Make Contact Easy

There is no doubt that one of the most important aspects of any business is for customers to be able to contact you. If there is no or only limited options then it is pure and simple people just will not bother and go to one of your competitors. By having no fixed office though you do have some potential challenges. For example if you have no fixed office, then how do you have a fixed phone? This question as well as some other options i hope that i will answer for you below.

1. Fixed Phone – While having a fixed phone without having a fixed office is possible (a second phone line at home) it can still be achieved without really having a fixed phone. A 1300 or 13 number could be connected to a mobile phone line, or a VOIP option could be setup via a home based internet connection, or mobile internet if you use it.

2. Mobile Phone – Using a mobile phone for a business number can have advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that it makes you appear more contactable to people as mobiles are often seen as being something that you always have with you. In comparison though, a mobile number can be seen as not as permanent, for the same reason, because it is so easy to get a new mobile number with a prepaid phone.

3. SMS – Not something that is overly common, however it is another option that many people are comfortable with using. Depending on the business and the way you present this contact method, an automatic response, or manual response could be set up.

4. Email – With many of the latest mobile phone’s email access is better then ever, so really there is no excuse not to have email. Even if you do not use email via your phone, you need to have it there available for people to contact you. If you don’t have email already get an account that matches your website, (eg. yourname@yourbusiness.com.au). If you have a website it is essentially very easy to have your own email address with the same address.

5. Fax – For the most part email has taken over from the fax machine. However many people do still use fax machines for sending orders. So while you may have your business setup for entirely email based contact, you can never discount the potential need of your customer to be able to contact you how they are use to.

6. Web based chat facility – Because you are working with no fixed office, you may find that it is hard to do the regular sales things. Like responding to potential customer questions when they are browsing, or just talking about the product options. There are a number of options available for chat systems that can be built right into your website, which will enable your potential customer to contact you live and ask a question or request other details. These can be a powerful presales tool, but can take a little bit to get working optimally.

7. Web based contact form – While you are more then likely going to have your email address on your website, it is good to also include a contact form which can be filled out and submitted from your website. While the difference in time to send an email and fill in this form may seem minimal, having both options just makes it appear easier to get in touch.

Whether you are using any or all of the above, or maybe even some other options, you need to ensure that they are visible as often as possible, on your website, your business card, and your marketing materials. If they cannot be found then it does not really matter how many options you have, people still will not contact you.