If you are a business that requires customer interaction, then you need phone call forwarding services. There is nothing worse than having a client call you and listen to dozens of rings without anyone, or anything, answering the phone. More than likely, this potential customer will take business elsewhere.

To add call forwarding to your business phones, you can:

1. Subscribe to a call forwarding service
2. Use a telephone provider that offers busy call forwarding as part of a package
3. Use toll-free call forwarding numbers

Call forwarding products will benefit your business. They help ensure an answer for each customer call. If you are an international business, make sure that the call forwarding option you choose offers international call forwarding services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Subscribe to a call forwarding service

For a personal touch, use a call forwarding service that offers a receptionist or personalized voice prompts.

I recommend: j2 Global Communications, Inc. offers eVoice Receptionist. This products answers incoming calls and helps with routing the calls to the correct individual. The downside to this product is that it forwards calls into voicemail, not to a different person, after a set amount of time. The company offers a free trial period with this product. Officescape, Inc. provides personalized, answered phone calls every time. A receptionist then forwards the calls to the individuals within your business best suited to assist each customer. There are 4 different plans to choose from.

Consider using a provider that offers call forwarding products as part of package deals

If you are a new business, set up phone service with a provider that offers call forwarding solutions. If you are already an established business, find out if your provider offers these services, or consider switching to a provider that does.

I recommend: Time Warner Cable offers Business Class Phone. This phone services includes call forwarding along with a menu of other important features. Ifbyphone is a telephone provider that offers Find Me Anywhere, a call forwarding product that allows important clients to reach an actual person (you, your assistant, another employee to assist them), not your voice mail. Apptix, Inc. offers telephone services over the Internet, including call forwarding, for no additional charge. Choose from a Business plan or a Premium plan.

For international business, use an international call forwarding service

If you do business with countries globally, you want them to be able to call you at no cost to themselves. For this reason, use companies that offer international call forwarding solutions.

I recommend: TollFreeForwarding.com helps international businesses manage incoming phone calls from countries worldwide. There is a monthly fee with a set amount of minutes, but the company offers a free trial period with this service. RingCentral, Inc. also offers international call forwarding with 4 business plans to choose from. Get a free trial period with the Business Plus plan.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you purchase any call forwarding software or call forwarding products, ensure that the telephones you currently use are compatible.
• •  If you choose a call forwarding service that limits you to a set amount of minutes per month, find out what the penalty is for going over these minutes.