11 Lean Business Uses For VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)

Ways You Can Use The Internet To Lower The Cost Making and Taking Calls

Here at www.LeanMarketing.co.uk we’re always looking for ways to run and market a business that cost us less. VoIP is just one of the many tools we use to lower our operating costs.

For the last year or so, we’ve been using VoIP technology to dramatically reduce our telephone call charges. In particular we use Skype, but the following article applies across the majority of available VoIP technologies (of which I’ve listed some at the end of this article).

What Is VOIP?

Called VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), it lets people use the Internet to make free (or at least very cheap) phone calls around the world. You need a computer, Internet access (broadband is best) and the software (links at the end of this article) downloaded in order to benefit.

11 Ways Lean Marketers Can Make The Best Use of VoIP…

1. Make FREE calls – encourage everyone you talk to regularly to download the same software that you use. That way you can make free calls to each other. No cost at all! This is especially great if you work the way we do with partner companies instead of staff.
2. Make Low Cost Calls – for those people who won’t or can’t download the software or perhaps they’re not at their desk, then do VOIP-OUT – ie use your VOIP to call them. It is almost always cheaper than normal telecoms providers and is often cheaper than the low cost providers too (but do check first!)
3. Get A Geographically Local Number – Make life easier (and cheaper) for your clients by getting very low cost geographically local numbers in their areas. You could have one in Birmingham (UK) and one in Chicago (USA) even though you’re based somewhere entirely different – like Spain!
4. Answer Calls Anywhere in The World – You may know that I’ve opened an office in Spain (and now I live in Spain too) – well we still have our 0870 number, but we also have a UK number. If you call us, then I might answer in Spain or Joe might answer in the UK – you still only pay your local rate for the call.
5. Get a Free Answer Machine – that you can listen to the messages to wherever you happen to be. All you need is Internet access and you can pick up all your messages – for free.
6. Forward Calls to Real Phones – even I don’t sit at my desk all day every day! You can set your VOIP number to call through to a real phone – perhaps your mobile, that way you can be out and about and still get your calls.
7. Tell All Your Colleagues – help them save money too – be the hero!
8. Have a Conference call – for FREE. With many of the VOIP providers conference calls are easy to do and free if you all have the software.
9. Never Have To Change Your Business Number Again – for any small business the risk involved when changing contact details is huge. With the VOIP providers, one number can follow you literally anywhere in the world.
10. Use Your Pocket PC To Make Calls – now I know most of us have mobile phones, but VOIP calls can be much cheaper – and how cool would you look?

Make Cheap Calls From Airplanes – I’ve never tried this myself, I usually like to escape when I’m on a plane, but you can make calls using VOIP at considerably lower costs.

So What’s The Downside?

Well, sometimes the call quality isn’t great. But that’s usually fixed by restarting the call.

Also, at the moment it’s difficult to see where some of these companies are making their money – so things could change any day, and they may start to charge for some of the free services.

You need to be connected to the Internet while making the call.

And that’s about it.

Where Can I Get VoIP Software?

Like I said we use Skype which can do all of the above tricks. But for completeness, here’s a list with links to a few other providers too, some of them offer free services, others discounted:

• www.skype.com
• www.iconnectthere.com
• www.dlinkvoip.com
• www.1899.com
• www.net2phone.com
• www.go2call.com
• www.voipcheap.co.uk
• www.bt.com/btcommunicator

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