Virtual Phone System by Grasshopper.com

If you’re an entrepreneur like me, then you’re probably always on the go! So how do you stay in touch with your customers? Sure, you could give them your cell phone number and trust that they won’t call you at odd hours. I tried this and was flooded with too many calls at times when I was unavailable, missing out on many possible business opportunities. When customers have your cell phone number, they expect to be able to get a hold of you at anytime. While your customers’ concerns are important, there are times when it is just not possible to answer their questions.

After searching for a solution to my dilemma for awhile, I found this website http://www.grasshopper.com. They offer a Virtual Phone System specifically designed for entrepreneurs like me. I had come across a few other sites that offer similar services, but they could not match the number of options offered, exceptional customer service, and probably most importantly, the pricing! Their phone system is exactly like the voicemail services that businesses spend thousands of dollars to maintain elsewhere. The tools from www.grasshopper.com give your customer the idea that you have a physical location, and even provide you with the option of setting up a toll-free number to further give your small business that big-time feel. There are many choices for setting up numbers and call-routing. You can also set-up a local number, multiple numbers, or port to an existing number. The easy-to-follow guides at www.grasshopper.com showed me how to easily set-up my Virtual Phone System and recommended practices so that I can continue to maximize the tools they offer.

I think the best feature that www.grasshopper.com offers is the ability to set-up a virtual office. I work from home, but also have a network of people who assist in my business operations. With the help of www.grasshopper.com, I was able to set-up extensions in order for customers to reach the appropriate people. For instance, I use an accountant who also works from home, to handle my accounts payable. When someone calls the phone number I set-up through www.grasshopper.com, they are presented with call-menu set of options. If the person calling has a question about whether a bill has been paid or not, the system routes the call to my accountant’s number, as she is the person who handles these matters. I further leverage the technology by giving her a number through Skype, (Click Here to read my article on how to leverage Skype), so that she knows it’s a call concerning one of my matters, and can answer the phone appropriately. I have also set-up a ring down for when someone needs to talk to me. When a customer needs my attention and selects the appropriate option from the menu, the call is first routed to my office phone. If I do not pick up within 5 rings, the call is then routed to my cell phone. Again, if I do not pickup within 5 rings on the cell phone, the call will be routed to ring on my home phone. If I am unavailable to answer any of these three phones for some reason, the person will then be connected to a voicemail service. I even set-up a notification system using www.grasshopper.com to alert me via email or text message when I receive new voicemail.

The variety of tools offered with www.grasshopper.com ’s Virtual Phone System was far greater than similar services I found. They have all my bases covered so that I can quickly and easily take care of my customer’s questions and concerns. I believe that exceptional customer service is the key to operating a successful business; especially for fledgling companies. One customer can make or break you when you’re starting your new business. You want them to know that resolving their issues is your top priority. The customer service provided at www.grasshopper.com sets a great example, and their documentation is exceptional. The few times that I’ve had questions, they have been quick to reply and offer assistance.

Beyond the number of options www.grasshopper.com offers, maybe the most appealing aspect of their service is their pricing. They offer all these services starting at $9.95. This was unbelievable to me, as other sites were offering their services for 3 times this amount. There is no long term contract, you can simply use their tools on a month-to-month basis, and they even offer a 30 day money back guarantee. For all the reasons I have mentioned above, I whole heartedly endorse the services offered at http://www.grasshopper.com.