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WHAT CAN THE TELECOM REVOLUTION DO FOR SALES?
Nothing means more to the health and the bottom line of a small
business than sales. By making your company more accessible to your
customers and enhancing the efficiency of your salespeople,
telecommunications technology can help increase your company
By: Govt.
Nothing means more to the health and the bottom line of a small
business than sales. By making your company more accessible to your
customers and enhancing the efficiency of your salespeople,
telecommunications technology can help increase your company's
sales significantly.
* Toll-free numbers. Once used almost exclusively by large
companies or mail order firms, 800 numbers are now within
easy reach of almost any small business owner. And, as Salt
Lake City-based writer Alan Horowitz explains, toll-free
numbers can definitely increase business.
He cites an AT&T-sponsored study, conducted by an independent
research firm, which found that small business owners attribute an
eight percent increase in their business, on average, to their 800
service. Firms with annual revenues of less than $500,000 said 800
service increased their business more than 10 percent.
Horowitz advises entrepreneurs to seriously consider getting
an 800 number if:
-- Your competitors have 800 numbers.
-- Many of your customers are far enough away to incur toll
charges when calling you, or you want to retain customers
who move away from the area.
-- You want to increase the number of calls from your
customers.
-- You want to improve customer service. An 800 number
encourages your customers to call with questions about your
products or services, which you can answer and then cross-
sell, or complaints -- which you can resolve and thereby
calm them down. Horowitz also suggests using an 800 number
to offer product information and for a quick and easy way to
accept orders -- which spurs demand and encourages impulse
buying.
-- You want to encourage communication with employe....[MORE]
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