When a customer is interested in a product or service, he or she will find a way to contact the business or enterprise offering it.
This is why, for a business owner, getting a corporate cell phone plan is crucial to ensure that every potential customer is served. Being able to communicate well and answer every customer’s needs and wants can contribute a lot to boosting your business sales and increasing as well as maintaining the number of your most loyal patrons.
But how do you know which mobile phone business plan will benefit your company the most?
Even with so many phone plan providers trying to convince you with eye-catching ads and offers, you only need to select one that will give you what you need for your business at a great value. And always keep in mind that your decision will make a huge difference to your company’s bottom line.
To make the process of choosing a business phone plan easier than you anticipate, here’s what you should do:
1. Determine usage
Take a look at your business operations and observe how a mobile phone is used to address communication needs. If mobility is a major concern for your company, getting a phone
business line is a wise choice. But only get a phone plan like this if you’re certain that your business will take full advantage of it.
Company calling habits
Review your company’s past phone bills so that you can have an accurate read on your business calling patterns. Are your calls mostly made across the country or only take place locally? Do you need to have international calls added to your plan?
Knowing switch to at&t deals will greatly assist you in zeroing on on the right business phone package for your establishment.
2. Compare offers
Compare at least three offers from different phone service providers in your location. Evaluate their network coverage, plans, range of services, and whether they offer unlimited services.
Always begin with the datasheet given by service providers. This is a convenient way to compare the number of minutes, price, and data allowances in every level of service they offer. Highlight plans that match your company needs but make sure to read the fine print to check for any extra fees.
Here are key things to consider when comparing offers:
- Coverage – Check the coverage area of your prospective service providers and find out if they include locations where you usually do business. Make sure their coverage isn’t sparse in cities where you spend time with clients to ensure you won’t get spotty service while earning additional roaming charges.
- Local or national – If your business operations usually take place in a local area, consider choosing a smaller local service provider. They tend to have lower rates on data and voice packages and offer more personalized service for companies.
- Security – If it’s anticipated that the business phones will access sensitive data while outside the office, security is an important matter to consider when selecting a service provider. Make sure your chosen provider gives you the ability to keep control over the phone. You should be able to easily erase and protect data in case the person using it leaves the company or the device gets lost.
3. Take advantage of sharing options
There are service providers that offer plans that include a shared pool of minutes which can mean lower costs for the company. However, make sure that your chosen provider can give you individual phone reports. This way, you can monitor where the minutes are actually being used.
4. Negotiate
Do not be afraid to haggle.
While most service providers lay out their pricing in black and white, there may still be room for negotiation regarding your device and plan. You may be able to get discounts on your chosen plan rate, additional phone lines at a lower rate or even a shorter upgrade window to take advantage of new phones during your contract period.
Determine first what services would be most important for your business, and don’t hesitate to ask for them.
Keep an eye on usage
Even if you manage to get a phone plan for your business at lower rates, it’s still important to monitor your company’s usage patterns.
Examine your phone bills periodically to ensure that you’re getting the most value out of your plan. Once you have a pretty good idea of your company’s usage patterns, simply check the total amount each month and see if it all checks out.
Treat your phone plan as a contract and not a permanent commitment. You never know, in the future, you may realize that another phone plan provider can actually give you better service. But if you’re smart, you can always negotiate better rates with your current provider if you are already their valued customer.
Either way, the ball is in your court.