Small business secrets...

"VoIP" stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and means the use of the internet for telephony. It's the basis of many modern phone systems and allows voice calls through well known apps and services.

In unprecedented times such as the COVID-19 pandemic, sharp declines in consumer confidence and decreased sales can threaten all businesses, but small businesses are particularly vulnerable. 

By 2025, BT plans to shut down their traditional telephone lines in favour of IP systems. Many small businesses will have to adjust to this change, in this article we'll go through questions you may have so you can understand this change and how it will affect your business.

For businesses, relying on landline telephony has limits in today’s environment. Landlines are shackled to a location which requires you to physically be there to answer or force you to endure costly call forwarding and diverting charges to enable remote working - not to mention the added expense of engineering visits every time something goes wrong. 

A switch to a VoIP phone system or 'cloud phone' gives you options for working remotely and begs the question - “do I need an office at all?” 

Here are five reasons to ditch your office space and upgrade to a VoIP phone system.

The end of the landline is fast approaching and small businesses will need to find alternatives to traditional telephony. We've complied everything you need to know in regards to the switch-off.  From what Opernreach is doing, along with a run-down of what to expect in 2020.

It's no secret that the hardest year of business trading is usually the first. In fact, 90% of businesses tend to fail. We've compiled tips to help you navigate this and on what to prioritise to ensure you have enough funds, resources and partners to help you through it.

Technology is evolving every year and consumers are usually quick to adopt the latest iPhones. However, companies are slower in the uptake, especially when it comes to upgrading their infrastructure. Sometimes, the reason is existing systems work fine or cutting costs and budget issues.  To stay competitive and survive in the business environment small businesses need to adopt innovations in communication technology. 

Here are a few signs that it may be finally time to upgrade your business phone system.

So, your new website is now live! Your business now has a virtual shop window open to everyone. Now there are some steps to take to make sure the right prospects to visit your site. 

Here are actionable tips to get your website off on the right foot and start generating leads.

As an entrepreneur or sole trader the most important person in your business, is you! You need to be able to reach every call that reaches your business, from identifying business calls to maintaining a work-life balance. A VoIP phone does all that at a fraction of the price.

It may seem like a good starting point, but using a mobile number does not give off the best image of your small business. This is common in the small business community. A study revealed that 86% of small business owners use their personal phone number for business. As your business grows over the years you'll soon start to feel the pain and limitations.

Here is why it's time to stop using a mobile line and how a switch to a digital line or VoIP phone system is a better alternative.