Is Internet Phone Service (VoIP) Worth the Switch?

You’ve seen the advertisements. You probably know at least one person who has tried it, but is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a.k.a. Internet phone or digital phone, for you? Let’s face it. Your traditional phone service works pretty well, so why switch? The answer is savings.

Let’s start with the basic monthly plan. The average monthly residential Internet phone plan is approximately $25/month. Business plans are roughly double the residential rate. Usually included within this price are loads of free features like voice mail, call waiting, three way calling, caller id, and call forwarding. Traditional phone service ranges from approximately $15/month to $60/month depending upon add-ons, long distance, taxes, and surcharges. Internet phone service may be for you if you are on the higher end of this scale. Moreover, many cable companies offer Internet phone service as part of a bundled package- Internet, television, and home phone service on one bill. This combination may prove to be very cost effective.

International calls are extremely cheap with Internet phone. Rates can start from around $.02/min., depending upon the destination country. Also, some calls may even be free. For example, if you subscribe to XYZ Internet phone service, and you call a friend overseas who also subscribes to XYZ, the call should be free. You can even take your Internet phone service with you when you travel. If you have a wi-fi Internet phone, you should have service wherever there is a wi-fi hotspot worldwide. Or if you take your hardware with you (i.e. telephone adapter, router, IP phone), you should be able to use your service wherever there is a broadband Internet connection available. Thus, frequent travelers or people with overseas relatives and friends would greatly benefit from Internet phone service.

�Just Google It�

I caught myself using this seemingly overworked phrase�again�in the midst of a sales presentation: �Just Google it.� I have heard this phrase on TV and radio and in conversations with friends�everywhere. And Webster�s has added the new verb �google� to the dictionary!

Why is Google the first name that comes to mind when we think of looking for something?
Classical marketing laws would tell us it�s the �first in market�first in mind� rule. That rule points us to such brands as Coke, Xerox, Kleenex, Lite (Miller), etc.

But we �FedEx� a package now�right? Many other shipping companies were in the market long before FedEx. We �Google it,� not �Yahoo it��or �MSN it��or �Lycos it,� etc. So the first-in-market rule doesn�t seem to hold water in today�s fast-paced, high-tech marketplace.

Consider this modification to the rule:

�The first to make the biggest brand impact and reinforce its image with a great product or service will eventually become first in mind and in market�sometimes.�

OK, that�s better�and note that I left some wiggle room.

How do you keep that initial brand momentum in place?

After being marketed for decades, �Coke� is still used as a generic term. If you ask for a �Lite� and you get a Bud Light, you give the bartender the evil eye. And when we want to look something up�we �Google it.�

Why do some brand impressions last while others fade?

That�s because some companies continue to reinforce their �brand language� with smart marketing and advertising. And it�s because these companies produce very good products that are constantly improved and expanded upon. For businesses of all sizes, here is a list of media we find highly effective:

�Web Site Overhauls�Make your site more compelling and maximize it for strong conversions, by helping customers find what they want, piquing their interest and having calls to action that match their buying habits. Internal and external research has shown that sites in numerous industries fail to achieve core objectives.

�E-mail Campaigns�With a 56/1 ROI, they are the best way to keep in front of prospects as they go through a normal sales cycle.

�Online Advertising and Promotion�PPC, organic SEO, ads, social and viral campaigns�all work extremely well for most products and services.

�Impactful Print and Electronic Media�Echo your brand language and intrigue your prospect base from all marketing challenges.

�Blogs and Online PR�Effectively use blogs and press releases to enhance your �online value� relevant to your industry (which Google loves).

�Trade Show Marketing�This differs from industry to industry, but these shows are a great way to get in front of a large percentage of your target market in a short time frame. Today�s shows are much more interactive and informative than those in the past.

What can businesses of all sizes learn from this?

Create great products or services, and make sure your marketplace is aware of and impressed by your brand. All companies need to continue to effectively promote their brands and their key advantages to their target customers and prospect base. This should be done by a reputable firm or agency through the use of innovative and compelling media and strategies.

– brandsthatsell.com –

Top 5 Reasons to Start Blogging for Your Business Now �and Why You Shouldn�t Wait

Unless you�ve just come online and are new to the way business is done on the Internet, you know how important blogs are� or do you? Here are five reasons you should start a blog for your business now � or maybe a reminder of why it’s important for you to take your business blog seriously.

1. A business blog is a sure-fire way to get found by people searching for your product or service. Search engines index blogs more frequently than static websites.
2. A blog shows your personality, your expertise, and your character; people will hire or buy from you when they feel they trust and like you.
3. A blog showcases your business in a way a website cannot, and is a fast way to get noticed by other people in your field, leading to joint ventures and affiliations.
4. A blog expands your global reach, pulling in qualified prospects you would never have reached before.
5. A blog allows you to interact with readers, get feedback, introduce them to your ideas, and builds relationships, creating customer evangelists who will spread the word about you.

In spite of these great marketing advantages that can result when publishing a blog, many business owners and entrepreneurs hesitate and procrastinate.

Why? Here are some common reasons:
– I won�t know what to write about
– I don�t want to share my personal life
– I don�t have time to learn another web application
– My children use blogs; my colleagues don�t
– Why would anyone want to read about my business?
– I�m not sure it will bring a sufficient return on investment

Many are mislead into thinking a blog is primarily a personal online diary, or for political rants, or for young adults and kids.

What we’re advocating is a Business Blog: one used for creating relationships with prospects, showcasing your expertise, and making it easy for customers and clients to find you and your business.

When used by savvy professionals a business blog increases the likelihood of getting found on the Internet, and helps create credibility and trust like no other online tool.

Blogs are easy to learn, do not require tech skills, and cost only a few dollars a month. Most professionals can learn to set one up in a couple of hours. Writing and finding material to write about requires 20-40 minutes a day. Or, you can hire a professional to set a blog up for you and train you how to use it effectively for your business. Then you spend your time and energy writing short posts, or articles.

World-wide, there are over a billion people using the Internet and that number is growing rapidly. In the US, blog readers are more educated and spend more money online than do non-blog readers.

Does it makes sense to have a blog for your business? We may be biased, but based on our experience, blogs are a terrific tool to help you attract, engage, and inform an audience that wants what you’ve got. It’s time to get started now.

– savvyebiztips.com –