Phone System - Part 2

Last week in "How About a Phone System for the Little Guy" I talked about Microsoft Responsepoint, the new Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone system for small and medium business. It has the blue Responsepoint button that, when pushed, responds to your voice commands. It also has a built-in auto attendant, voicemail capabilities, and even the ability to convert your voicemails automatically to emails to send to your email account.

What I didn't tell you at the time was that this system has the ability to accept regular telephone lines (POTS) or VOIP inbound lines. By signing up with various VOIP carriers, you can keep your existing telephone numbers, and send both your inbound and outbound phone calls over your business internet connection. This allows you to save bundles of money on long distance charges, among other things. Now, you may have tried VOIP calls in the past, or even used it on your pc. But this is not the old voip. This is business class service. I've been using it in my business for all phone operations for the last nine months. The trick is you have to find the right carrier.

My carrier of choice is New Global Telecom. NGT does voip right, by installing a special router at your business location to make sure the phone traffic is routed correctly overy your internet connection. They constantly monitor the connection, and can even forward the calls automatically to another number (your cell phone, for example) if your internet connection ges down.

If you want to save money on your long distance phone bill, and have all the features of a business class phone system, without the huge expense, Response Point and NGT may be for you.

To your success,

Tim

Need a Company Logo, But Can't Afford It?

The other day I ran into a post on a forum I frequent. The poster was asking what the other small business owners did in regards to having a logo created. One of the answers was to utilize the power of the web.

99 Designs is a website created for the mutual benifit for all parties. It brings the designers of the World in contact with small, medium, and for that matter, Fortune 100 companies. For a fee of $39 dollars (or credits as they call them) anyone can start a contest, describe what you are looking for in a logo, a website, business card, letterhead, etc., post a prize amount, then sit back and watch the magic happen! 99 Designs uses the power of "crowdsourcing" to get maximum imput for your design.

What is crowdsourcing you ask? It's the power of sourcing skills, in this case design skills, from a group of people. In this instance, the group of people who are members of 99 Designs. Contests run for 7 days (or shorter if you find what you want and award the prize sooner), then you choose the best design, pay the designer, get the copyright, and you have a new logo!

I used 99 Designs to design a new company logo for my company, Networthy Systems. I had hundreds of submissions. One tidbit of advice: if you truly want designers to participate, you need to continously rank the designs, and leave lots of feedback for each designer. They like feedback, good AND bad. If you don't like the design, tell them!

I got a wonderful logo for $325.00 US. I had a hard time choosing between some of them, so I offered a lesser amount to some of the runner-ups, and secured those logos as well.

So, if you need a new look for your company, but can't afford thousands of dollars, give 99Designs a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

To your Success,

Tim

Are you a PC?

Last month I told you I was in Seattle mixing with the SMB partners and Microsoft types. While there, Microsoft VP Cindy Bates shared with us the new "I'm a pc" advertising campaign. Microsoft has put together a site where visitors can view and even create their own "I'm a pc" commercial. I must admit, we "pc" types are a very creative lot. Click here to see some of the "I'm a pc" uploads, and hey, if you want to make one of your own, I won't tell! You might just find mine if you look hard enough!

To your success,

Tim

How about a Phone System for the Little Guy?

Microsoft released its entry into the smb telephone marketplace about 9 months ago. Responsepoint is the first affordable telephone system that runs on your own computer network, integrates with Microsoft Small Business Server, and has a simplified form of Unified Messaging. It also integrates with your Outlook Contacts, so when one of your contacts calls, it pops up on your screen with the contact's information.

But here's the best part: When you are ready to make a call to one of those contacts, you simply press the Responsepoint blue button on the unit (we like to call it the Magic button) and simply speak the name of your contact. Voila, the phone dials your contact for you!

I have been using this system in our office for over 6 months now, and I have to say, I fired my telephone guy. It's just too easy to configure yourself. Automated attendant, voicemail, no answer call forward, voicemail conversion to email, it's got it all! If you want to know more, there is more info here.

To your success,

Tim

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