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How do you feel when you make a business call and a machine answers to tell you "if you want to send a fax, press start now!"? Makes you question the quality of the business, doesn't it? Can't they even afford a separate fax number? You see it on printed material, too, for fax, "call first so we can turn on the machine". It is hard to imagine such a setup being used for more than one or two faxes a year. The impression that a lack of a separate fax number gives is negative in every respect.
The ultimate professional faux pas is to use your home phone number as your business number. This might work if you are the only one ever to answer the phone and your machine always answers if you are away (even if the house of full of kids and an in-law or two). What usually happens is a child, or grandchild, will answer "ha-whoah?" "Is this The Acme Company?" "I'll get my Mommee (clunk) Mommeeee". Neat first impression. Consider the ramifications if a teenager in your house has figured out how to dial out.
Here are two simple ideas to help give your business a professional front, telephone-wise.
If you already use a separate line for the fax machine, but still use your home phone as your business line, start using the fax number as your main business number. Make sure no one else answers it. Put your answering machine on it and leave the home phone alone. Put your new number on everything and send email to those that may have the old one. The transition won't take long.
You won't lose any faxes because you can get a free fax number from several sources that sends the faxes to your computer. No banner ads to read, just free fax service. I have had one for years. I have a dedicated fax number and don't pay a penny. My fax number converts any fax to an eMail attachment and sends it to my eMail box. I can read my faxes from any computer, worldwide. In my office I can read and pitch, or print and read. I don't buy fax paper anymore. Some folks call them electronic faxes. The point is, you can get a fax number all your own, without extension, that anyone can use, 24 hours a day, for free. No hidden costs or startup fees. The two most popular are www.jfax.com and www.efax.com but any Internet search for "free fax numbers" will bring up a bigger list.
If you don't have a fax number at home, call the telephone company and order a second residential line. Tell them you want a second line. No need to explain. Once it is installed, make it your main business line and get a free fax.
Now your business card can show a main line, a fax line and a cell phone and your mother-in-law can't run off new business.
If it walks like a pro and acts like a pro...
-- Copyright 2003 BIG Mike McDaniel - All Rights Reserved
BIG Mike McDaniel is an Author, Professional Speaker and Business Consultant with Advertising, Promotion and Publicity ideas that really work. Sign up for his free BIG Ideas Newsletter at http://BIGMikeOnline.com
Reach BIG Mike by eMail at McD@BIGMikeOnline.com
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