How virtual numbers give start-ups a head start

While your product or service is important, for a startup to consistently grow, you will also need to manage your business expenses. Instead of spending needlessly on legacy phone systems, you can significantly reduce your initial investments and recurring expenses by using a virtual phone number.

But that’s not all it offers. With a virtual phone number, your communication system will make you look professional and give you all the value-added features that larger corporations use. With the right product or service, now your startup will be able to go global.

What is a virtual number?

A virtual phone number is an internet-based number that’s hosted on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Unlike the traditional phone systems, a virtual phone number uses the internet to make and receive calls. This means that virtual numbers are delinked from any location. You can use them anywhere in the world.

You also don’t need to buy a device for your virtual phone number. Once you download the app, it can run on your existing phone, laptop or tablet. This makes virtual numbers essential for startups. Here are four ways in which a virtual number can help your startup compete with the big boys.

Significant cost reductions

With a conventional phone system, you have to spend on the hardware and any other systems you might need. But you don’t have to buy a new smartphone to use a virtual phone number. You also don’t have to get a new SIM. These are considerable savings once you understand the rising price of smartphones.

Other than the initial investments, traditional phone lines also have high recurring expenses. The plans may not suit your startup’s needs as you may not have enough team members in the initial phase. Virtual phone numbers offer affordable subscription plans suited for the financially sensitive needs of startups.

Global customer reach

Your market needn’t be restricted to your region or country anymore. Customers are reluctant to make international calls and engage with companies they perceive to be based elsewhere. Business leads are also less likely to get in touch with you if they think you’re based in a different country.

But a virtual phone number can enable your startup to have a local presence since all it would take is for you to get a virtual number of the country. So, if you are a UK business, your US customers can be given a US virtual number to call you. In other words, you can reach a global audience with a virtual phone number. That’s what makes you a truly global operation.

Better brand equity

In a digitalised world, impressions are made before individuals or companies directly meet. They are made at the first point of contact. When a customer or client calls you, a virtual phone number will make your business seem bigger and better.

With features such as call queuing, a professional voicemail, call forwarding, call routing and auto-reply, your startup will have better brand equity. The caller will understand that any business that has such advanced systems is trustworthy.

Professional image

As an entrepreneur, you might be expected to travel abroad frequently. When you’re in a foreign country and an opportunity comes up, a virtual phone number is the right solution. It will let you call using local numbers, which will get your local leads to trust you more.

This will make your startup look like it has offices and personnel everywhere. That will go a long way in helping clients from other countries to engage in business with you.

The benefits of getting a virtual phone number from Chalkboard

Why are more business owners shifting to virtual phone numbers? Because they provide a host of demonstrable benefits:

Separate work and personal

Your Chalkboard virtual number allows you to have a dedicated phone number for your business, separate from your personal number. You can easily switch between work and personal calls, without having to use two different devices and without the hassle of sharing your personal number. This is perfect for small business owners, entrepreneurs and remote workers who need a virtual mobile number solely for work.

Easily manage business calls

With a virtual phone number, you can set up custom voicemail greetings, forward calls to multiple devices and even have multiple numbers for different departments within your business.

Easy to set up

A traditional phone system requires devices, additional hardware and a physical network. Even if you use mobile phones for business, you need separate SIMs or devices. All these are expensive and cumbersome.

A virtual mobile phone number is like any other app that you can download on your smartphone – they are exceptionally easy to set up and don’t require any outside help.

Lower costs

Virtual phone numbers don’t require additional devices, making them extremely cost-effective, especially for local businesses, startups and freelancers.

By opting for a virtual phone number, you will make significant savings if your business involves long-distance or international calls. Thanks to Chalkboard’s subscription structure, you’ll never pay for extra features – all the features you need from a virtual phone number are available as standard for a fixed monthly fee.

Unified communications

A virtual phone number will help you to unify your business communication. All your employees, no matter where they are, can share the same number. This creates the impression of a unified office to customers.

Mobility

A virtual mobile number for business gives you the freedom to take calls from anywhere. Whether you’re in the office, at home or on the move, as long as you have a reliable internet connection, you will be available to your customers and team members.

With remote and hybrid work more common than ever before, your distributed team can function as a cohesive unit. And if you’re a digital-first business, you may not need an office if you can unify work and communication. Not to mention, it’s much easier to hire people when your system is remote-friendly.

Mobile numbers

You can use virtual mobile numbers as an alternative to using personal numbers for business. The mobile number will let you make and receive phone calls on your mobile phone or cellphone using a virtual number that looks like a regular mobile phone number.

Scalability

When starting a business, you should have a clear idea about the number of phone lines you need. Similarly, before expanding your small business, you may not think much about the additional lines your business will require. When you do need an additional number, the process will be significantly easier if you have a virtual phone number.

There’s no need to buy additional devices and hardware and worry about their installation.