CloudPhone Blog

Whether you’re venturing out as an independent consultant, opening a small retail shop or starting the next billion-dollar brand from your garage, there are a few things every startup should be doing to maximize their business from the get-go – and the wonderful thing is they are all basically free and take only a few minutes to set up…

Website

It should go without saying that these days every business should have a well thought out website, but you can save creating your ultimate vision until your business is up and running – but to start, consider a quick and dirty template-based website with free hosting. There are several companies that offer free websites for business including, AwardSpace and Infinity Free, each with DIY website builders and domain name registries. For now, all you need is a page that announces your business and gives people the ways to contact you – which brings us to hack two...

Business Phone Number and Answering Service

Three big reasons you want to get a service like Voxox Cloud Phone. First, you don’t want to give out your home/cell number as your business number for both privacy reasons and to help keep your sanity and work-life balance intact. Second, getting a local number in the area code of your choice (or toll-free) can help you create a successful image immediately – imagine having a consulting firm with a Manhattan or Washington DC area code. And finally having auto-attendant features such as automatic call answering, hold music and routing (“dial 1 to speak to sales”) immediately gives a professional image to a caller and makes it easy to add more lines as your business grows. Cloud Phone is the most affordable out there and comes with a 30 day free trial.

Google Local Listing

Now that you’ve got your website and business phone number you want to list your business with Google Local – this will make sure it gets found by people searching for your business or service. It’s easy and free to setup. Just head to Google’s My Business site to get started.

Facebook Business Page

You can worry about all the other social media avenues later, but just like a standard website, every business should at least have a Facebook page. Not only does this serve as an advertising opportunity, but it is one of the top ways people connect with the businesses they are interested in. For now you only need to have some basic information and some catchy photos to get started, but it’s important you get your business page name registered with Facebook as, like the highlander, there can be only one.

A Big List

At some point you will start to market to potential customers, but before you can market to them, you need to collect and organize their info. You may not be in the market for a Salesforce Enterprise plan yet, but a free HubSpot CRM account will go a long way in getting you started down the right path. You can even use their form plugins to start asking for email addresses when people visit your site or Facebook page, or even just do it the old fashioned way be asking people for their business card.

Did you have any other ideas, tips or questions? Share them with us via comment below or on the Voxox social channels.

The toll free number has evolved over the years from a novelty during the days when AT&T had a monopoly on them in the 1960s, to the ubiquitous customer service and marketing tool it is today. But the world has changed. Modern customers often aren’t as concerned with who is going to pay for a call, especially with many home phone plans now including long distance and mobile phones which will ding them for minutes no matter where the call is ending up. So it begs the question: are toll free 800 phone numbers still relevant today?

The early days

From the creation of 800 numbers in the 1960s to the 1980s AT&T held a monopoly on them, and charged a premium many times those of regular calls for the service. Fortunately that came to an end in 1982 when the monopoly that was “Ma Bell” was divided into more seven independent companies. The ensuing competition for long-distance rates, including 800 numbers, drove rates down. This opened the door for businesses that previously could not afford 800 phone numbers and many adopted them as a standard business practice.

Following the breakup is also when the vanity number cropped up. Customers could now select their phone number associated to numeric keypad codes and with it unforgettable corporate numbers. This innovation changed the way businesses marketed phone numbers forever. 800 phone numbers became so popular and such an accepted business practice, that by the late 1990s there were none left and thus the creation of 888, 877, 866, and, most recently in 2010, 855 numbers were introduced to meet growing demand.

The year 2000 and beyond

While the Internet age has delivered a multitude of voice options for consumers including various VoIP offerings and the growth of mobile phone usage has changed our communication patterns and business landscape, the need for toll free numbers is still present today. Even though the draw of the toll free number has less to do with cost to the consumer than in the old days thanks to the unlimited phone plans of today, toll free numbers still offer the perception of reliable customer service. They offer a professional image for businesses, as well as the ability to appear larger, either in size or geographic scope. This is especially important for businesses looking to represent themselves across various cities and states, but also for the smallest businesses who want to appear larger and more established. That combined with the advances in technology that allow for call forwarding with the aid of a virtual assistant make it an essential business tool even in today’s mobile world.

What’s next?

Some have even speculated that we may see 1-800 data in the future, where customers will avoid costly data usage to glean customer support via the web. We will have a front row seat to that debate, which is sure to continue. One thing is for sure, there is no replacement for talking to a live human being, whether that dialogue kicks off with a web search or not, you will want to make sure you have all the bases covered. Customers expect to be able to contact you in their preferred mode of communication and for some that still means picking up a phone and calling someone. For many businesses, offering 800 phone numbers means projecting a professional, larger appearance while also giving them the ability to pair it with many modern conveniences to route calls.

So yes, they are still relevant today, for many reasons. Wondering if you need a toll free number? Visit our recent post to learn more, 4 Ways to Gauge Whether You Need a Toll Free Number.

SMS helps you grow your business by instantly connecting you with the people you need to reach when you need to reach them. While other forms of communication, like phone calls and email, certainly have their spot in the business communications roster, it’s time to make SMS a front-runner and here are some stats that will push you to take the leap.

We just published a brand new post on the Voxox blog with a slew of stats on SMS effectiveness that will show you where texting can make a difference for your business.

Did you know that you can send and receive text messages with your Voxox Cloud Phone number? Using SMS through your virtual phone system keeps your personal messages and your business messages separate. Getting started with business SMS is super easy (here’s how).

We are excited to share that our Cloud Phone service is now supporting two-way SMS for toll free numbers!  Not only that, but Cloud Phone customers will also get complimentary SMS that they can use with their toll free numbers. It's an awesome deal - check out our announcement here.

Today we're at ITEXPO in Miami and we've just announced that our Cloud Phone product line is growing with the addition of Cloud Phone Pro. A hosted VoIP solution, Cloud Phone Pro is perfect for SMBs and larger businesses seeking to liberate themselves from the extra costs and limitations of on-premise telephony services. With Cloud Phone Pro, business owners can take advantage of hosted features such as worldwide DIDs, call recording, call queuing and advanced connection rules, conference bridges and much more.

You might ask - what's the difference between Cloud Phone and Cloud Phone Pro?  Cloud Phone is our award-winning virtual PBX service that small businesses can use to complement their current phone service and equipment. Cloud Phone Pro is designed for organizations that want a fully hosted solution that can replace their existing phone service but allow them to continue to use phones they have purchased from vendors.

Check out our official press release (below) for more details on Cloud Phone Pro. For those of you attending ITExpo in Miami this week, stop by and visit us (Booth #904) to see our Cloud Phone Pro demo. 

Voxox Announces Cloud Phone Pro Hosted VoIP Solution

Customizable PBX service enables any size business to minimize telecom expenses and maximize productivity with worldwide DIDs, business continuity, SIP trunking, voicemail transcription and more

SAN DIEGO & MIAMI – ITEXPO, Booth No. 904 – January 28, 2015– Voxox®, the most comprehensive cloud-based rich communication service for consumers and businesses, today announced that its award-winning Cloud Phone product line will include Cloud Phone Pro, a hosted VoIP solution. Cloud Phone Pro is ideal for small, medium and large businesses seeking to shed the cost and limitations of on-premise telephony services and take advantage of hosted features, such as worldwide DIDs, call recording, call queuing, conference bridges and more. Voxox is demonstrating Cloud Phone Pro at ITExpo in Miami, Florida at booth No. 904.

Cloud Phone Pro builds on the success of Cloud Phone, an award-winning virtual PBX service that small businesses can use to complement their current phone service and equipment. Cloud Phone Pro is designed for organizations that want a fully hosted solution that can replace their existing phone service but allow them to continue to use phones they have purchased from vendors.

Cloud Phone Pro features all of the benefits that hosted telephony services traditionally provide, including lower capital and operational expenses, cost-effective scalability, and access to cutting-edge features that are not immediately available with on-premise solutions. Cloud Phone Pro then goes further to offer businesses industry-exclusive benefits such as:

• An intuitive user interface that enables employees to quickly master all of Cloud Phone Pro’s features. That simplicity maximizes their productivity and responsiveness to colleagues and customers, all of which ensures that businesses get the most out of their Cloud Phone Pro service.
• Savings beyond what other hosted VoIP providers can offer. Voxox’s CLEC operations and innovative service delivery platform enable the company to avoid licensing fees that other providers have to pay – and then pass along the savings to their customers. Voxox also lets businesses pay a nominal fee per extension and then add only as many metered or unlimited channels (lines) as they need. Most other providers require customers to get a line for every extension, which is not cost-effective for businesses that need just a few lines.
• Local support and training. Cloud Phone Pro is backed by Voxox’s nationwide network of partners, which offers customers personalized support and training in addition to the technology and service.

“Cloud Phone Pro is the latest example of Voxox’s commitment to providing communications solutions that give businesses and consumers incredible value and convenient new ways to connect,” said Bryan Hertz, CEO of Voxox. “Cloud Phone Pro is ideal for small offices with just a few employees, large enterprises and every organization in between that wants the ultimate in features, performance and support – and at a fraction of the cost of other hosted services and on-premise solutions.” 

The Cloud Phone product line initially launched in February 2014 with its virtual PBX service and has earned accolades, such as the top slot for GetVoIP’s Top 10 Rising Stars, a TMCnet Communications Solutions Product of the Year Award, a TMCnet IT Labs Innovation Award, and the Stratus Awards by the Business Intelligence Group.

ITExpo attendees can visit Voxox at booth No. 904 to see a demo of Cloud Phone Pro. For more information, please visit www.cloudphone.com.

About Voxox

Voxox is an innovator in unified cloud communication solutions for consumers and businesses. For consumers and its operator partners, Voxox delivers cutting-edge mobile and desktop applications that integrate voice, video, messaging, fax, media sharing and more. For businesses, Voxox provides an extensive suite of carrier-grade business phone solutions, including hosted IP-PBX, SIP Trunking, a wide array of wholesale services, such as high volume SMS, and the company's new virtual PBX service, Cloud Phone. The foundation of the company's offerings is its award-winning unified communications platform in the cloud, which enables the company and its customers to build powerful, scalable applications and services. Founded in 2006, Voxox is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit http://www.voxox.com.

We just got a really cool recognition from ChannelProSMB - Voxox was named a "Vendor on the Vanguard 2016" in the Unified Communications category, and one key reason is Voxox Cloud Phone!

ChannelProSMB compiles an annual list of "lesser-known innovators you may not have heard of yet, but will be glad to know better" based on the suggestions of analysts and industry influencers. The list is published in the ChannelProSMB March 2016 print issue cover story, which highlights 2-3 companies per industry category. Voxox is on p.24. Here's a quote:

"Voxox Cloud Phone enables cash-strapped businesses to turn a collection of iPhone and Android devices into a robust business telephony system at an affordable cost."

Here's a link to our page in the digital issue of the magazine and our official press release is below:

Voxox Recognized in ChannelPro-SMB's Annual Vendors on the Vanguard List for Innovation

Voxox Cloud Phone featured as major reason for company making prestigious innovation list in channel community

SAN DIEGO – March 22, 2016 – Voxox®, the most comprehensive unified communications Platform as a Service company, today announced that the company was named a "Vendor on the Vanguard 2016" in the Unified Communications category by ChannelPro Network, part of EH Publishing Inc. ChannelPro Network's editorial staff compiles an annual list of "lesser-known innovators you may not have heard of yet, but will be glad to know better" based on the suggestions of analysts and other industry influencers. This list, which is well-respected in the channel community, highlights two to three companies per industry category and is published in the ChannelPro-SMB March 2016 print issue as the cover story. 

Voxox is featured on p.24 specifically for its innovation related to its Cloud Phone service. According to the article by the editors of ChannelPro-SMB, "Voxox Cloud Phone enables cash-strapped businesses to turn a collection of iPhone and Android devices into a robust business telephony system at an affordable cost."

"We are thrilled to be recognized in this prestigious list of innovators in the channel community," said Bryan Hertz, CEO and co-founder of Voxox. "Cloud Phone continues to delight customers and partners with its refreshing user experience, convenient features and affordability. It has gained momentum as an instrumental communications tool for the smallest of businesses and this honor, along with other awards and designations, validates Cloud Phone's role in the market."

This recognition comes on the heels of Voxox's recent announcement in regards to its major end-of-quarter channel sales promotions, including its 200 percent spiff for Hosted PBX and SIP trunking deals turned in before March 31, 2016, and wholesale SMS discounts. For more details, channel partners can contact their Voxox channel managers.

For more information on Voxox business solutions, please visit www.voxox.com/business. Sign up for Cloud Phone at www.cloudphone.com.

About Voxox

Voxox is an innovator in unified cloud communication solutions for consumers and businesses. The foundation of the company's offerings is its award-winning unified communications Platform as a Service, which enables the company and its customers to build powerful, scalable applications and services. For consumers and service provider partners, Voxox delivers cutting-edge mobile and desktop applications that integrate voice, video, messaging, fax, media sharing and more. For businesses, Voxox provides an extensive suite of carrier-grade business phone solutions, including hosted IP-PBX, SIP Trunking, a wide array of wholesale services, such as high volume SMS, and the company's new virtual PBX service, Cloud Phone. Voxox is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit http://www.voxox.com.

We are excited to announce that Cloud Phone now includes free business texting for all of its calling plan subscribers. This is particularly awesome because many popular virtual PBX services do not offer two-way texting for free within their monthly calling plans. We are including between 1,000 and 5,000 monthly text messages at no additional charge for Cloud Phone customers because we want to provide the best business value. 

Check out our full press release below:

Voxox Cloud Phone Adds Free Two-Way Business Texting Across U.S. and Canada for Customers with Paid Monthly Calling Plans
Two-way SMS is typically not included without additional cost with popular virtual PBX services, differentiating Cloud Phone for its business value
SAN DIEGO – October 5, 2016 – Voxox®, innovator in cloud communication solutions for businesses with the most comprehensive Unified Communications Platform as a Service, today announced that it has included two-way texting at no additional cost for all customers subscribed to Cloud Phone, the cloud-based virtual phone system for entrepreneurs and very small businesses. The paid subscription plans, which range from 1,000 to 5,000 minutes per month, will now also include between 1,000 to 5,000 free text messages per month, depending on the plan. Popular virtual PBX services typically do not include two-way texting within their monthly calling plans without extra charges or fees. The inclusion of free SMS for Cloud Phone customers is in line with Voxox's strategy to differentiate its services by providing the best business value. 
"Two-way SMS has been our most requested feature for Cloud Phone with 60 percent of customers indicating in surveys their desire to add business texting to their accounts," said Bryan Hertz, CEO and co-founder of Voxox. "Not only did we add the feature but we also included it for free with all Cloud Phone calling plans, which is unorthodox in our space. Our goal with Cloud Phone is to disrupt the marketplace with innovative features and unique offers that empower micro-businesses."                                                                                                                                            
Cloud Phone enables “micro-businesses” (businesses that operate on a very small scale), as well as individuals and small organizations seeking a business-grade telephone presence, to easily obtain local and toll free numbers that support up to 25 extensions and advanced call routing capabilities. With Cloud Phone, users can place and receive calls, manage call activity, access features such as voicemail transcription, call recording, device transfer, faxing, and much more -- all within a sleek, elegant design. No special equipment or advanced skills are necessary to use Cloud Phone. Once a Do It Yourself (DIY) set-up is completed online, all that a user needs is a calling device (e.g., mobile or landline phone) to which calls can be routed. The effortless user experience and set-up process, which can be completed in less than a minute, along with highly competitive global calling rates and exceptional call quality, are key differentiators as compared to alternative solutions.
Cloud Phone comes with a complementary mobile app for iOS and Android. The Cloud Phone mobile app leverages Voxox's new breakthrough VoIP codec, a technology used to encode and compress voice signals into digital form for transmission. This is particularly significant for small businesses with a disbursed or traveling workforce, as the codec dramatically improves voice quality in poor bandwidth settings, such as hotels, convention centers, rural locations, etc. To hear the dramatic difference visit, www.voxox.com/codecdemo.
Apart from two-way business texting available through Cloud Phone, Voxox also offers wholesale SMS services for text-enabling business communications through a web service API. More information available at http://www.voxox.com/business/sms.
To sign up for Cloud Phone, please visit www.cloudphone.com.
About Voxox
Voxox is an innovator in unified cloud communication solutions for businesses. The foundation of the company's offerings is its award-winning unified communications Platform as a Service, which enables the company and its customers to build powerful, scalable applications and services. For end-users, Voxox provides an extensive suite of carrier-grade business phone solutions, including its flagship business app, Cloud Phone, as well as SIP Trunking, hosted PBX, and a wide array of wholesale services, such as high volume SMS. For service provider partners, Voxox delivers cutting-edge mobile and desktop applications that integrate voice, video, messaging, fax, media sharing and more. Voxox is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit http://www.voxox.com.