When selecting a phone system for your business, there are certain things that are non-negotiables. These are aspects that your phone system absolutely needs to have in order to help you run a smooth business. 

Without these, you won’t be able to deliver the best results you can, even if you have ten other mini features available in the system. That’s why it’s important to go over all your options and make sure you purchase one only after you’ve weighed the pros and cons of each system. 

In this blog, we’re going to make life a little easier for you by narrowing the list down to just 4 of the most essential considerations you should keep in mind when picking a phone system for your company. 

As long as you’ve got these 3 features, you’ll be able to get so much more done with ease and flexibility. 

Without further ado, let’s get right into it. 

1. Multiple Local Numbers

When picking a phone system, make sure you choose one that lets you purchase multiple local numbers for your business. The reason behind this is because having a local number can help you build a better presence in the area where you’re situated. 

For instance, if you’re situated in Arizona, you should be able to sign up for multiple local phone numbers for Arizona plus the other states around it. This will increase your chances of connecting with as many local communities as possible and building a strong customer base there. 

This is because people tend to trust local businesses and phone calls more than they trust calls with a foreign or unidentifiable code. This is especially true due to the rise of scammers who approach people via phone calls. Statistics show that most people don’t even risk answering calls that are from an unidentifiable caller or foreign code. 

So, if you’re looking to build a local presence for your business, the best way to start is by buying only local phone numbers and using them for all the calls you make to customers in the area. 

2. Call forwarding

Make sure your phone system has the ability to redirect calls to your work mobile, at least during work hours. 

This will ensure that you don’t always have to man the desk, and even when you aren’t around, you’ll still be able to answer all your calls instead of letting it ring or go to voicemail. This will make customers feel valued, since they aren’t left unanswered when they try to reach out to you. 

Another added benefit of this feature is that you can also redirect your co-workers calls to your phone. Let’s say someone’s called in sick someday, this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to man two desks now or let that person’s calls go unanswered, but you can simply go ahead and get them forwarded to your own phone. 

3. Messaging capabilities and communication

Let’s face it, not all of your clients are going to be available all the time for a phone call. In fact, some of them are even going to prefer discussing matters or nitty-gritties over text rather than having a long phone call during their busy schedule. 

For this reason, make sure you pick a phone system that comes with messaging capabilities with the app. Some phone system apps also let you create channels with groups of people, thereby allowing you to get more done with a single app, instead of spreading your communication out across phone, chat, email, and whatnot. 

At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the tool that lets you get the most done, without having to use multiple tools to finish a task.