Free (mobile accessible), Universal Toll Free (UIFN), Mobile (SMS Optional) or Geographic.
  • Follow the prompts related to that number.
  • Enter your destination country and number on the right.
  • Pick a plan by clicking “View Rates & Try For Free.” Select any optional features you need.
  • Finally, enter your contact information and account type.
  • Agree to the Terms and Conditions and click “Try For Free.

Is an 855 Number a Toll Free Number?

Have you recently been called by a number starting with 855? If you have, perhaps you’re wondering if an 855 number is the same as a toll free number. Or, maybe you’re wondering if you can use this prefix for your own toll free business phone number. Find out more about this relatively new phone number prefix. And, how to get a vanity phone number that starts with 855 for your own use.

What is an 855 Number?

Is 855 toll free or is it an area code for a specific region? Well, the answer is that all 855 phone numbers are toll free numbers. In reality, they’re used just like other toll free 1-800 numbers. So, they’re free for people to call. And, those who use them typically purchase from a telecom company that carries them. Likewise, this includes custom 800 numbers from vanity number providers.

People use toll free numbers for many reasons. All in all, they’re a great outlet for providing a freeway for consumers to call businesses. Plus, they provide an affordable way for businesses to offer memorable, personalized, and credible phone numbers.

When was the 855 Number Created?

For many decades, 800 numbers have provided callers with an economical way to reach businesses by phone. As a result, it isn’t possible for toll free numbers to exclusively have the 800 prefix. Over the years, new 800 prefixes have been established to increase the number of toll free numbers available. Of the seven 800 toll free prefixes to choose from, 855 is one of the most recent (introduced in 2010). Only the 844 toll free number prefix is newer.

Is an 855 Number a Toll Free Number?
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#163235306 ID#69142071

6 Benefits of Using an 855 Number

If you have a business, you can purchase your very own vanity 800 numbers. This way, you can take advantage of all the benefits of a toll free number including:

1. Customization

You can set up your 1-855 number with any 7-digit phone number available. This allows for great customization. Therefore, you can establish a phone number that’s relative to the alphabetic symbols on the telephone keypad. For example, if you have a towing company, you can choose a number like 1-855-869-2277. This number associates with the alphabetic symbols on the telephone keypad, TOW-CARS. When you choose an 855 number that translates into words, you give your customers an easy-to-remember number. This way, they’ll keep your number in mind and more likely to call you when they need your services or products.

2. Credibility and Reliability

Toll free numbers are typically associated with credible companies. Think about it; would a spammy business offer customers a free way to reach them? And, foot the phone bill themselves entirely? No, they wouldn’t. So, giving your business an 855 toll free number is a great way to build credibility instantly.

3. Wider Reach

Because toll free numbers are national, they give your customers a free way to reach you from anywhere in the country. This expands your business phone line reach substantially if you’re currently using a local number.

4. Toll Free Means Free

Overall, the best benefit of having a toll free number is offering a free way for customers to reach your business. When you provide a free way for people to reach you, you’re likely to have more people calling. And, when more people call you, you have more reasons to sell your goods and services. Plus, you give your business a better way to offer customer service solutions. After all, no one wants to have to pay to call a company – especially for customer service needs.

5. Become Easier to Reach

A customer-business connection is crucial for business growth. If customers have trouble reaching your business, they will look elsewhere. By using an 855 toll free number that is nationally recognizable and reachable, you make it easier and free for customers to call your business for inquiries and customer service.

6. Improve Brand Awareness

By using a toll free number, people from the country or state can contact your company without worrying about incurring long-distance charges. You can advertise this number across the country through billboards, emails, social media platforms, and more. This increases brand awareness and visibility as more and more customers learn about your business. If you want to brand your business identity to your target market, you may even consider vanity numbers for marketing.

How to Get a Phone Number for Your Business

If you’re convinced that an 855 toll free number is what you need for your business, you need to determine how to get one. Overall, there are many ways to get toll free numbers. For example, toll free number brokers and even your current business telephone service provider. However, these service providers may involve unexpected fees, inconvenient set up times, and unexpected hurdles. So, if you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to implement toll free numbers into your business, consider virtual toll free numbers from Global Call Forwarding.

Get Your Toll Free Number Today

Global Call Forwarding offers toll free numbers from all 7 of the toll free prefixes. If you’re interested in purchasing your own 855 number, learn more about toll free numbers on our website. And, contact us to tell us more about your toll free number needs.

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Top Rated Bluegrass Cellular Phones for Business

Bluegrass Cellular is a leading cellular company in the state of Kentucky. So, if you use this cellular company as your business phone carrier, you may be looking for more options. Furthermore, if you want to call people in other areas of the state, you may need more than one number. Or, a different number with another area code. But, you don’t have to switch from Bluegrass Cellular to have these options. In this article, we discuss a way for Bluegrass customers to get the most out of their business phone.

Some Information About This Kentucky Phone Provider

Beginning in 1989, Bluegrass Cellular has always set people up with phone line services. People living in this state still have the option of bigger, nationwide providers. But, because of the benefits of this provider, they’re still thriving regardless of nationwide competitors. This is due to a number of advantages this company brings to the table. For example, in 2014, they were named one of Kentucky’s best places to work. Furthermore, they make efforts to improve their community. For instance, they offer scholarship opportunities to Kentucky high school students. In 2019, they plan to offer twelve scholarships of $1500 each to Kentucky high school seniors. Finally, with a superb customer service department, customers can reach their local service provider quickly and effectively. So, there’s no wonder why customers of this company don’t want to switch. And, this is why they choose Bluegrass Cellular over bigger, nationwide carriers.

Bluegrass Cellular and Virtual Phone Numbers

If you have Bluegrass Cellular, you probably have one phone number that reaches your Bluegrass device. But, if you do business on your mobile phone, you may need more than one phone number. Or, the ability to transfer calls, record calls, personalize greetings, offer phone extensions from the same number, and more. Unfortunately, Bluegrass Cellular doesn’t offer a simple solution to doing business on mobile devices. However, fortunately, there is a simple solution to these needs without having to switch from Bluegrass – virtual phone numbers.

Top Rated Bluegrass Cellular Phones for Business
Source: Depositphotos.com Lic#158690360 ID#161946322

What are Virtual Phone Numbers?

Virtual phone numbers are creating an easy way to set up business phone systems. That’s because they don’t require a business phone. They can offer the same functionalities that phone services on business VoIP systems offer. But, they can do this all from your personal cell phone device. Basically, virtual phone numbers use the internet, rather than traditional wiring. This gives them the capability to pair with phone systems. And, connect effectively with phone lines all over the world with great quality.

Pairing Your BlueGrass Device With Virtual Phone Numbers

Using your Bluegrass device, you can add a virtual phone number service, like the one from Global Call Forwarding. But, you can still keep your Bluegrass Wireless phone number and service. This way, you can utilize your mobile device for business and your personal Bluegrass number for personal needs. As far as compatibility, the virtual phone numbers from Global Call Forwarding are compatible with all Bluegrass Cellular devices. Plus, they can pair with a phone number with any Kentucky area you want. Some of these include:

  • 502 area code phone numbers
  • 859 area code phone numbers
  • 270 area code phone numbers
  • 606 area code phone numbers

Overall, virtual phone numbers can solve a number of problems. They can help to provide a simple, affordable way to purchase Kentucky area code phone numbers. And, they can offer a simple solution to business phone systems by pairing with mobile devices.

Choosing Global Call Forwarding for Bluegrass Cellular Devices

Have Bluegrass Cellular as your Kentucky phone service? Want to do business from your Bluegrass cellphone or tablet without having to switch services? You can with virtual phone numbers through Global Call Forwarding. To choose from all of our business phone features and develop your unique phone plan, check out our website, https://www.globalcallforwarding.com/. And, contact us today to get your Kentucky virtual phone numbers.

Is Your Virtual Number Provider Big on Credibility? How to Tell if You’re Getting the Best Services

Checking the credibility of a business or provider is an important step in building a long-lasting working relationship with any organization. Though most companies can look good on a TV commercial, sales brochure, or other marketing collateral, these types of materials most often only provide the consumer with a snippet of positive information. Truly getting to know an organization and the people who run the organization requires research, observation, and time. Building a relationship with an organization and learning about the people, products, and track record of the business will increase the likelihood that you will get what you paid for.

For example, many businesses are turning to virtual phone numbers for their communications. Is your virtual number provider big on credibility? How to tell if you’re getting the best services involves some time investment, but it’s well worth it. Here are a few ways:

Reach out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The Better Business Bureau exists in order to help maintain an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust one another and consumers are able to have confidence in the companies they choose to do business with. Checking with the Better Business Bureau to verify the credentials for a business prior to purchasing any products, using any services, or entering any kind of business agreement with the company helps in establishing a trustworthy and solid relationship.

Search for and Read Consumer Reviews

Reading what others think about a company is easier than ever, thanks to the Internet. Many people share their experiences whether they are good or bad, provide ratings and comments, and even provide when specific inquiries are posted. This can be very helpful when doing your due diligence to determine if a company is credible.

Ask for Feedback From Family and Friends

Reaching out to ask family members, friends, and neighbors about a particular organization prior to scheduling a service or purchasing a product or service can help to narrow down the businesses that you should do business with and which ones you shouldn’t. Your family and friends will typically know the quality you expect, so having these types of conversations with people you already trust can save you money and time.

Access Consumer Reports

Reading consumer reports to learn more about companies is one of the oldest and most widely trusted sources when it comes to learning about products prior to buying something. This is the same when you are purchasing a service and looking into a company. So, when determining credibility, going to consumer reports as a reference is an obvious choice. Looking for basic information on the Consumer Reports website, www.consumerreports.org, you have the option to subscribe to the service for specific ratings and other important information. Subscribers are also able to take advantage of online discussion forums to converse with others about products and services, ask questions, read reviews, and share reviews of their own.

How to Tell if You’re Getting the Best Services
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Other Ways to Learn About a Business Include:

Google Searches

When almost anyone has a question about anything these days, they turn to Google. Putting the company name into a Google search will help you discover a plethora of things, from reviews to feedback pages to articles mentioning the company and more. The trick is to decipher which sources are credible or not, so don’t automatically believe everything that comes up in your search. Read up on the company from multiple sources and draw your own conclusions from what you gather.

Check the Company’s Website

It is fairly easy for anyone to put up a webpage, so the fact that a company has a website is not the only determining factor in figuring out if they are credible and legitimate or not. Check to see that contact information listed on the website is accurate. If there is no way to contact a company, that is typically a red flag. You can look up registration information for the web address using a website called who.is.

Ensure Modes of Payment Offered Are Secure

Another important determining factor is whether the company offers secure modes of payment. PayPal and Google Pay are a couple of commonly used secure modes of payment. A truly legitimate company will offer these types of options because they know it offers the customer an extra layer of protection and confidence in the organization.

Before deciding on a virtual number provider or any other type of company you need to do business with, it is important to do some research and look to ensure that the company is big on credibility. This will help you to trust the company and support a solid relationship between you and the organization.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs in 2019

Entrepreneurs are business owners who design, operate, and launch businesses. They usually dump their 9-to-5 jobs to pursue an idea that they believe in. It’s not an easy or glamorous job; it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and grit to build a business from the bottom up. That is why it can be so inspiring when you meet someone who has worked very hard and taken their business to new levels of success. Read on and get inspired by these young entrepreneurs that you will most certainly be seeing more of this coming year.

Entrepreneurs to watch in 2019

1. Leigh-Kathryn Bonner

Bonner, 25, decided that instead of sitting around and worrying about the declining population of bees in the world, she would do something about it. So she did. She is now the owner of Bee Downtown, a company that installs honey beehives in urban areas. She has installed beehives in the corporate headquarters of Burt’s Bees, Chick-Fil-A, IBM, Delta, and Intercontinental Exchange. Bonner is a fourth-generation beekeeper and decided that, after studying abroad, that she needed to be concerned about the alarming rate that the bee population is declining. She decided that she could approach the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC and pitch the idea to place a beehive on the top of their building. The owner of the company liked the idea so much that he introduced her to Burt’s Bees and the rest isn’t quite history. She decided to keep running the business on the side as she finished her schooling. Upon graduation, she was offered a job. Instead of taking the job she pursued her business idea full time and with a loan of $15,000 from her parents she was able to take her business to where it is today.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs
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2. Jobert Abma and Michiel Prins

These two self-taught hackers are the creators of HackerOne. Their company helps businesses by finding security vulnerabilities and keeping cyber threats at bay. The company is based in San Francisco and run by the pair of childhood friends whose customer base is stacked with top corporations such as Starbucks, Airbnb, General Motors, and Twitter. They got their first contract job at Facebook by diving deep into the messaging application for Facebook and finding a bug. They were immediately invited to a social event by the group and given jobs. Once they secured their contract at Facebook, they decided to target other large companies they wished to work for and found cybersecurity bugs in their websites and before long they found themselves with a stacked clientele base.

3. Siqi Mou

Siqi Mou is the 29-year-old creator of HelloAva, an automated chatbot that can help you pinpoint the problems in your skin and curate a list best suited to fight your skin blemishes. Mou suffered from acne for the majority of her life. While she was formerly a news anchor in Indonesia, she was offered an opportunity to star in an ad. However, the advertisement was for a skincare product, before she agreed to do the ad, she looked up the harsh chemical ingredients in the products and got very annoyed. Her dissatisfaction with the commercial skincare products out today birthed the idea she had for HelloAva. Now users can consult with an aesthetician online and receive recommendations for products that are good for the skin.

4. Camille Baker

Pull Up a Seat offers foodies a chance to satisfy their cravings and allows businesses like bakeries, a way to reach broad and local audiences. Baker created this platform so that chefs could spend more time working on their food rather than using up so much time on creating a website and marketing. Now the food vendors can list their businesses on the site, and the foodies will come.

5. Krisna Bhargava

Krisna Bhargava was a Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California when he came up with the idea to create his business, ReoLab. He got the idea for the company when he realized that the tools that were used to run medical tests in hospitals were not as capable as they had the potential to be. These tests could take days at a time for results when people who were medical danger didn’t have that kind of time. He decided that by shrinking a testing lab to the size of a shoebox, he could have results that were ready in an hour. With some help from his peers and mentors, he has been able to gain funding for his idea which he has dubbed “like a Keurig machine for diagnostic tests.”

Many inspiring entrepreneurs make names for themselves each year. Why not be next?

Global Call Forwarding provides is the  most trusted Provider of Virtual Phone Numbers, Outbound Calling, VoIP, SMS and Call Recording.