How to find the right VoIP provider for your small business

By Rosana Beechum

You’ve decided to make the switch and unify your communication streams through a VoIP solution. The next choice is choosing which provider to use. There are plenty of options out there, all claiming to be the best in the business. Cutting your way through the noise and picking the right VoIP provider is a difficult task. If you’re struggling in the deep waters, we’re here to lend a hand. Below, we will walk you through essential considerations to keep in mind when navigating the VoIP market.

Understanding VoIP

Before we get into it, you need to understand VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. This technology, which usually uses cloud-based software, allows businesses to run their phone lines completely through the internet. You will have a professional number to front your business and all calls will depend solely on a compatible device and a solid internet connection. Having a VoIP provider will show potential customers that your company knows what it’s doing and can present the illusion of being larger than you are. Through VoIP, you will save time and be a lot more productive, which will bring in a greater annual profit.

Shop around different VoIP providers

There are plenty of options out there, with solutions from giants such as Google and small companies like line2. Whichever you choose, your communications will be unified and encrypted. The differences will come in subscription prices, uptime, and reliability. Fortunately, there are plenty of options and this blog post looks at viable line2 alternatives. Open Phone provides ample VoIP information, plus they have fantastic software that lets you communicate with your team and clients, with the option to create numerous channels. Their VoIP solution is our top pick for line2 alternatives.

Know your communication needs

Before you dive into your search, you need to know exactly what your business needs are. This is because each provider will offer slightly different services at differing subscription prices. Here are the communication needs you need to define:

– Do you need team collaboration tools?

– Are you spread over numerous locations?

– Will your number be local, an international number, or toll-free?

– What is your inbound call quantity? Will you need automated call routing?

– Will you require video conferencing?

– How many outbound calls will you be making?

– Do you need your VoIP solution to integrate with apps like Slack?

There are many questions out need to answer before you choose a new VoIP solution. Once you’ve spent some time defining these, you’re ready to move on with the search.

Assess security and reliability

Your security is important, especially when it comes to cloud solutions. Even if your chosen VoIP suit qualifies your business needs, you need to scrutinize it for security. When you make calls over VoIP, your data becomes vulnerable to cybercriminals. One of the best defenses is to ensure that your chosen provider uses quality encryption. This means that your data is scrambled through the internet and the only people able to read communications are the sender and recipient.

Check community reviews

Like when choosing new technology, you need to look at reviews. You can find reviews by running a simple Google search. Typically, you need to find out about reliability, security, and customer service. It’s all well and good a VoIP claiming that they offer the relevant services, but if they can’t deliver, you’re wasting your money.

Search for call continuity

If your business relies heavily on making and receiving calls, you need to ensure that there are contingency plans in the event of server failure. The best way to do this is to find a VoIP provider with numerous server locations. The best VoIP providers will offer continuity that will cover you if your internet fails. These questions should form part of your business continuity plan.

Ask about uptime

On the topic of continuity, you should inquire about uptime. This simply refers to the percentage of time their service is available. If a VoIP provider is confident in their powers, they will have no issue in providing you with figures from the previous quarter. For best practices, you should find a VoIP solution that can surpass their customer promises.

Examine the price plans

VoIP provider subscription and installation costs will vary considerably. As you’ll know – “you get what you pay for”. Although you may find cheap options out there, they may not be the most reliable or secure. Investing in a quality VoIP provider will make or break your positive customer image, which will take a long time to build up.

Using a VoIP solution is important for your business, no matter what size it is. There are hundreds of options on the market, and you need to know how to cut through the clutter. With the considerations above, you will have covered your bases and be ready to make the decision.

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Rosana Beechum is committed to helping small business leaders to understand the ever-evolving corporate landscape and adapt to the developments they notice in their market.

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