Sales & Marketing – Page 4 – Management Library

May 11, 2022January 17, 2023

What Is Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)?

Customer lifetime value (CLV) is a metric you can track to discover who are your best and most valuable consumers. It measures how much a customer is likely to spend over a “lifespan.” Learn how to calculate your small business’s CLV, and ways you can improve unsatisfactory values.

What is Customer Lifetime Value?

Customer Lifetime Value reflects the amount of profit a company earns from a particular consumer over their lifespan. This metric studies the average amount a consumer buys, how often they make purchases, and the duration in years a customer shops at your company. The info helps quantify an individual’s happiness with your products and your business’s ability to bring people back for more.

Why Does CLV Matter?

CLV helps you to determine whether you need to invest more capital in retaining customers or bringing in new ones. Statistically, you have a much better chance of making a sale to an existing customer than a new one.

Generally speaking, it’s much harder to bring a new client on board than retain repeat customers. It often requires a big hook to lure a first-time shopper to your site. Customers have a lot of choice, so you need to spend time making your site or store unique. Then use marketing tools to make your products or services the most appealing.

The amount you spend to land a new customer is called customer acquisition cost (CAC). By comparing this value to a consumer’s CLV, you can see at a glance if you’re spending more to obtain new individuals than you are ultimately making off them in the long run.

Because of the costs required to bring in new consumers, most of your profits are going to come from repeat shoppers. Knowing each one’s CLV affords insight into strategies that can further drive growth.

Through CLV, you may notice customers favoring a particular type of product year after year. You can use these highly sought-after products to entice both new and existing shoppers. Similarly, you may notice clients sign up for your service for a year but are not making a point to renew.

Contributing Factors to CLV

Customer loyalty is a huge driving factor for bringing individuals back to your business, thus increasing CLV. If you don’t give shoppers a reason to come back to your site, what’s stopping them from purchasing somewhere else next time?

You can look at your company’s churn rate to determine whether or not you have a problem keeping people around. Every few months, it’s wise to look at how many customers you’re retaining and how that value compares to the number from last quarter.

It’s nearly impossible to keep 100% of your clients from year to year, but you should be seeing an overall increase in customers and not the opposite. Those who stop shopping at your business after a short time will have very low CLV scores.

From a product or service standpoint, it’s up to you to provide the best you can. Items that can’t stand the test of time or don’t perform as intended will not make customers want to buy from you again.

How CLV Works in the Real World

Tracking CLV across your client base at strategic intervals can help you better understand how your business is doing. For instance, crunching the numbers before and after a pivotal marketing campaign will reveal success if there’s an uptick in sales. No change or CLV loss quickly tells you that the campaign was a bust.

Looking at the overall CLV value, you can also see which types of customers are spending the most. You want to pay more attention to your most profitable clients to boost sales further. You can then hone your advertising campaigns to target the those who are spending the most on your site.

You can also use CLV to identify points of frustration that consumers may face while shopping. Having a difficult to navigate site or a weak return process can show up as reduced sales numbers or frequency.

How to Calculate Customer Lifetime Value

The calculation for customer lifetime value isn’t an overly difficult one, but you will have to brush off your math skills. The equation to calculate CLV is as follows:

CLV = Customer Lifespan * Customer Value

Customer lifespan is simple enough to discover. This number represents in years the entire length of time a customer has been shopping with your business.

Customer value is the product of two important aspects of an individual’s shopping behavior. To calculate this number, you must multiply the average purchase amount of a consumer by the number of times the customer shops in a given year.

Customer Value = Average Purchase Frequency * Average Purchase Value

An Example CLV Calculation

To demonstrate CLV in action, consider a local hair salon. A customer who makes a point of getting a cut and a color once a month for $80 is going to have a higher CLV than a mother who brings a child in once every two months to shorten things up a bit.

We can calculate the CLV for each of these customers over the course of five years. Our cut and color customer looks as follows:

Customer Value = 12 appointments per year * $80 = $960

CLV = $960 * 5 years = $4,800

Our child who gets a $10 haircut will have a significantly different value. Let’s check out the numbers:

Customer Value = 6 appointments per year * $10 = $60

CLV = $60 * 5 years = $300

While both clients are important, the regular cut and color has a much higher CLV. Incentivizing this client and other similar customers will earn you a lot more profit in the long run.

Ways to Improve CLV

To have a profitable business, you need your customer lifetime value to be higher than your customer acquisition cost. The higher the difference between the two, the more money your company will make. If these values aren’t where you want them to be, don’t fret – there are ways to improve CLV among your client base. Here are some of the best ways to give CLV a boost.

Invest in the Customer Experience

Whether you offer goods or services, your customers are the lifeblood of your business. Giving your customers the best experience you can will likely keep them coming back for more. Work out the kinks in your website, removing dead links and delays in the process that may turn a customer off. Make sure checkout is as simple as can be. Time is money, and customers will likely remember these details.

Ensure Your Onboarding Process Is Seamless

Whatever brings a customer to their first purchase on your site, it’s up to you to give them a reason to return. Sharing details about your brand on your web page or through a follow-up email adds a personal touch that other businesses may not do. If clients can relate to what your company stands for or a struggle you’ve overcome, they may feel more connected.

Start a Loyalty Program

What better way to keep customers coming back than through a loyalty system? By offering discounts for repeat purchases, you’re giving a tangible reason to return and shop more. Eateries may give away a 10th item for free. An e-commerce business might provide a discount through a coupon code for someone who shops regularly.

Make Returns Easy

It may seem counterintuitive, but allowing customers to return things with minimal hassle is as sure a way as any to bring them back. Shoppers will remember the painless process, making them more likely to come back down the road.

Upsell

Companies like McDonald’s and Amazon do a great job of this, presenting other products that would be perfect with the item you’re about to purchase. You can do the same, offering a slightly more expensive substitute or suggesting things that work well with what they’re buying.

Provide Omnichannel Support

No one likes endless hold times when trying to reach customer support, and having a poor response system can turn customers off in a hurry. Providing a direct line or short wait time should keep consumers coming back for more even if they experience an issue.

In this digital age, clients enjoy reaching out through other means besides the telephone. You can use a chatbot on your site to interact with people or encourage them to send a text message. If your business has social media accounts, you can even handle customer issues from there.

Remember the Power of Social Media

In addition to customer support, it’s possible to use social media to promote sales and stand out against the competition. With over half the world using various forms of social media, it seems foolish not to take advantage of this space.

Reach Out to Unhappy Customers

Unhappy customers are going to stop buying your brand and may report unfavorable experiences online for the world to see. Navigating these murky waters and attempting to rebuild a damaged relationship can go a long way. In a best-case scenario, you can win back a lost customer who will feel even more loyal because of the extra effort you made.

Tools to Help With CLV

You don’t have to look far to find tools that can help calculate CLV and improve a customer’s score. Hubspot has a free CLV calculator you can use to track this important value and several others.

Alongside tools for calculating CLV, many customer relationship management (CRM) services include features to improve the retention rate of your clients. With these tools, it’s possible to manage contacts, track interactions with customers, improve customer support, and much more. Some CRM platforms even offer free plans to get you started without spending a penny.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Customer Lifetime Value

Understanding customer lifetime value can be challenging. This FAQ section answers some of the most common questions surrounding the topic.

What is a Good Customer Lifetime Value?

You always want to see a customer lifetime value that’s higher than the amount you spent to bring a new consumer into the fold. You’re in good shape if you see a CLV that’s at least three times higher than customer acquisition cost.

Why is Churn Important?

Churn is an important metric that tracks the loss of consumers over time. Customers no longer shopping at your business means less revenue, which can spell disaster for any size company.

Are CRM Systems Worth It?

Yes, CRM systems offer a slew of tools that help your business retain customers through marketing campaigns and client tracking. Furthermore, these services can give your shoppers an easy way to contact you and work through issues they may be experiencing.

Bottom Line on Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

Having a firm grasp on customer lifetime value for your clients helps paint a very accurate picture of how your business is performing. This one number reveals your best customers and the products or services that keep them coming back for more. It also gives an idea of how much you can afford to spend when attempting to bring on new clients. Without CLV, you’re likely missing a lot of information about profitability and customer turnover that can lead to issues in the future.

May 10, 2022November 23, 2022

15 Best States For Real Estate (and 5 Worst States)

Whether you want to purchase a home for your family or invest in a commercial or residential property that will appreciate, you must know the best states for real estate. Each state has different growth rates, property prices, and property taxes. Here is a comprehensive list of the best states for real estate in 2023.

1. Idaho

Idaho is nestled into the northwestern part of the United States and is known for its immaculate natural landscapes and protected wilderness. The total real estate appreciation rate for the last two years is 47.64%. Over the past decade, Idaho has seen a real estate appreciation rate of 162.85%.

This wildly high appreciation rate is driven by increased demand for real estate in Idaho. With the cost of living 2% lower than the national average and a low mortgage rate of 2.9%, more people are looking at Idaho as a place to move their family or invest in real estate.

Growth has been incredibly phenomenal in these states:

Harrison
Cataldo
Marsing
Athol
Island Park

Here is a comprehensive list of Idaho real estate statistics:

Median home value: $408,004
Average market rent: $1,447 per month
Occupied housing: 88.1%
Number of homes and apartments: 649,299
Job growth: 3.25%
Population growth: 2.9%

2. Arizona

Arizona sits in the southwestern region of the United States and borders California on its west. Arizona’s total real estate appreciation has been 40.29% over the past two years and 27.99% over the past 12 months. As such, Arizona has realized some of the highest real estate appreciation rates in the United States.

Although the cost of living in Arizona is similar to the national average, Arizona features a low mortgage rate. This is why Arizona is one of the most lucrative markets for real estate investors. Furthermore, Arizona experienced the third-fastest recovery in the nation of jobs lost from the pandemic. Forecasters expect over 700,000 new jobs to be added before 2030.

The job growth is an excellent indicator of a growing real estate market because the new workers will need a place to live. The state of Arizona also has exceedingly landlord-friendly jobs. A few cities in Arizona doing better than the state’s average include Chandler, Oro Valley, Gilbert, Tucson, and Flagstaff.

Here is a list of relevant Arizona real estate statistics:

Median home value: $365,573
Average market rent: $1,919 per month
Occupied housing: 86.9%
Number of homes and apartments: 2,643,430
Job growth: 3.1%
Population growth: 1.5%

3. Maine

Maine, which sits on the northeastern corner of the United States, has also seen high real estate growth rates. Over the past two years, Maine’s real estate appreciation rate was 30.98%, and 20.59% over the past 12 months. Although Maine has a lower median income level than the national average, it has a lower cost of living and a low mortgage rate of 2.9%.

Many people from New England and elsewhere around the country choose to retire in Maine. Furthermore, real estate investors see Maine as a great opportunity to buy lower-priced property in a great market with the ability to charge above-average rent rates. As a result, Aroostook and Washington counties have seen the highest growth recently.

Let’s look at Maine’s real estate statistics:

Median home value: $279,001
Average market rent: $1,393 per month
Occupied housing: 76.3%
Number of homes and apartments: 569,551
Job growth: 2.0%
Population growth: 1.1%

4. Utah

Similar to Idaho, Utah is a state known for its wildlife and natural parks. The total real estate appreciation rate over the last two years in Utah was 39.25%. Over the past decade, real estate has appreciated 134.63%.

Utah’s above-average median income leads this high growth. As an above-average earning income state with low mortgage rates, Utah is bound to be an attractive destination for real estate investors and new homeowners. The highest growth Utah cities include Park City, Vineyard, Montezuma Creek, Salt Lake City, and South Salt Lake.

Relevant Utah real estate statistics include:

Median home value: $479,111
Average market rent: $1,838 per month
Occupied housing: 90.4%
Number of homes and apartments: 1,003,345
Job growth: 3.6%
Population growth: 1.3%

5. Montana

Montana is a landlocked state in the Northern part of the United States that shares 14 border crossings with Canada. Montana’s real estate appreciation rate has risen 34.68% over the past two years and 89.63% over the past decade.

This state features a low cost of living and low mortgage rates compared to the national average. Although the median household income of $72,100 is lower than the national average, Montana is exceptionally affordable to live in, which makes it attractive for new homeowners and real estate investors.

Many people are leaving California and moving North to Montana because of the booming real estate market, affordable housing prices, and lower tax rates. There are also few regulations on landlords in Montana and no statewide rent control. The top highest appreciating Montana cities since 2000 are Jordan, Sidney, Fairview, and Scobey.

A few key Montana real estate statistics include

Median home value: $372,863
Average market rent: $1,268 per month
Occupied housing: 84.7%
Number of homes and apartments: 436,048
Job growth: 3.4%
Population growth: 1.7%

6. Washington

Washington is located in the northwestern corner of the United States and has seen a massive real estate boom over the past two decades. The real estate appreciation rate over the last two years is 21.03%. Additionally, the real estate appreciation rate has been 223.40% over the past two decades.

Washington residents have access to more affordable healthcare and utility rates. However, the overall cost of living in Washington is higher than the national average. Nevertheless, the cost of living is mitigated by a higher median income of $91,600. Along with low mortgage rates, Washington is one of the best states for real estate.

Furthermore, Washington is one of the eight states with no state income tax. Although the pandemic heavily impacted Washington, the employment outlook is looking much better.

Median home value: $524,077
Average market rent: $2,009 per month
Occupied housing: 92.2%
Number of homes and apartments:2,905,822
Job growth: 3.5%
Population growth: 1.27%

7. New Hampshire

Located in the New England region of the United States, New Hampshire is one of the best states for real estate. New Hampshire has seen a 28.82% real estate appreciation rate in the past two years and 51.59% real estate growth in the past five years.

The cost of living in New Hampshire is slightly higher than the national average, but so is the median household income at $98,000 compared to the national average of $79,000. In addition, new Hampshire residents enjoy no state sales, income, or capital gains tax. These features have led to record-high prices for single-family homes as more people work from home.

Median home value: $382,761
Average market rent: $1,862 per month
Occupied housing: 84.4%
Number of homes and apartments: 539,116
Job growth: 2.6%
Population growth: 0.1%

8. Tennessee

Tennessee is another great state for real estate as people are migrating to its best cities. Nashville and the four surrounding cities expect to see a 50% increase in population before 2024. Over the long-term, 500,00 people are expected to move to the region by 2040.

This inbound migration causes a spike in Tenneessee’s housing market. As a result, the real estate appreciation rate over the past two years was 31.38%, and 22.47% over the past 12 months.

Although the median income of Tennessee is lower than the national average, an average house in Tennessee costs about $162,500 less than the national average.

With low mortgage rates as well, Tennessee is one of the best states for real estate.

Median home value: $245,290
Average market rent: $1,393 per month
Occupied housing: 88.1%
Number of homes and apartments: 2,639,455
Job growth: 1.8%
Population growth: 1.21%

9. Rhode Island

Best states for real estate: Rhode Island

Rhode Island sits in the southeastern region of the United States and faces a booming real estate market from out-of-state investors and people looking to buy multi-family dwellings.

The real estate appreciation rate over the past two years was 27.82% in Rhode Island. Furthermore, the real estate market has grown 49.40% over the past five years. Rhode Island has a higher than average median income rate of $88,000 to account for the higher cost of living in the State. Rhode Island’s mortgage rate also sits low at 2.9%

Median home value: $279,001
Average market rent: $1,393 per month
Occupied housing: 76.3%
Number of homes and apartments: 569,551
Job growth: 2.0%
Population growth: 1.1%

10. Oregon

Known for its natural beauty and attractions, Oregon is situated under Washington in the northwestern corner of the United States. The real estate appreciation rate over the past two years was 28.26%, and 116.57% over the past ten years.

Oregon’s evolving tech industry, nicknamed the Silicon Forest, has brought numerous growth benefits to the state. As such, higher-income individuals are migrating to Oregon and purchasing above-average priced homes. As a result, Oregon’s median income is slightly higher than the national average at $81,200.

Median home value: $473,064
Average market rent: $1,763 per month
Occupied housing: 91.8%
Number of homes and apartments: 569,551
Job growth: 1.6%
Population growth: 0.89%

11. Ohio

Ohio is one of the best states for real estate because its median home value is significantly lower than the national average. Although the median income value is also lower, Ohio residents get access to a low cost of living and low mortgage rates.

The real estate appreciation rate in Ohio was 23.57% over the past two years and 44.66% over the past five years. These conditions create an ideal environment for those looking to purchase residential or commercial properties in the United States.

Median home value: $199,717
Average market rent: $1,132 per month
Occupied housing: 90.4%
Number of homes and apartments: 4,717,226
Job growth: 0.6%
Population growth: 1.5%

12. Indiana

Located in the heart of the United States, Indiana is another beautiful state for real estate. Over the past two years, Indiana’s real estate appreciation rate was 25.14%, and 47.28% over the last five years.

Furthermore, Indiana’s median home value is lower than the national average. For this reason, you can find an affordable property and see impressive gains as Indiana’s real estate market continues to grow. The best Indiana cities for real estate include Indianapolis, Topeka, Shoals, and Montgomery.

Median home value: $198,288
Average market rent: $1,144 per month
Occupied housing: 80.6%
Number of homes and apartments: 2,602,770
Job growth: 2.9%
Population growth: 0.61%

13. Connecticut

For more wealthier individuals, Connecticut is one of the best states for real estate. The median income in Connecticut is above $100,000, which is much higher than the national average. Since the cost of living in Connecticut is only slightly higher than the United States average, Connecticut is an excellent place to look for real estate.

Connecticut’s real estate appreciation rate was 23.68% over the past two years and 16.10% over the past 12 months.

Median home value: $349,539
Average market rent: $1,815 per month
Occupied housing: 90.1%
Number of homes and apartments: 1,385,437
Job growth: 3.3%
Population growth: 0.5%

14. South Dakota

Located in the northern region of the United States, South Dakota is a landlocked state with plenty of real estate opportunities. South Dakota’s real estate appreciation rate was 25.34% over the past two years and 18.55% over the last 12 months.

With a low cost of living, median home value, and mortgage rates, South Dakota’s real estate market is a hidden gem in the United States.

Median home value: $236,975
Average market rent: $1,079 per month
Occupied housing: 87.7%
Number of homes and apartments: 347,878
Job growth: 1.02%
Population growth: 1.17%

15. Florida

Florida has a population of 22 million and is the eighth most densely populated state in the country. It is also one of the United States’ most popular retirement and vacation destinations. However, buying a property in Florida is still affordable.

The cost of living in Florida is 2% cheaper than the national average but the typical home price is $6,000 more expensive than the national average. Florida has seen sky-high real estate appreciation rates with 33.64% growth in the last two years and 24.47% growth in the past 12 months.

Florida’s relaxed pandemic restrictions caused an influx of new homeowners and real estate investors as the rest of the country was locked down.

Median home value: $331,461
Average market rent: $1,972 per month
Occupied housing: 82.9%
Number of homes and apartments: 7,931,313
Job growth: 5.6%
Population growth: 1.0%

Worst 5 States for Real Estate

As a real estate investor, it’s also essential to understand which states are the worst for real estate. Although the overall housing market in the United States is doing well, and we’re optimistic for the future, there are a few states to avoid. The worst states have high taxes, low employment growth, and low population growth.

1. New York

New York has strict rent-control policies for investors in certain cities and doesn’t have investor-friendly laws. Furthermore, the median home value in New York is $1,276,314. This is exponentially higher than the average median home value in the United States.

The sales tax rate for New York is 8.9% which is higher than the national average of 7.3%. As such, New York residents deal with a higher cost of living than other parts of the country.

Median home value: $557,428
Average market rent: $2,255 per month
Occupied housing: 88.7%
Number of homes and apartments: 7,417,224
Job growth: 1.01%
Population growth: 0.43%

2. New Jersey

New Jersey is also a suboptimal state to purchase real estate in. The most significant factor hurting the New Jersey real estate market is the state’s property taxes of 2.38%. New Jersey also has an above-average median home value and a lower-than-average real estate appreciation rate.

The real estate appreciation rate was 22.80% over the past two years and only 43.73% over the past five years.

Median home value: $435,725
Average market rent: $2,289 per month
Occupied housing: 90.2%
Number of homes and apartments: 3,272,054
Job growth: 1.01%
Population growth: 0.52%

3. California

Although California boasts the largest population in the United States, it’s also one of the worst states for real estate. This is because of California’s high property prices and mortgage rates. With such high home prices in California, renting is often cheaper than outright buying a home.

California also isn’t seeing an increase in new jobs. Unfortunately, this lack of economic growth, paired with outrageously high tax rates and strict landlord regulations, means California isn’t the best state for real estate.

Median home value: $699,876
Average market rent: $2,651 per month
Occupied housing: 92.2%
Number of homes and apartments: 13,103,114
Job growth: 1.2%
Population growth: 0.31%

4. Illinois

Illinois was hit hardest by the 2018 market crash and was one of the states that took the longest to recover. Chicago is the biggest city in Chicago and has one of the highest homicide rates in the entire country. This high level of crime brings risk to investors and ultimately lowers property value.

The real estate appreciation rate over the past two years was only 15.67%, and 11.29% over the last 12 months.

Median home value: $279,001
Average market rent: $1,517 per month
Occupied housing: 90.9%
Number of homes and apartments: 4,884,061
Job growth: 4.66%
Population growth: -0.17%

5. Michigan

Michigan is another one of the worst states for real estate. This state was heavily impacted when motor companies moved out of Detroit. As a result, the entire Michigan economy felt the effects of the move. Michigan doesn’t have the brightest outlook for a diversity of jobs.

Median home value: $217,059
Average market rent: $1,262 per month
Occupied housing: 86.3%
Number of homes and apartments: 3,980,408
Job growth: 1.0%
Population growth: 1.31%

How We Ranked the Best & Worst States for Real Estate

For this list of the best 15 states for real estate, we used real estate appreciation rates as our key metric. We sourced the data about real estate appreciation rates, median home value, occupied housing, and the number of homes and apartments from NeighborhoodScout.

Furthermore, we found the cost of living data from BestPlaces and mortgage rates from USBank. We used real estate appreciation rates as our primary metric because historical appreciation in market values is a good indicator of what’s to come in the future. Furthermore, growth in property prices signals employment gains and population growth.

High population growth and employment gains indicate a healthy economy and a high influx of migrators starting new jobs. As a result, markets that have seen growth in the past are likely to trend higher.

Bottom Line on the Best States for Real Estate

The best states for real estate offer a great quality of life for residential homeowners and an excellent return on investment if you choose to sell in the future. There are many booming real estate markets across the United States, so you should be able to find one that fits your exact needs.

April 20, 2022February 17, 2023

How Do I Create A Free Professional Email Address?

Businesswoman creating a free professional email address

A business email address can boost your business image and make it easier for people to trust you. If you run a small venture or a startup, a professional email address can also make you look as well-established as your top competitors.

However, it is challenging to find a truly free business email provider. Most web hosting providers that offer free email domains require you to incur costs associated with their plans. In this article, we will explore four straightforward steps to obtain a “nearly” free professional email address coupled with free inbox organization tools.

What Is a Free Professional Email Address?

The most popular free email addresses contain the domain name of the email service provider. These include yahoo.com, hotmail.com, and gmail.com. On the other hand, a business email address comes with your domain name, giving your company a unique identity.

For instance, if your company’s name is “Backstreet,” a professional business email address may be Terry@backstreet.com. Using a generic email like Terry.backstreet@gmail.com can demean your company’s credibility or give it an unprofessional vibe.

4 Easy Steps to Set up a Free Professional Email Address

A business email address is a crucial aspect of your branding. It provides a superior strategy for connecting your company’s face with your website domain and official communication channel with your clients.

Here are four easy steps for setting up a free business email address:

Step 1: Register Your Domain Name

The easiest way to obtain the best free business email address is first to register your domain name. Ensure you choose a name that reflects your business as closely as possible. Note that your domain name of choice will dictate your website address and business email.

A free professional email address is not technically free because you have to incur some undelaying fees. The easiest way to register a domain name is through a web hosting provider. Some of the best hosting providers include:

Bluehost
Google workspace
Zoho Mail
HostGator
Greatmail
InMotion
Namecheap

The web host you choose will also provide free email hosting allowing you to create a free business email address. They will also take care of server maintenance.

To register, choose a hosting plan and confirm whether your domain name of choice is available. If it is taken, try to find a closely related name, perhaps by adding a hyphen, abbreviations, etc. The next step is to enter your personal details, click “I Agree” to the terms, and make a payment to set up a web hosting account for your domain name. Read the step-by-step guide on how to register a domain name.

Step 2: Select an Email Provider

Depending on your web hosting company, you may choose a random email provider or have to choose one from the company’s email service partners. For instance, you have to select GSuite or Webmail to access your emails when using Bluehost.

If you have the freedom of choice, here are some of the options you could go with:

G Suite (Google Workspace)
Microsoft Office 365
Zoho Workplace
Rackspace
FastMail

Step 3: Create a Free Business Email Address

So, you have registered your website’s domain name and even have an email provider. It’s now time to create a personalized free professional email address.

The steps you will take here will depend on your web hosting company. With Bluehost, for instance, you’ll need to visit the Bluehost dashboard and click the Email and Office tab to create your free professional email address using your domain name. When using Zoho, visit the Mail Pricing page and select the Forever Free plan.

Step 4: Check Out Your Free Business Email Address

Your web hosting company will provide detailed instructions to help you access your free business email address and send or receive emails. Essentially, you need to choose a webmail application like Outlook or Gmail. Just ensure your choice affords you a smooth user experience and satisfactory customization options.

Also, you can create multiple user accounts and manage them by changing passwords and freeing up storage space. To make your company appear well-established, you can set up addresses for your customer service, sales, and HR departments.

If the free plan is too basic for your business needs, you always have the option of upgrading. Paid premium email services offer more advanced features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Free Professional Email Address

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about getting a free professional email address.

Is It Necessary to Have a Registered Domain Name?

Yes, it is. If you want to create a free professional email address, you must register your domain name. This allows you to obtain a custom email domain. If you don’t have a registered domain name, you have to stick to free email accounts like Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo.

Do I Need a Website to Get a Free Business Email Address?

No. You don’t need to build a website to get a free professional email address. However, you still need to spend on web hosting services to register a domain name and receive free email hosting services.

Is It Worth to Get a Free Professional Email Address?

A free business email address comes with your domain name. All company emails contain your brand name and can serve as practical marketing tools.

Moreover, a free professional email address is worth it because you can create multiple user accounts for your staff. When employees use personal email addresses, you could lose essential business-related communications once they leave.

A professional email address under your domain name remains your company’s property. Even if you set up an account using an employee’s name, you can always redirect all the emails to newly hired staff. You also get to enjoy the following perks with a free professional email address:

1. A spruced up company image that communicates professionalism
2. Enhanced customer trust
3. Branded emails serve as free marketing tools
4. Reduced risk of your emails ending up in your customer’s spam folders

How “Free” Is a Free Professional Email Address?

Unfortunately, the only free email addresses are yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, and gmail.com. As you can imagine, these can create a pretty unprofessional image when used for business.
Technically, you can obtain a free business email through a web hosting provider such as Bluehost or InMotion. Most providers offer a whole package of free goodies with their hosting plan, including a free professional email address.

Can I Find a Free Professional Email Address Domain That Is Identical to My Website Domain Name?

Finding the exact email domain as your website domain is challenging, especially if you don’t intend to spend a dime. The easiest way to go about this is by signing up for the services of a web host provider. This assures you of receiving a free business email domain identical to your website domain name.

Bottom Line on Free Professional Business Email

A free professional email address can help you make an excellent first impression. It is a powerful branding, email marketing, and digital communication tool that can enhance modern office functions.

Use the above steps to set up your free business email address and enjoy robust cloud storage features, and a range of productivity tools to ensure smooth business email communications.

April 14, 2022November 23, 2022

What Is a POS System & How Does It Work?

Keeping accurate real-time sales records, managing inventory, and tracking customer information can be difficult when you’re processing transactions manually. Fortunately, you can use a POS system to streamline these tasks and gather important sales data.

What is a POS system, and why do most small businesses have one in place? A point of sale system includes hardware and software that business owners and staff use to process transactions and payments at checkout. After a customer selects a product in a store or receives a service, they need to pay for it, and this is where a POS system comes in.

How Does a POS System Work?

A POS system records product details of the purchased item, tracks its details, and provides order feedback. This feedback is typically in the form of the total cost of the order to the customer and sales reports to the store owner.

To serve both customer and owner, a system includes software and different types of hardware to get the job done. These include barcode scanners, cash drawers, and computer monitors.

POS Hardware

For a POS system to work, you’ll need the right software and pieces of hardware at the checkout counter. The point of sale hardware market in the U.S. is projected to be worth $9.54 billion by 2025, indicating an increase in use at retail locations. Common hardware that small businesses use to set up a POS include:

POS Terminal

The primary hardware of a sales POS system is the terminal. The terminal is the device where you install the POS software. It can be a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smartphone. You’ll have to connect all other pieces of hardware to the terminal to complete your POS setup.

Monitor/Display

The monitor shows transaction details when you use the various POS hardware. In most retail stores, the display used is a desktop computer. Many small businesses also use smartphones or tablets.

Barcode Scanner

Retail staff use a barcode scanner to capture details about the product on sale. It reveals the price, special discounts, and tax charges on the product.

Card Reader

Modern POS systems include a card reader that allows customers to make payments using credit or debit cards. Credit card reader providers typically charge a monthly maintenance charge and may also charge per-transaction fees.

To use a card reader as part of your retail POS, you’ll need to connect it with your POS software. When you swipe a card through the reader, the POS terminal transmits the card data for approval. If the customer’s bank approves the transaction, you’ll receive authorization to complete the sale.

Receipt Printer

A receipt printer prints out sale receipts after the transaction is done. A receipt is given to customers as a record of the sale, and it also helps businesses keep track of product performance and inventory levels. Receipts also record details such as sales tax, method of payment, and the time and date of the sale. For some business owners, digital receipts will suffice, so a printer may be unnecessary.

Cash Register

A POS system calculates and registers cash transactions using a cash register. Cash registers are often attached to a cash drawer beneath, used for storing cash from payments. Cash registers aid in inventory management and financial reporting when paired with barcode scanners, card terminals, and receipt printers.

Types of POS Systems

There are several types of retail POS systems, each suitable for various businesses. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with all types to identify the one that’s right for your small business.

Here are the main types of POS systems:

Server POS System

A server retail POS system is one where the data gathered is stored on-premise at the business. This type typically comes with the highest setup costs and monthly maintenance fees. When you have a traditional server system, you’ll need to be on location to utilize it. To create a server POS system, you’ll need to buy hardware from various providers.

Cloud-Based POS System

With cloud-based systems, sales data is stored on the internet instead of an on-location server. Once you’ve installed your chosen POS software into your hardware, you’ll have access to your data as long as you have an internet connection.

Cloud-based POS software works with physical and online stores, unlike the server system that only serves a physical retail store. With e-commerce sales growing each year, introducing cloud-based POS systems into your business can boost growth significantly.

A good example here is the Clover POS system is a popular cloud-based system that allows businesses to complete transactions online.

Hybrid POS System

A hybrid system incorporates features from both on-premise and cloud-based systems. It’s an ideal option if you’d like to have the best of both sides. Hybrid point of sale systems are good for businesses with both physical and online stores. The Lightspeed POS system is an example of a hybrid system that utilizes both on-location and online features.

Mobile POS System

Mobile POS systems use a device such as an Android tablet or iPad as the point of sale. This system typically involves only two pieces of hardware: a smartphone or tablet and a credit card reader.

You can bring POS mobile devices to your pop-up shops, trade shows, and other events outside your physical store. A mobile sale POS system also comes in handy at physical stores to reduce customer queues and speed up checkout. An example is the Square POS system, which you can use on your mobile device without requiring additional hardware.

Features of a POS System

Most POS systems offer the same basic features, while others, such as restaurant POS systems, include additional specialized tools. The following are the features you’ll find in most POS systems for retail businesses:

Checkout
Payment processing
Inventory management
Reporting and analytics
Employee management
Customer relationship management
Multichannel sales

Checkout

Checkout tools are the primary basis of a POS system; hence, this is a feature you’ll find on all point of sale systems. With checkout features, you can easily ring up customer purchases to find out their worth.

Payment Processing

Payment processing is another basic feature found on all POS systems. A POS system allows various payment methods, from credit and debit cards to cash.

To use these, you’ll need additional hardware such as a card reader or cash register to process sales. For online ordering, you’ll need POS software that enables digital payments.

Inventory Management

When you ring up a sale, POS software brings up so much more than price information. It also shows crucial information about inventory levels. You can easily tell when a product needs restocking with the inventory management feature.

Reporting and Analytics

Retail point of sale software draws various insights from daily sales data. You can identify products that sell the best, those that take long to clear, and identify intervals with the most sales using POS data. With this data, you can plan everything from restocking to marketing campaigns.

Employee Management

Most POS systems come with an employee management feature to aid staff scheduling and tracking. With this feature, you can track what each staff member is doing at any moment, how many hours they worked, and set permissions for each of them. This feature also helps prevent losses due to staff fraud, such as after-sale transaction modification.

Customer Relationship Management

A customer relationship management (CRM) tool gathers important data about items bought, the amount spent, customer contact information, payment methods, and returns. It gives you important insight on what products a certain customer is interested in, their spending limits, and how often they shop.

With this information, you can create more targeted marketing campaigns that target each customer’s tastes. With the collected data, you can also enroll them in loyalty programs and easily provide solutions in case of return or exchange requests.

You can get more from your POS customer relationship management tool by integrating it with your VoIP caller phone system. This gives staff direct access to customer data when they have queries or complaints. You’ll need the best VoIP app for your business to benefit from this integration.

Multichannel Sales

Does your retail business have multiple locations serving as points of sale? Perhaps you have an online store and also sell in brick-and-mortar stores and mobile locations. A point of sale with a centralized multichannel sales feature consolidates all of your sales data from each POS into one place, making it easy to keep track and gather insights.

How To Choose a POS System for Your Small Business

What type of POS system is convenient for you, and which features does your business need? Asking these questions will help you find the best POS system for your business. Here are factors to keep in mind when choosing a POS system for your small business:

Hardware

Each type of POS system has hardware requirements you must meet to get it working. With an on-premise system, you’ll have to purchase or rent multiple pieces of hardware, including a display, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and card reader. If you want to go with a cloud-based system, you may only need a mobile device and a card reader.

Ease of Use

A good POS system should be easy to use, both for you and for your customers who are checking out by themselves online. An easy-to-use system streamlines checkout activities and saves time for everyone involved.

Features

Besides checkout and payment processing, what other features would you like to have on your point of sale system? Some of the vital features to look out for include inventory management, analytics and reporting, and customer relationship management. With these features, you not only speed up checkout but also keep an eye on your inventory and make informed marketing decisions.

Credit card processing software is also a crucial feature for businesses today. This is due to the rising preference for credit card payments among consumers, which the Federal Reserve reported to total $97.04 trillion in 2019.

Scalability

Choosing a point of sale system that will scale with your business is advisable. Otherwise, if your system is unable to keep up with a growing business, you might end up losing customers due to an unsatisfactory shopping experience.

For example, you might not be able to take payments quickly at checkout leading to long queues in your store. It might also be difficult to keep track of all your customers. This means that loyalty programs might be difficult to implement.

As your business grows, you’ll need more elaborate and specialized features to make the most of your POS data. If your system cannot keep up, it’ll be challenging to get the insights you need to improve or plan your business operations. Opt for a system that scales with your business to avoid hiccups and save you from spending money on new hardware or software each time your needs change.

Reviews

Before purchasing a POS system, check what other business owners say about it. Reviews will give you a good idea of how the system works and performs.

Note that what works for one store won’t necessarily suit you because the type of business determines the ideal software. For instance, if you own a restaurant, you’ll be better off checking reviews for the best restaurant POS systems rather than checking feedback from general retail store owners.

Customer Support

It’s wise to choose a POS system from a provider with good customer support. In case you run into any problems with your system during business hours, you should be able to reach them instantly for assistance. This will prevent delays caused by a problematic system.

Benefits of a POS System

The right POS system can bring several benefits to your business. These include:

Time savings
Improved customer experience
Important insights
Increased accuracy
Multiple payment methods

Time Savings

A point of sale system saves a lot of time during the checkout process. You can check product details within moments, process payments, and gather important customer information. This takes a much shorter time than if you were checking products manually.

Improved Customer Experience

Thanks to cloud-based POS systems, customers can shop from an online store without requiring assistance from an in-store employee. They can also purchase items on the go without joining long checkout queues.

Important Insights

Using a POS system leaves you with a lot of useful data you can use in marketing, inventory planning, and goal setting. Features such as inventory management allow you to see your best-selling products and the customers buying them.

Over time, you’ll be able to identify periods when you should stock up more or switch more attention to other products based on seasonal trends.

Increased Accuracy

There’s much less room for errors when using POS software to ring up sales than when doing it manually. This accuracy also extends to when you have to collect and merge data from multiple points of sale. With the software doing the heavy lifting, your reports are guaranteed to be accurate and well-organized.

Multiple Payment Methods

Nowadays, it’s important to give your customers a wide array of payment methods to choose from. Gone are the days when most sales were completed with cash transactions. Today, the most common in-store payment method in the U.S. is credit cards, followed by debit cards. Cash comes third in popularity, followed by digital wallets. Go for a POS system that allows you to integrate all popular payment options into your business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for What Is a POS System

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about POS systems.

What Is a POS System?

POS systems refer to the software and hardware used at a business point of sale. A point of sale is where a sale transaction takes place, that is, where the customer pays for their purchase. Point of sale POS systems capture and produce important data about the transaction, including the total price, payment, and product type.

Is a POS System a Software?

POS systems include software that functions as the operating system that tracks sales and customer data. When you have POS hardware, you’ll need to get the right point of sale software to process information and accept payments during transactions.

How Does a POS System Work at a Small Business?

At small businesses, POS systems work by providing a digital point of sale where customers complete their purchases. A small business POS system reduces the need for paperwork sales records that can be time-consuming and error-prone.

How Much Does a POS System Cost?

The cost of a point of sale system varies with the POS provider, but traditional POS systems are typically more costly to install and maintain than cloud-based systems. POS cost is heavily influenced by the type of hardware you’ll need and whether you’ll require specialized software.

Conclusion: So What Is a POS System?

To find the best POS solutions for your store, always begin with your business needs in mind. Your needs will dictate which POS features are vital for you, after which you can look for POS system providers offering what you need.

Remember to choose a system that will scale with your business for maximum value.

March 25, 2022March 15, 2023

What Is a VoIP Caller & How Does VoIP Work?

A VoIP caller using a voip system to communicate with client

One of the best ways for businesses to connect with customers is through the phone. With phone communication, sales teams reach out to prospects, customers call help centers, and internal teams collaborate.

However, costs quickly add up when businesses are handling hundreds and thousands of calls daily. This makes it necessary to find a solution that is cheaper and more convenient.

We will look at what a VoIP caller is, how to set it up, and why your business should use a VoIP system.

Looking for a premium service? check out Vonage!

If you’re looking for an affordable VoIP that also happens to be one of the best solutions on the market today, look no further than RingCentral. It offers a complete phone system for your business with apps, AI, and automation on a single platform. You can get all of this, including the reliability and unique phone number, for less than $19.99 per month. If you act fast you can take advantage of the current 7-day free trial offer that is happening.

Sign up with RingCentral now.

What Is a VoIP Caller?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a technology that allows you to make calls over the internet instead of a regular phone line. The cloud software will connect you to any phone around the world, by converting your voice into a digital signal that is transferred over the internet and then converted into a regular phone signal.

As a VoIP caller, you enter a phone number (or VoIP number) and dial it through the internet. The receiver’s phone will ring as if coming from another phone, except that it may display “VoIP caller” as the caller ID.

VoIP technology offers services like caller identification and screening, easy digital file sharing, email notifications, call conferencing, and even reports. Examples of VoIP phone services include Nextiva, RingCentral, Facebook Messenger, and Skype.

However, VoIP caller has two meanings. The VoIP system itself and the person calling you using a VoIP system.

Therefore, a VoIP caller is someone calling you from a VoIP system. A VoIP caller is anybody who uses a digital signal to transmit their call through an internet connection, rather than analog phone lines.

With the global VoIP services market expected to reach $102.5 billion by 2026, more and more businesses are making the shift to cloud-calling technologies.

Do Businesses Need To Use a VoIP Service?

Businesses benefit from using a Voice over Internet Protocol service for many reasons, such as:

Better remote team collaboration
Large scale sales campaigns
Reduced spending
Increased scalability
Increased brand awareness
Easy digital file sharing

Leads to Better Remote Team Collaboration

For a business with many remote employees, VoIP systems make it easy and cost-efficient to keep in touch with your team and organize conferences. VoIP technology costs less than a regular telephone service. Businesses with multiple locations often set up VoIP phone systems to operate only within their offices using the business phones and computers.

Enables Large Scale Sales Campaigns

Many businesses use outbound calls to acquire and nurture leads, through cold calling and follow-ups. A VoIP system reduces the cost of constantly reaching out to people over the phone and makes it possible to contact anyone anywhere in the world.

Reduces Spending

VoIP services cost less than a traditional phone service, and they don’t require a lot of costly hardware. Companies can use existing computers and phones and simply download the required software. Moreover, there are free basic VoIP services available as well.

Increases Scalability

Businesses can easily add more lines using the same VoIP number, rather than calling in professionals to install a traditional phone line when they want to expand.

Increases Brand Awareness

VoIP services allow businesses to include custom tags and caller IDs. These IDs can be kept the same no matter which employee is calling a customer. A consistent caller ID increases brand awareness and recognition.

Allows for Easy Digital File Sharing

A VoIP phone system allows users to share digital files during a call. These include documents, images, audio files, and videos. File transmission will depend on the receiver’s device.

Sign up with RingCentral now.

How Does a VoIP Caller Work?

A VoIP caller transmits your audio signal over a broadband internet connection.

VoIP technology converts your voice into data packets that are moved through internet fibers until they get to the area of the receiver. If you’re calling another VoIP phone line, the data packet is converted to audio and connected directly with the receiver. If you’re calling traditional phones, the data packets are converted to regular phone signals before reaching the user.

A VoIP phone system uses the TCP/IP and Intelligent Endpoint protocols. TCP breaks your audio down into data packets while IP transmits it over the internet’s fiber optic cables. The Intelligent Endpoint protocols locate and send signals to the receiver.

How to Set Up & Use a VoIP Caller

Step-by-step guide on how to set up a voip caller system

You need very little equipment when setting up a VoIP phone. Make sure you have access to the internet, an adapter, a software provider, and a phone or computer.

An internet broadband connection is what transmits your signal. The adapter converts your audio to data packets. An adapter is connected to a regular phone or built into a special VoIP phone.

Not every VoIP caller requires an adapter. With a smartphone or computer, you can simply install the VoIP software. Depending on the device you use, you may need to buy a microphone and speaker. If you want to use your existing phones, you may need to install special adaptors.

When you select a VoIP provider such as Nextiva, simply sign up for an account and log into your dashboard. Decide your business hours and build your call flows, then install the desktop software. If you want a VoIP adapter or a softphone, reach out to Nextiva’s sales team.

How to Get a VoIP Number

You will need to sign up with a provider to get a VoIP phone number. VoIP providers have various methods of obtaining a VoIP number, but it’s usually simple depending on your requirements.

Nextiva, for example, gives you a number when you sign up for an account. A VoIP number can be a new number or an existing phone number that you connect to the VoIP through number porting.

Depending on the residential VoIP services of the VoIP caller, you get a fixed or a non-fixed VoIP number.

A fixed VoIP number is tied to your address. This does not limit features. Instead, you have benefits like being able to contact emergency services like 911. However, you pay taxes that come with using that area code.

With non-fixed VoIP telephone numbers, you can choose any area code to use no matter your location. Unlike a fixed number, there is limited access to government and emergency services.

VoIP phone numbers can be connected to different devices. For example, the same VoIP number is attached to a number of computers in a help center. This increases the rate and speed of pickup, because if someone calls, several phones ring at the same time, and the nearest agent picks up. It is also possible to speak with multiple users at the same time.

Get a VoIP Number with RingCentral today.

How Do I Identify a VoIP Caller?

To access VoIP services, a user is assigned a VoIP number. You can identify a VoIP caller by enabling caller ID information or looking up the VoIP number. Enabling caller ID software like Truecaller will automatically look up and display the ID.

Other ways to find out who is calling you with a VoIP phone is to track the number during the call, ask your service provider to provide you with details, or use a reverse phone lookup service.

It is possible to trace a VoIP call after it has ended if you have installed a pocket analyzer. This software saves traffic details during a VoIP call. Look through those details to find the IP address.

Businesses using Nextiva and other providers can customize their VoIP caller ID so that instead of “VoIP Caller”, you will see the brand name. Some callers use VPNs and Proxy servers to prevent IP address lookup. If a caller is doing that, it is probably better to block them.

How to Block VoIP Calls

The easiest way to block a VoIP caller ID is to use your device blocking features. The method varies by device. Sometimes, it is as simple as selecting the number and clicking “Block number.” Other times, you may need to contact your traditional phone system provider and ask that a number be blocked.

You can use caller ID software, sign up for the Do Not Call registry, or reach out to the number and ask not to be contacted again.

VoIP Security Risks

While VoIP is certainly the future of business communication, there are some risks to be aware of. As with most things on the web, VoIP can also be abused by scammers and criminals to damage your business.

By breaching your phone system, hackers can listen to your phone calls, amass phone bills, or steal sensitive information related to your business, yourself, and your customers.

Since VoiP calls are made over the internet, these call systems are prone to many of the risks we see in the digital world.

So what are the most common VoIP Security risks?

Phishing

Phishing is a malicious activity when scammers call using numbers that appear similar to legitimate organizations. These organizations include banks, tax departments, and government agencies. The scammer leaves a message about “suspicious activity” on the recipient’s account and asks the recipient to “verify their identity”.

As such, the victim may share sensitive information such as their bank account details or credit card information. In fact, over 59 million Americans lost money from a phone scam in 2021.

Signs of a phishing attack include:

Extreme urgency from the person on the other line
Unexpected calls from known numbers or reputable organizations
Short and unusual phone numbers on caller ID display
The other person keeps requesting you to verify sensitive information

To prevent phishing, your organization should verify all phone requests, even if they seem to come from your IT department. You also need to train your employees to refuse to disclose sensitive information unless cleared by a supervisor.

DDoS Attacks

DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks occur when criminals overwhelm a server with data and use up all of its bandwidth. In turn, your network or machine will be unavailable to its users after the DDoS attack disrupts the service.

If you use a VoIP caller and are tagged with a DDoS attack, you can’t make or receive any phone calls. DDoS attacks are on the rise and your business could be at risk. To mitigate DDoS attacks, we recommend using a separate, dedicated internet connection for your VoIP caller.

Virtual Local Area Networks, VLANs, are specifically dedicated for VoIP traffic and prevent DDoS attacks. For VoIP callers sharing across a wide area network (WAN), you can protect your organization from DDoS attack with managed encryption.

Eavesdropping

Eavesdropping is how most criminals steal sensitive information by obtaining passwords, names, and phone numbers. This allows them to take control of voicemail, calling plan, call forwarding, and billing information.

Voice Over Misconfigured Internet Telephone, or VOMIT, is a VoIP hacking technique that takes data and voice packets from calls directly. VOMIT is a form of eavesdropping and converts phone calls into files straight from your business phone system.

To protect your small business from VOMIT attacks and eavesdropping, use a cloud-based VoIP system with the latest call encryption techniques. Reputable VoIP callers come with end-to-end encryption and protect eavesdroppers from listening in on your important phone calls.

Pros & Cons of a VoIP Service for Businesses

In a nutshell, here are the advantages and disadvantages of using a VoIP service in your business.

VoIP Caller Pros

Can reach more people
VoIP calls cost less than traditional phone calls
More features like call forwarding and voicemail to email conversion
Portable
The same VoIP number can be connected to multiple phones
You can speak to multiple people at the same time
Easy to setup and use
Helps team collaboration
Can integrate with other apps like Slack and Zapier

VoIP Caller Cons

May be labeled as spam
Not everyone wants to receive VoIP calls

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for VoIP Caller

Are VoIP Calls Spam?

Some VoIP callers are spam and some aren’t. Chances are that if a brand is not concealing their identity, they aren’t spam calls. The anonymous callers that try to hide their IP addresses are mostly spam.

Why Would Someone Use a VoIP Caller?

People use VoIP technology because of its portability and convenience. A business owner can easily install an inexpensive VoIP software, and use the same VoIP numbers to run their business at full scale. Plus, VoIP phone numbers never change regardless of location, and you can reach almost anybody with a VoIP phone.

Should I Answer VoIP Phone Calls?

It is fine to answer VoIP calls when you can easily identify the caller. If the person calling is actively trying to hide their identity over the internet connection, then it is not advisable to pick up. In these instances, they are usually trying to scam you.

How Do I Block a VoIP Call?

There are many ways to stop VoIP calls. You can use your device settings, a caller ID app, mark the number as spam, contact your provider, and enter the DNC registry.

Conclusion: What Is a VoIP Caller?

A Voice over Internet Protocol phone service affords amazing benefits to both businesses and individuals. Using an internet connection, VoIP calls help businesses and freelancers connect with more prospects, manage sales campaigns, and manage team productivity. To individuals, it gives the ability to reach anyone in the world while traveling, using the same number.

Get your VoIP system set up with RingCentral.

March 14, 2022February 22, 2023

Best CRM for Ecommerce or Online Businesses

Person inputting card details in an online shopping platform

We understand that customers are the lifeblood of any ecommerce company. Fortunately, customer relationship management can significantly increase online sales (CRM).

Using unique marketing techniques, use the Best CRM for Ecommerce software to help you generate new and repeat customers.

Quick View

Best Overall – Salesforce
Best for Marketing Workflows – Act!
Best Free CRM Software – Zoho
Best for Integrations – Pipedrive
Best for Large Businesses – HubSpot
Best AI-Driven Software – Microsoft Dynamics

Salesforce

$25 to $300 per user per month

Complete customer information, social media insights

Automatic approvals, drag and drop simplicity

Can schedule tasks or events, view conversations with each client

Tableau analytics platform for finding insights

Act

$12 to $50 per user per month

Leads through marketing workflows, syncs with calendars and email

Email marketing programs, interactive templates

Keep tabs on current clients, monitor lead pipeline

Asset and website tracking, reporting tools

Zoho

Free to $52 per user per month,

CRM Plus $57 per user per month

Engage across multiple channels

Automate processes with simple drag and drop tools

Monitor within the platform and social media integration

See how your ecommerce site performs at every stage

Pipedrive

$12.50 to $99 per user per month

Use email marketing campaigns to drive prospects to clients

Customizable email templates, triggers to automate processes

View pipeline progress and communications

Campaigns pull in reports and insights

HubSpot

Free to $3,200 per month

Customized communications that drive sales

Visual automation builder

System logs interactions between employees and clients

Traffic analytics, custom reporting

Microsoft Dynamics

Marketing from $1,500 per month

Connect sellers with potential consumers through their preferred communication channels

Can automate inefficient tasks

Engage customers in real-time

AI-driven recommendations from insights and analytics

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Salesforce. Salesforce combines the best of CRM software with tools to assist online businesses of all sizes. Even at the entry level, contact and lead management tools are available, and the package includes insights and analytics to keep customers coming back.

6 Best CRMs for Ecommerce or Online Businesses

Without further ado, here are our picks for the best CRM solutions for ecommerce or online businesses currently on the market.

Salesforce – Best Overall CRM for Ecommerce

$25 to $300

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

Salesforce is a massive customer relationship management system with plans for businesses of all sizes. The entry-level plan, which costs $25 per user per month, includes contact management tools as well as access to the Salesforce mobile app.

If you want to use marketing automation to make your ecommerce website more efficient, you’ll need to spend at least $150 per month. Salesforce makes it simple to automate even the most complex sales process automation steps at this price point. Only the highest tier provides 24/7 customer support if problems arise.

Customer relationships are where ecommerce CRM software really shines. Salesforce has the marketing campaigns to keep repeat customers coming back where an ecommerce business thrives on them. The CRM solution even uses social media tools to share insights and fuel individual marketing strategies.

You can use Salesforce’s Tableau analytics platform to identify areas of opportunity in your online business as needed. Salesforce is the best CRM software available, providing all of the tools required to retain clients and increase online sales from a single centralized platform.

Included mobile app.
Tableau analytics platform.
Social media marketing.
Scales well from small businesses to large.

Limited support on all but the highest tier of service.

Act! – Best Ecommerce CRM for Marketing Workflows

$12 to $50

★★★★★

4.1

Visit

Act!’s ecommerce CRM system focuses on digital marketing features to engage potential customers and move them through the sales funnel. Even small businesses can benefit from offerings as low as $12 per user per month.

To take advantage of automated sales and marketing processes, teams will need to upgrade to a higher tier. These sales automation tools allow your CRM software to send marketing emails on your behalf while you focus on more important tasks. There are also hundreds of email marketing templates and sales pipeline management insights available.

Furthermore, Act! is comprehensive in terms of customer data tracking, allowing you to see the best ways to keep users plugged into your online store. Every CRM system in Act! is intended to integrate with other apps so that you always have all of the sales tools you require. Act! is also made possible by these tools. The best real estate CRM.

Act!’s CRM for ecommerce system provides powerful sales and marketing tools at a low enough cost that even small ecommerce businesses can use it.

Mobile app.
Several integration options.
Strong customer support.
Prices that scale with business needs.

Additional cost for advanced marketing automation tools.

Zoho – Best Free Ecommerce CRM Software

Free to $57

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Zoho offers CRM software solutions for both small and large ecommerce platforms. At the high end, Zoho CRM plus has the most features, and a free version is available for new ecommerce businesses.

Customer segmentation is used in ecommerce CRM software so that you can categorize and stay on top of customer behavior at all times. In addition to basic communication tools, Zoho CRM can connect with potential customers via social media.

Zoho has inventory management, which is free at the basic level, so you can keep an eye on what’s in storage without having to be there. This is one of several add-ons that can raise the price if you require something in addition to the base package.

Within Zoho’s CRM features, you can see which tools are providing the greatest return on investment and which are simply costing you money. The CRM system even tells you which keyword led the customer to your ecommerce store.

For startups or small e-commerce businesses that can’t afford software right now, Zoho is the best free CRM software option on the market. For companies willing to take the risk, comprehensive ecommerce CRM software packages.

Mobile app.
Free inventory management for one warehouse.
Several plan options.
Free trial available.

Add-ons can drive up the cost.

Pipedrive – Best Ecommerce CRM for Integrations

$12.50 to $99

★★★★★

3.8

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Pipedrive takes pride in being ridiculously simple to use, with its easily navigable dashboards and sharp email marketing tools. Pipedrive integrates with over 275 other tools to enhance these CRM systems.

There are a slew of customizable email templates and automation tools built into the ecommerce CRM software to help you streamline your marketing platform. The CRM solution saves communications and pipeline progress for each client as you work with them.

Despite the CRM solution’s low cost, ecommerce businesses will likely find the available tools lacking. While the next tier costs twice as much, it includes several CRM tools such as automated workflows to help ecommerce businesses run more efficiently.

Pipedrive collects and reports data from your ecommerce business’s email marketing campaigns for quick review. These analytics also provide insights into areas where your online store may need to improve for greater success.

Pipedrive’s CRM tool expands on an intuitive user dashboard by integrating with other apps that your ecommerce business relies on for success.

Simple user interface.
Hundreds of integrations.
Strong sales management options.
Several customizable areas.

The cheapest plan is quite short on ecommerce features.

HubSpot – Best CRM for Large Ecommerce Businesses

Free to $3,200

★★★★★

4.1

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Hubspot CRM may be pricey for small businesses, but it is one of the best CRMs for ecommerce options for larger businesses. There is a free plan available, but it includes HubSpot branding on all communications you send.

Large businesses with their own customer support departments can use HubSpot to handle interactions from a large client base efficiently. Teams can communicate with clients and each other from within HubSpot, so no information is lost to cyberspace.Large businesses with their own customer service departments can use HubSpot to efficiently handle interactions from a large client base. Teams can communicate with clients and with one another within HubSpot, ensuring that no information is lost in cyberspace.

Hubspot combines marketing automation and visual cues in a user-friendly format. To maximize customer return potential, ecommerce businesses can tailor these custom workflows to the needs of their online stores. The CRM service also includes built-in web forms to eliminate any uncertainty about what clients require.

The ecommerce CRM software uses traffic analytics to show where sales are coming from. You can create custom reports that only follow the information you want to see.

HubSpot’s CRM solutions are undeniably expensive, but the breadth of tools available to large businesses is unparalleled.

Omni-channel automated marketing applications.
Built-in collaboration tools between team members.
Free option available.
Visual automation builder.

Sales and marketing platforms each have unique costs.

Microsoft Dynamics – Best AI-Driven Ecommerce CRM

From $1,500

★★★★★

4.1

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Microsoft enters the fray with Dynamics, its own ecommerce CRM software. Dynamics distinguishes itself by utilizing Microsoft’s artificial intelligence to provide business-specific insights.

The ecommerce CRM solution allows you to connect with customers on their preferred platform, whether it’s social media or another. Even better, you can chat with customers in real time right from the Dynamics CRM system.

A plethora of automation features enable users to eliminate time-consuming, repetitive tasks that a computer can handle more efficiently.

All of these impressive features come at a cost, and Dynamics offers two different plans for its sales and marketing software. Marketing software costs $1,500 per user per month, and capitalizing on sales costs an additional $65 per month. Many other features of the CRM solution only add to the cost.

Microsoft Dynamics adds artificial intelligence software to an already impressive CRM platform. This solution is not cheap, but the enhanced analytics can identify issues that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Integrates well with other Microsoft apps.
Uses artificial intelligence for analytics.
In-app collaboration tools.
Ability to engage customers in real-time.

Pricey software.
Limited to Windows machines.

How To Choose CRM Software for Ecommerce Software or Online Businesses

When perusing ecommerce CRM systems, consider these points before making a purchase:

Your customer base.
Pricing.
Features.
Integrations.
Customer service.

Consider Your Customer Base

Customers are critical to ecommerce success, and knowing who your customers are is half the battle. Once you’ve identified your target client base, make sure the CRM software you choose allows you to reach out to and market to them.

Look at Pricing

While you often get what you pay for, some more expensive ecommerce CRM solutions simply provide more than a startup or small business requires. Determine your budget’s limits so you can have realistic expectations about what you can afford.

Check the Features

Consider the features you already have access to and those you can’t live without as you plan to add CRM software to your existing list of applications. Some CRM packages charge separately for marketing and sales. Others, at lower price points, do not include automation tools.

Integrations

If you already have software for sales, marketing, or project management, it’s always a good idea to find a CRM solution that integrates with it. Having to deal with ten different apps is inconvenient, but working on them all from one location can be beneficial.

Customer Service

Who will you contact if things don’t work as they should? Check the CRM software’s customer service plans to ensure someone will be available when you need them. Many plans do not provide any assistance for free or entry-level software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best CRM for Ecommerce

Does Ecommerce Need CRM?

Yes, ecommerce can benefit significantly from what CRM can bring. Where physical stores have direct interaction with customers, CRM solutions provide the insights you can’t get any other way.

Which CRM Is Best for Ecommerce?

While there are many CRM options available that suit many different business types, we feel that Salesforce does the most for the price points it covers.

Is Shopify a CRM?

No, Shopify is an ecommerce platform businesses can use to sell products online. CRM solutions can optimize marketing and sales for your company on the site.

Final Thoughts on Best CRM for Ecommerce

It can be difficult to keep track of what consumers are thinking in an ever-changing world. Customer relationship management tools can significantly improve client acquisition and retention.

For all of the tools it provides, we believe Salesforce is the best ecommerce CRM software. If Salesforce doesn’t speak to you, we’re confident that one of the other CRM software options on this list will.

March 7, 2022March 20, 2023

The 10 Best VoIP Providers in 2023

As new technology emerges, professional communication tools are no longer limited to large corporations. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software brings cost-effective calling to businesses of any size while adding features that increase both productivity and efficiency. We found the best VoIP providers for businesses of all types.

Quick View

Best Overall – RingCentral
Best Customer Service – Nextiva
Best API Customization – Vonage
Best for Direct Dial Numbers – Ooma Office
Best for Team Collaboration – Mitel
Best AI Functionality – Dialpad
Best Flat Rate VoIP Provider – Grasshopper
Best for Call Centers – Freshdesk Contact Center
Best for International Calling – 8×8
Best for Audio and Video Conferencing – GoTo Connect

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99 per user per month

On-demand or automatic depending on plan

Visual voicemail, voicemail to email, voicemail to text

Up to 100 video participants for free

Multi-level auto attendant

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95 per user per month

Can record calls and videos at higher tiers

Voicemail to email or SMS notifications, no call forwarding

Video up to 250 participants, unlimited audio conferences

Can customize to route calls to appropriate area

Vonage

As low as $14.99 per month, scales with business

On-demand call recording

Virtual voicemail, recordings sent to inbox, call forwarding

Up to 30 participants with conference bridge

AI virtual assistant with natural voice interactions

Ooma Office

$19.95 to $24.95 per month per user

Record calls and play back as needed with Pro plan

Basic voicemail and call forwarding available

Up to 25 participants with Pro plan

Automate how you manage incoming calls

Mitel

$25.49 to $46.74 per user per month

On-demand or always on at higher tiers only

Voicemail transcription limited to higher tiers

Up to 100 person video conferences

Can set up and record prompts

Dialpad

$15 to $25 per user per month, custom plans available

As simple as clicking the record button

Voicemail transcription at any tier level

Video conferencing with AI transcription

Multi-level auto attendant

Grasshopper

$26 to $80 per month

None available

Call forwarding and voicemail to email audio files

None available

Custom greetings, live receptionist available for an additional fee

Freshdesk Contact Center

$0 to $99 per user per month

Record calls to gauge team’s performance

Can forward calls at any time to voicemail

Conference calls to collaborate from anywhere

Automatic call distribution system to get calls to the right place

8×8

$15 to $133 per user per month

Save recordings to your device or a cloud

Call forwarding, voicemail transcription

HD audio and video conferencing with up to 500 participants

Multi-level auto attendant

GoTo Connect

$22 to $39 per user per month

Record all calls or just specific ones, access recordings from the cloud

Call forwarding, voicemail to email

Built-in one click audio and video conferencing

Recorded greetings to route callers to the right place

Quick Verdict

Best Overall: RingCentral. RingCentral makes its service available for as low as $19.99 per month to small businesses. You can make and receive unlimited calls within the US and Canada, structure automated prompts for callers, and make use of several collaborative tools to boot.

The Best VoIP Providers for Businesses

Choosing the right VoIP provider for your business comes down to functionality, feature set, and price. Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of the best VoIP providers for businesses on our list.

RingCentral

$19.99 to $49.99

★★★★★

4.7

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RingCentral isn’t afraid of sharing features. Even its introductory plan at $19.99 per user monthly has voicemail capabilities, toll-free numbers with minutes, and access to the mobile app. Jumping up a tier adds in the majority of remaining features for just $27.99 a user.

Call recording is available on-demand at this price point, but saving the conversations you want to keep is as easy as the push of a button. You can set up your multi-level auto attendant with custom greetings and phrases to help it guide customers to the correct member of your team.

A separate application called RingCentral Video Pro allows you to host meetings of up to 100 participants and integrates well with Google and Microsoft. The basic video package is always free, but there is an option to upgrade for $11.99 per user per month.

With all it offers, RingCentral can be daunting for new users to dive into. Once you’ve learned the software and taught your team, you likely won’t look back.

This internet phone service stands out further by providing a means to share documents and chats within the app itself. This piece of project management software can be a huge blessing for smaller businesses that can’t afford multiple packages.

RingCentral covers communication and collaboration for one low price, making it the best VoIP provider for small businesses. Check out our complete RingCentral review if you’re interested in this software.

Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Built-in team messaging and document sharing

Can be overcomplicated for first time users

Nextiva

$11.95 to $57.95

★★★★★

4.4

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Nextiva has an abundance of features at its disposal, but a lot of these are hidden away in higher-tier plans. It’s possible to use the VoIP service for under $12 per month, but most key components aren’t accessible unless you’re able to pay $26.95 per user per month for the Enterprise plan.

At this level, you’ll be able to perform an unlimited number of audio or video calls or conferences with customers or teams. You can be notified of any calls you miss through email or SMS. The Enterprise plan also allows you to record calls or video conferences for training or future reference.

Nextiva has an attentive auto-attendant that helps save time on the phone. While the lower tier offers only a basic attendant, higher-level plans allow you to customize the attendant to your specific business phone system. It can also direct calls to the right person within your team.

A mobile and desktop app is available at all price points and lets you manage your communications from anywhere you have internet access. Should you encounter any issues along the way, Nextiva boasts 24/7 customer support that is quick to problem-solve. To learn more about Nextiva’s features, read our complete Nextiva review.

Unlimited calling within US and Canada
Mobile app to stay connected from anywhere
Customizable auto attendant
24/7 customer support

Call recording is limited to higher-tier plans

Vonage

From $14.99

★★★★★

4.3

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Vonage is no stranger to VoIP, providing internet phone service to both home and business. When it comes to business, pricing per user varies depending on how many team members you have. Businesses between 20 and 50 users pay $14.99 for the lowest tier plan, but smaller enterprises will pay more. Once you’ve surpassed 100 users, you’ll have to call sales for a quote.

This VoIP service prides itself on keeping you connected, offering a mobile and desktop app to access your communications from anywhere. When it’s time to put the business down for the day, you can still be notified of important voicemails or allow only specific calls through.

To help screen calls, Vonage has an AI-based virtual assistant that understands voice. It has the capability to direct callers where they need to go and can be customized further at higher-priced tiers.

Of all its features, Vonage has limitations on large-scale conferences. Its conference bridge only allows 30 participants to join at one time, which may not be enough for some teams. Vonage’s customer service also leaves something to be desired, only reachable through email or chat.

If you’re familiar with APIs, Vonage has several layers of customization to make your setup unique. Customers remember a tailored phone experience much more than a canned one.

Vonage is a large telecommunications provider that still understands the tools small businesses need to succeed. Its customizability affords the opportunity to make your internet phone service your own.

Several routing options to never miss a call
Apps for mobile and desktop
Very customizable with communications APIs

Limited customer support
Hard to understand which plans offer which features

Ooma Office

$19.95 to $24.95

★★★★★

3.9

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Ooma Office has two price points for businesses that vary significantly in features. To use the features that small businesses tend to use the most, you will need to grab the Office Pro plan at $24.95 per user per month.

The basic tier lacks the ability to record any phone call. Pro users can choose to record every conversation or set up the app to save talks on demand. Similarly, the entry-level package doesn’t have the means to do any video conferencing with clients or your team. Nor will you be able to access the desktop app to communicate or manage VoIP settings on the low-priced tier.

No matter which plans you choose, you will be able to make use of voicemail or call forwarding as needed. You can also set up an AI attendant to receive calls and point clients to the correct team member.

A true benefit of Ooma Office is that each user receives a unique direct-dial number instead of an extension. This can add a level of professionalism to a business while making it easier for customers to reach your team. If you have a number you’re passionate about, Ooma often waives the fee for porting it over.

Most of Ooma’s best features are only available in the Pro plan. That being said, all your users have access to a personal direct-dial number no matter which package you choose. Read our Ooma Office review to learn more about its pricing and features.

Desktop and mobile app
Unlimited calling in U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico
Direct dial numbers for each user

Desktop app is limited to the Pro plan

Mitel

$25.49 to $46.74

★★★★★

4.2

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Mitel keeps most of its features as low-hanging fruit, giving access to a majority of its tools for $25.49 per user on a monthly basis. Limitations creep in with voicemail transcription and call recording. You can only find these features hiding out in higher-tier plans.

At every price point, Mitel makes available its slew of collaborative tools. These include video conferences of up to 100 people and a platform for teamwork and business SMS messages. Although Mitel integrates with Salesforce, what’s offered here is enough for a small business to start.

The internet phone service further links up with Microsoft Outlook and Google’s suite of applications for seamless information sharing. It also casually shells out an unlimited number of minutes per month for outbound calls–something that’s usually limited in other plans.

What makes Mitel frustrating at times is the amount of work it takes to initially set up. Once you’ve navigated these potholes, you should have clear roads ahead.

Finally, Mitel’s app works on PC, Android, and iOS devices, so you can stay plugged in no matter where you are. It’s easy to reroute calls when you’re ready to hang things up for the day.

100-user video conferences available even at the lowest tier
Unlimited minutes per month
Integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Google Suite
App for PC, Android, and iOS

Initial setup can be daunting

Dialpad

$15 to $25

★★★★★

4.6

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Dialpad has a lot of great features, but none compare to what it can do with artificial intelligence. This AI can be the core of your customer service experience, guiding callers to the correct location while setting the tone of your business.

You can also use AI to scale sales and revenue to be proactive on each of those fronts through automated messaging. These virtual assistants can also transcribe conversations during video conferences that you can read through later.

When transcribing voicemail, the AI lets you know the tone of the message, so you know what you’re about to jump into. Dialpad also makes call recording easy, where a click of a button records and then saves those critical pieces of data.

The two price points vary the most when it comes to customer service, as Dialpad isn’t always available should you use the Standard plan. The Standard plan also limits your service to one physical location.

Each plan boasts unlimited calling and SMS to stay at the forefront of communication. Best of all, you can find out for yourself risk-free through Dialpad’s 14-day trial.

Dialpad maximizes its artificial intelligence output through attendant and transcription to save you time and effort. Check out our complete Dialpad review if you’re interested in this tool.

Free 14-day trial
Unlimited calls, SMS, group messaging
Call recording and voicemail transcription at every tier
AI can record conversations for playback later

Limited integrations and support on the Standard plan

Grasshopper

$26 to $80

★★★★★

3.1

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Grasshopper introduces a rather unique pricing formula that makes it one of the best VoIP providers for small businesses. All features are always made available, and plans are flat rate depending on the number of phone lines and extensions you use.

For $26 per month, you’ll have access to one phone number and three extensions. This scales to $80 a month for five lines but an unlimited number of extensions to share among your team.

Each line or extension can set up its own call forwarding and voicemail transcription for calls that don’t get answered. A desktop and mobile app make this process as smooth as can be.

Grasshopper lets you record personalized greetings when customers call in to help guide them to the right extension. If this isn’t enough, Grasshopper partners with Ruby to send your calls to a live receptionist for an additional fee.

The VoIP service doesn’t have the means to record audio from phone calls, nor does it have any conferencing capabilities. This may not be an issue for small businesses but should be kept in mind if you’re working across multiple locations.

Grasshopper’s flat monthly rate speaks to businesses that don’t need a lot of phone numbers but still want to capitalize on features. If you’re interested in this VoIP provider, check out our complete Grasshopper review.

Free 7-day trial
Mobile and desktop apps
Flat rate per month

Lacks conferencing and call recording

Freshdesk Contact Center

$0 to $99

★★★★★

4.3

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Freshdesk Contact Center’s feature list fits well with businesses that make use of a call center. There is technically a free VoIP plan, but this tier doesn’t offer a single minute of incoming or outgoing calls. You’re forced to pay for every minute your team uses.

It’s almost assuredly better to invest in one of the other plans that start with 2,000 free minutes and scale depending on how much voice traffic you’re going to see each month. These plans also grow in features representative of larger-scale businesses.

The internet phone service includes call recording to monitor employee interactions with customers. There are also options for wait queues and custom greetings to keep callers informed.

Conference calls let you stay in touch with your team to collaborate and share insights. You can capture notes while on calls to look back on as needed.

While you can customize some initial interaction points with customers, most of the software is rigid and unable to be modified. It’s designed with call centers in mind, and there’s little you can do to get away from that. However, if your small business has a call center of any size, Freshdesk is worth a look.

Freshdesk Contact Center is built for call centers with agent tracking, call recording, and a real-time dashboard.

Free 21-day trial
Call notes on conference calls
Monitor service levels

Limited customization options

8×8

$15 to $133

★★★★★

4.6

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8×8, named for the number of video pixels representing the basic building block of video transformation, brings together voice, video, and messaging.

Even the Express plan for $15 per user per month doesn’t shy away from features. You can use the auto attendant to build a multi-level automated call system with prompts and talk back. One account allows for multiple call flows depending on the origin of the call.

You’re also privy to visual voicemail features that you can read at a glance. Even at this level, it’s possible to set up video conferences for up to 100 individuals. The software can record and transcribe meetings for future reference.

Video conferencing capability grows with each plan, expanding to a total of 500 participants at higher levels. While missing from the Express package, call recording is available to keep important conversations or points you want to circle back to later.

These higher-tier plans also introduce the ability to call internationally to 48 different countries. Communications to these countries are unlimited at these plan levels.

For all 8×8 does have, it’s not as easy to identify and block spam calls like the other best VoIP providers for businesses can. While not impossible, it can’t be accomplished with a simple button press.

8×8’s X Series is one of the best VoIP apps for business or personal use with stellar features and the capability to connect with 48 countries around the globe. Read our ultimate 8×8 review to learn more about its features and pricing.

Voice calling for up to 48 countries
HD video conferencing
Mobile and desktop apps

Limited protection from spam calls

GoTo Connect

$22 to $39

★★★★★

4.5

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Formerly known as Jive, GoTo Connect has rebranded itself as one of the best VoIP providers for small businesses. At the top of its list of features are built-in audio and video conferencing tools that require nothing more than a click to use.

Conferencing is handled seamlessly from GoTo Connect’s desktop or mobile apps without requiring any additional downloads. You can pull in up to 250 people from 30 different countries, even with just the base package.

While you’re chatting with your team, your auto attendant can field your incoming calls with custom greetings and directions. If no one can answer the phone, the internet phone service can forward calls elsewhere, or you can receive an email notification from voicemail.

Plans don’t cost an arm and a leg either, with the Basic plan at $22 per user per month. You’ll need to upgrade plans to have access to call recording and GoTo Connect’s analytics.

Even small businesses need more than local calling, and GoTo Connect skimps on minutes until you reach the upper echelon of its plans. The same holds true for international calling, where they could be a bit more generous upfront.

Bottom Line: GoTo Connect carries a lot of features even at the basic level, with a stellar audio and video conferencing service.

Built-in conferencing at every level
Unlimited extensions
Real-time analytics

Limited toll-free minutes in lower tiers

Choosing the Best VoIP Provider For Your Business

When deciding what the best VoIP provider might be for your business, consider how the following features would impact your business.

Hardware
Local/toll-free numbers
Desktop/mobile apps
Call routing
Customer support
Usability
Price

Hardware

When investing in VoIP software, you’ll also need to pick up or have access to the appropriate hardware to make use of your new service. Providers often sell headsets or VoIP-specific phones as an add-on to your package. In some cases, you may be able to bring in a VoIP-enabled device that you already own.

Local/Toll-free Numbers

Even if you’re only planning to run a local business to start, consider how it will scale over time. If you expand to online sales, it’s helpful to have a toll-free number that customers can call from anywhere.

The best VoIP providers for small businesses give you room to scale and add toll-free or vanity numbers as you grow. They also allow a number of toll-free minutes for calls to keep your costs down.

Desktop and Mobile Apps

While VoIP revolves around making and receiving calls, a desktop or mobile app serves as a hub for customization, collaboration, and analytics. Here’s a list of the best VoIP cell phone services for you to check out.

These apps allow you to view incoming and outgoing calls, listen to recordings, and see how each member handles the calls they receive. Analytics can show how long customers are on hold, and where bottlenecks are located and offer insights to make your system more efficient.

It’s also within these apps that some VoIP providers feature video conferencing so you can communicate with your teams no matter where they may be.

Call Routing

Customers hate being bounced around when they call in with a question, or complaint, or to place an order. It’s important to use a VoIP service provider that helps customers navigate where they need to go and fast.

Auto attendants serve as a means to greet callers without tying up one of your staff, and most can be customized to fit your business. Multi-level attendants can seamlessly weave clients through a maze of prompts and handle callers differently based on the criteria you choose.

Customer Support

An internet phone service is only as good as the amount of time it’s working. Most VoIP services boast 99.99% uptime, but it’s crucial to be able to reach for help when something isn’t working as planned. Some basic plans lack customer support options, so check before you buy.

Usability

It stands to reason that your entire team will be working with your VoIP software in some capacity. Whether these people are tech-savvy or not, the service needs to be presented in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand.

Some VoIP providers have a lot of features and are difficult to take in at first glance. Should you choose one of these, work through the systems first to teach your team when the time comes.

Price

Pricing is an integral factor for any small business, and VoIP systems providers don’t typically come cheap – however, there are some pretty affordable VoIP services worth checking out. Although you want to pick a plan that factors into your budget now, make sure it also scales well as your company grows. Some providers offer discounts based on the number of users who receive a line or extension.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best VoIP Providers

Is VoIP Good for Small Businesses?

Yes, using a VoIP provider for your communication can be an ideal solution for its cost-effectiveness. These services also scale well with businesses, allowing you to add or remove lines as needed.

Do Businesses Need Landlines?

No, landlines were the only viable option for many years, but VoIP phone systems is rising up to take its place. VoIP also introduces other features such as conferencing and recording that landline phones can’t offer.

What Are the Disadvantages of VoIP?

As the name implies, Voice over Internet Protocol relies solely on the strength of your internet connection. It requires a decent internet speed and stability to avoid dropping calls or experiencing lag.

Can a VoIP Phone Call a Landline?

Yes, VoIP phones function just like a traditional landline in the sense that they can call anywhere your plan authorizes. There’s no distinction between landlines or other VoIP phone system.

Conclusion: Best VOIP Providers

VoIP technology brings not only a better way to communicate with customers but also tools to help your company succeed. Recordings and easy-to-access voicemail mean you’ll never miss an important detail, while audio and video conferencing help keep your team on the same page.

We’ve found RingCentral to be the top option for businesses with its low price point, robust feature set, and unlimited calling anywhere in the US or Canada. If RingCentral doesn’t push your buttons, we’re confident one of the other VoIP service providers on this list will.

March 3, 2022November 23, 2022

How To Start an Online Store in 2023

Thanks to modern technology, starting an online store has never been easier. Shipping companies make it possible to get products anywhere in the world in a flash. Web hosting platforms educate even the untrained in how to build the website of their dreams. Follow the steps below to learn how to start an online store yourself.

Step 1: Choose Your Concept/Product

Before you start building your ecommerce business, you need to have something to sell. It’s essential to approach your online store with a unique selling position. What is it about your merchandise that will stand out among the competition? Of course you’d rather sell products you’re excited about, but you don’t want your business to get lost in the vast reaches of the internet.

When choosing what you want your own products to be, consider the following questions:

Are you going to sell something physical or offer a digital product?
If you’re making it yourself, can you keep up with demand?
Can you locate a quality manufacturer for components or the product itself?
Do you have the space to keep inventory if you have multiple products?
How narrow or broad will your product category be?
Is this a product you’ll still be excited about down the road?

Before spending any money on your online business, make sure that you’ve researched and tested your concept. Don’t hesitate to bounce the idea off a few friends or others who will give honest feedback.

Step 2: Create a Business Plan

As you’re working through the details of your store, you’ll need to make a business model that encompasses the costs that will appear along the way. A sound business strategy goes a long way toward lessening bumps down the road.

Register Your Business

Depending on the state (or country) you’re setting up in, check to see if there are any business or sales tax licenses. Each region can have very different regulations when it comes to ecommerce stores and how you store inventory.

Should you bring a never-before-seen product to the internet, you’ll want to see if there’s anything patentable. Don’t let your great idea get ripped off because you didn’t take the time to protect it.

Whether you’re starting out solo or with a friend, you’ll need to define your business structure. For example, sole proprietorships link your business and personal assets together, whereas a limited liability company (LLC) lets you keep the two separate.

Partnerships are set up for two individuals starting a business together. Within a partner agreement, you’ll define each of your roles and responsibilities. If this process seems daunting, consider bringing in a business lawyer to help with the fine print.

Count the Costs

Your product is going to come from somewhere. Even if you make it with your own two hands, there will be costs associated with the materials you’ll need for a finished item.

Dropshipping or shipping (if you don’t pass costs to the consumer)
Domain name
Web hosting platform
Sales tax and income tax
Salaries for additional help

After you’ve chosen a shipping method, there may be fees for a dropshipper or even to send directly if you don’t pass along those costs to the consumer.

There will be recurring fees to keep your domain name and hosting platform up and running. These costs depend on the plans you choose for a site builder or web host you use to create your website.

Quarterly, you’re going to have to pay sales tax and income tax on what’s coming in and going out. Some tools can help you understand these expenses and keep you advised on what you’ll have to pay when the time comes.

You might be a one-person operation as you bring your own business online, but that may not always be the case. Should you hire additional help, you’ll need to budget for that as well.

Costs associated with starting an online store

Step 3: Come Up With a Name

Once you’ve worked out the details of what your online store is going to sell, you need to build the actual ecommerce website. To do so, you’ll need to create a business name that will represent you online. Make sure it’s something catchy and unique that will stick in a consumer’s head so they can remember it the next time they’re in the market for your product.

With a business name established, your ecommerce site will also need a domain name. This domain name is the unique access point to your own site and must be different from all other websites out there. Choose something that compliments your name and brand.

Since domain names have to be unique, your first choice may not be available. Should this happen, play with hyphens, move words around, or spell out numbers. Keep it simple, ideally to three words or less.

Step 4: Choose Your Online Platform

With a domain name in tow, you’ll need to make use of a web hosting service to turn your domain into a new online store. Some of the best Ecommerce platforms include a domain name with your plan, but you might prefer the do-it-yourself route.

Most website builders offer free trials, so you can try them before you buy. Each platform comes with different tiers of service, so study the features of each to determine which works best with your online store. Be sure to pick something that can grow with your small business.

Shopify

Shopify is a well-known ecommerce platform that doubles as an online store builder. Once you’ve created an account, you can choose from pre-constructed templates or build your own. Since you’re one of many online stores on Shopify, take the time to make yours stand out as much as possible.

WordPress + WooCommerce

WordPress, with the WooCommerce extension, is another website builder to consider. While the platform itself doesn’t cater solely to online shopping, WooCommerce adds all the tools you’ll need to create content for your online store.

Wix

Wix similarly has an ecommerce builder that online businesses can use to sculpt the site of their dreams. Although Wix is another hosting service that covers a range of niches, it has robust sales features for selling online.

Choosing the DIY method? Bluehost offers some of the lowest prices for web hosting–starting at $4.95 per month.

Step 5: Build Your Site

Your website speaks loudly to potential customers, and a successful online store will make it as appealing as possible. Give yourself a unique identity to share who you and your products are while increasing the customer experience. First impressions are crucial and help develop a sense of brand loyalty.

Don’t immediately shy away from paid templates or taking the time to build (or program) the site yourself. Any personal touches will go a long way toward that unique appeal you need to succeed.

When building your site, determine your target audience and work around that niche. This target market should be an area you’re familiar with that you can inject your own personality into.

Keep Mobile Users in Mind

There’s been a trend of more sales coming from mobile devices, and you don’t want to neglect this group of shoppers. Not every template or style available on your site builder will run or look good on a smartphone or tablet, so be sure to choose one that offers mobile-responsive sites, which automatically resize and optimize your site for mobile.

Add Products and Set Pricing

With a template created, it’s time to start building product pages. When users shop online, they want to be able to quickly navigate to whatever they’re looking for and then be on their way. This is an important point to remember when deciding on a layout.

Your product descriptions need to capture the essence of what you’re selling in a minimal number of words. You’ll be lucky if potential customers get through a paragraph or two of text before losing interest. To go along with your concise description, quality photos are essential since customers can’t view things on a rack or try them on.

When first starting out, it may be better to start with a small number of items to test the proverbial waters. This will also help with initial inventory management. As you find success, you can open up your site to a more diverse selection of wares.

Step 6: Set Up Payment Methods

Now that your online business is fleshed out with the items you’re going to sell, you’ll need to choose how you’ll be accepting payments. While often overlooked, set the currency to use for each purchase. Your e-commerce business may reach international shores, and you don’t want any confusion about pricing.

The online store builders referenced earlier provide ways for customers to pay you. Depending on which hosting plan you choose, you may be able to accept payments from a check or bank transfer directly from the platform.

Customers will likely prefer to use a credit or debit card for purchases, so having this option available is key. For credit card payments, you’ll want to link up your site to a secure payment gateway. These payment gateways add the security necessary to process card charges online.

The most popular options to consider are:

Stripe
Square
PayPal

It’s not a bad idea to give customers access to multiple payment gateways, as your clients may have a preference. Having multiple options is also a benefit in the event one of the gateways goes down. Be sure to verify that your hosting platform integrates with whichever gateways you choose.

Step 7: Think About How To Ship Products

If your ecommerce store is selling a physical item, you’ll want to work out shipping details for getting the product into your customers’ hands. There are two routes to pick from here.

Dropshipping

You can hire a dropshipping company to handle all your shipping for you. These businesses will take a portion off the top of each sale but will deliver your product for you. Alternatively, you can choose products from a marketplace, such as AliExpress, to sell in your online store and never have to store inventory.

Ship It Yourself

Should you wish to handle your deliveries yourself, you’ll need to be able to handle any and all demands. You’ll also have to set shipping costs and work with your preferred shipping provider to ensure items arrive at the right location and on time.

Step 8: Ready for Launch

With all these steps complete, your ecommerce website is finally on the verge of launch. Run through your links, check product descriptions, and make sure everything works as it should.

With one last click of a button, publish your online store. Congrats, your site is now live! You’re on your way to making your first sale.

Step 9: Create Online Marketing Strategies

Whether or not your products start flying off the shelves, you can’t rest on your laurels. You’ll need a good marketing strategy to retain existing customers and keep bringing in new ones.

Social Media Marketing

For new businesses, social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are the biggest paid marketing channels to promote through. Each advertising platform offers inexpensive ways to get the word out about your site. Strategic social media posts can pique interest in no time flat. Plus, you can sell products through your social media channels.

Offer Incentives

Shoppers will admittedly come and go, but don’t overlook what you can do with your marketing strategy. A structured email marketing campaign can remind people just what they’re missing. Getting the word out about daily deals or flash sales will likely bring clients back and boost the customer lifetime value (CLV) of your site.

Utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Many customers will use search engines, such as Google or Bing, to find your site for the first time. Focusing on your site’s SEO can make all the difference between your site and a competitor’s simply because one of them is optimized in Google and the other isn’t.

Step 10: Allow for Customer Feedback

Customers are the lifeblood of your business, and a wise business owner will listen to what they have to say. Be sure to create a means to hear back from your shoppers, whether it be from a survey or a place for reviews. You may glean helpful tips to improve aspects of your business that would have gone otherwise overlooked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an online store?

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to begin your online journey for free, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either. If you’re willing to do all the work yourself, you can get by spending only the funds you need for a domain, hosting, and fees surrounding licensing and taxes.

How do I become a successful online retailer?

To be successful in the online world, you need to identify an untapped niche or find a way to set yourself apart from the competition. After building a unique space, a solid marketing strategy can bring in customers new and old.

How do I start an online store with no money?

Trying to start an online business with no money is a bit of a pipe dream, but there are ways to curb costs. Some hosting platforms offer a free service with limited functionality to help get things off the ground. You may even be able to get a free domain through the same platform.

Keep in mind that free may be beneficial in the short term, but you’ll be very limited in what you can do. This can have a dramatic effect on long-term potential and your ability to carve out a unique space.

How do beginners sell online?

It’s possible to sell just about anything on the market if you have the means to make it. Even someone lacking expertise in web design can build an ecommerce site with the help of templated hosting platforms. Pre-built marketing campaigns can elevate your success and keep customers coming back for more.

Final Thoughts on How to Start an Online Store

Ecommerce only continues to grow over time as more people turn to the internet for product consumption. The online space makes it possible for beginners to have success selling products without the need for a costly physical space.

Turning your business idea into a thriving online store isn’t an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult either. If you’re willing to put in the work, the steps covered in this article can set you on the path to a profitable business in short order.

March 1, 2022November 23, 2022

Best Restaurant POS Systems in 2023

Managing all the facets of a restaurant can be a tireless endeavor. Fortunately, point of sale (POS) systems exist to bring everything from payments to staff management together in one neat package.

This article looks at the top restaurant POS systems in the restaurant industry today and highlights those that stand out the most.

Quick View

Best Overall – Toast
Best for Small Restaurants – TouchBistro
Best Free POS System – Square for Restaurants
Best for Restaurants With Multiple Locations – Revel
Best for Integrations – Lightspeed Restaurant
Best for Quick-Service Restaurants – Clover

Toast

Free to $165 per month, custom options available

Accelerate service with accurate customer placement

Access to scheduling and payroll add-on

Commission-free channels for ordering and delivery

Detailed reports and analytics that can be accessed from anywhere

TouchBistro

Starts at $69 per month for a single POS terminal, with optional add-ons

Floor plan maker, table assignments, table monitoring

Simplify shift management, build payroll

Add-on feature, allows ordering from website

Over 50 reports that update in real-time

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60 per month per location, custom options available

Customizable floor plan, optimize layout, and monitor every seat

Scheduling, clocking in and out within the system

Free e-commerce site, integrations with third-party apps

View daily stat summaries, keep tabs on business trends

Revel

From $99 per month per terminal

Custom dining room layout, identify high and low volume areas

Create and modify schedules, unique passcodes for each team member

Fully integrated online order solution

Reporting for sales, inventory, labor

Lightspeed

$39 to $289 per month, additional terminals $39 per month. Custom options available

Adjust the floor plan on the app, check table stats

No staffing options, links to other software for accounting

Delivery and contactless online ordering

Advanced insights reveal successes and failures

Clover

Free to $69.95 per month

Guest seating, dynamic floor plans

Manage shifts and schedules

Customers can order from website, app, or a third-party

Robust point of sale reporting

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Toast. Toast offers the best of everything from table management to online ordering and everything in-between. Best of all, the software is available at several different price points to accommodate any size business.

6 Best POS Systems for Restaurants

Here are the six best restaurant POS systems available with all the features you need to run your business efficiently.

Toast

Free to $165

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

If your restaurant management system uses only one or two POS terminals, Toast’s free plan contains a handful of restaurant-specific features to get you working efficiently. To build an online footprint, you will need to upgrade to the Essentials plan at $165 per month.

In either case, restaurant businesses will likely need to invest in Toast’s proprietary hardware to run the show. These restaurant computer systems do not come cheap, making the Toast POS system even viable for larger full-service restaurants.

The POS system makes it easy to develop a table service restaurant plan to optimize service and turnover rate. If you can get them in the door, Toast has email marketing and customer loyalty programs to keep them coming back for a nominal additional fee. Using the best VoIP app can help expedite communications to customers.

Toast’s interface allows restaurant owners to view sales across all locations. It’s also possible to watch which tactics are working and which areas could use improvement.

Free tier of service.
Commission-free online orders.
24/7 customer support.
Software built around Android platforms.

Proprietary hardware.
Limited options for reservations.

TouchBistro

Starts at $69

★★★★★

3.7

Visit

TouchBistro makes it easy for businesses to plug into its POS software with nothing more than an internet connection and a handful of iPads. These restaurant iPad POS systems tend to speak well to a small restaurant that could struggle with proprietary hardware fees.

Even at its most basic level, the restaurant POS software features floor plan and table management, menu management, inventory calculations, and the ability to handle employee scheduling. TouchBistro plays well with other apps to enhance accounting or help manage inventory, which makes restaurant payroll a bit easier. Payment processing has to be done through a third party, often resulting in extra fees.

With TouchBistro, you can build your website to handle reservation management to bring more customers inside your establishment. This service is one of many that comes with an extra fee. Online ordering and delivery is also an option but will set you back at least an additional $50 per month.

Over 50 different reports will help your restaurant manager level up the guest experience, streamline operations, and pull in employee insights.

Free demo.
Several integration options.
Menu management.
Runs on iPad devices.

Payment processing is handled through third-party integrations.
Many features have additional fees.

Square for Restaurants

Free to $60

★★★★★

4.2

Visit

Square is one of the few restaurant POS systems that offers a free plan for unlimited devices and locations. Most customer management tools are included, with only a few options left behind a $60 paywall for its premium plan.

The free POS software offers employee management tools that factor well into small counter service restaurants such as coffee shops or food trucks. If you do have a table service restaurant, you can use Square for Restaurants to create a custom layout and monitor what’s happening at every seat.

A nice bonus feature in Square’s repertoire is a free e-commerce site to create your brand around. It’s possible to handle reservation management and set up online ordering capabilities directly from the platform.

With all the free plan has, Square for Restaurants only gives 24/7 customer support to its premium members. A suite of built-in reporting tools should help you figure out what’s working and what’s not within your restaurant business all on your own.

Offers a free plan.
Includes a free e-commerce site.
No long-term contracts are required.
30-day free trial on premium plans.

Free plan does not have 24/7 support.
No employee management tools.

Revel

From $99

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

Revel’s restaurant POS software should appeal to franchise owners with multiple restaurants looking to keep tabs on each location. While it doesn’t do automated inventory management, Revel allows inventory tracking among different locations.

Quick or table service restaurants can make use of the fully integrated online order system to maximize profitability. There’s also a built-in full driver dispatch feature, and Revel can accept payments within its app.

For all it does, Revel is one of the more pricier restaurant POS providers at $99 per terminal. This doesn’t include payment processing fees or hardware such as a cash drawer.

Of the different point of sale systems for restaurants, Revel does a great job of intelligent reporting tools that let you track sales, inventory management, and even how your team is doing. Should you wish to customize things further, you can add in your own integrations with Revel’s open API.

Open API system.
Sleek and easy-to-use interface.
Runs off iPad devices.
Smart reporting.

Pricing is for a three-year contract.
Expensive.

Lightspeed

$39 to $289

★★★★★

3.2

Visit

Lightspeed Restaurant lists three pricing tiers and is designed to scale as a business grows. A $39 per month plan works best for new restaurants that utilize one terminal, while a $119 monthly plan was created with full-service restaurants in mind. At $289 per month, the pro plan contains advanced tools for larger restaurants.

Fees for payment processing are the same across the board and are a bit on the high side. The Lightspeed POS platform makes up for this with stellar internet-based ordering and a delivery service that works directly with the major apps.

While its most expensive plan offers advanced insights, Lightspeed’s reporting system isn’t as strong as other POS systems. You can still glean information from table placement and make adjustments on the fly to capitalize on opportunities.

When it comes to integrations, Lightspeed has you covered. If you already have a tool you prefer for employee management or accounting, the POS software likely works with it.

Integrates well with other software.
Free one-on-one onboarding.
Unlimited 24/7 support.
Built-in customer relationship management hub.

Some additional features are costly add-ons.
Lack of robust reporting tools.

Clover

Free to $69.95

★★★★★

4.0

Visit

The Clover POS system covers a multitude of pricing options that tend to cater to the quick-service crowd. Although its $69.96 per month plan offers table mapping and tableside ordering, all other plans focus on the terminal and online payments.

In fact, Clover has one of the nicest systems for ordering online. The POS software interfaces directly into your website, app, through Google, or through third-party delivery platforms. Customers can pay online, and as long as you use Clover’s hardware, fees for payment processing won’t break the bank.

Clover also has built-in staff management tools to keep your team running as efficiently as possible. Within the software, you can schedule staff hours and track their register usage on any given day.

Speaking of tracking, Clover offers some powerful point of sale reporting so you can find pinch points in your business. Real-time analytics allows you to make changes on the fly that could turn a bad day into a good one.

Robust online order and delivery service.
Affordable hardware.
Flat monthly rates.
No long contracts, can customize your plan from month to month.

Processing fees are higher for non-Clover hardware.

How To Choose a Restaurant POS System

When looking for the best restaurant POS software for your business, consider how the following points play into your organization:

Affordability.
Key features.
Flexibility.
User-friendliness.
Support.

Affordability

When it comes to restaurant POS prices, there is a vast range of options available. Just about every plan you’ll come across will have a monthly fee for using the software. Some features are considered add-ons and can come with additional costs.

Software aside, most POS systems have hardware that they recommend using. Hardware can be costly, but fees for payment processing are often higher if you use your own device.

Key Features

Maybe it goes without saying, but make sure the POS system you’re going to use has all the features you can’t live without. POS software can provide inventory, staff, menu, and even table management tools to make running things that much easier.

Furthermore, many of these systems incorporate e-commerce tools customers can use to order online for pick up or delivery. Platforms such as Square for Restaurants even give space to create a website. You may also be able to tie in your VoIP caller base for marketing purposes if you have it.

Flexibility

The best point of sale systems have the capability to grow with you as your restaurant grows. Whether it be additional terminals or enhanced features, the last thing you want is to get stuck in a contract that doesn’t work for you.

Some systems don’t require long-term contracts for software, making it easier to upgrade or switch as needed.

User-Friendliness

If you’ve picked up some software and your team is still asking “what is a POS system?”, chances are they can’t run it. The best software isn’t worth its digital weight if your team can’t make sense of what to do. Many point of sale systems offer demos for their paid services, so you can try before you buy.

Support

Point of sale software can effectively shut down your business if it’s not working as it should. When such situations arise, it’s essential that customer support is a quick phone call away, so you don’t lose business or patience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Restaurant POS Systems

What Is the Most Popular POS System for Restaurants?

In our humble opinion, Toast takes the cake as the best restaurant POS system currently available. The software covers a multitude of restaurant models and has the features you need to succeed. With several pricing options, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either.

Which POS Terminal Is the Best?

Hardware is an integral part of any point of sale system. Companies like Square pride themselves on having many terminal models to suit any restaurant.

What POS System Does McDonald’s Use?

McDonald’s uses a platform called NP6 for all their point of sale needs. Since the fast-food chain sees nearly 70 million customers daily across its 37,000 locations, the software is specifically designed to handle a large number of contact points—and fast.

Which POS System Is the Best?

We feel that Toast offers the biggest bang for your buck, but the answer to this question ultimately comes down to you. The best POS system will include all the tools you need to run a successful business while being affordable for you.

Conclusion: Best Restaurant POS Systems

Restaurant point of sale systems allow for efficient management of customers, payments, and more. Many of them extend their reach to online sales to maximize profitability and your restaurant’s footprint. Perhaps best of all, they can help you identify areas within your restaurant that need improvement.

No matter the size of your restaurant, we feel that the best restaurant POS system is Toast for all the features it offers. With several price points, it can cater to small or large businesses without blinking an eye. If you’re not a fan of Toast, chances are one of the other options on this list will taste just as good.

February 7, 2022February 20, 2023

Best CRM Software for Real Estate Businesses

Group of businessmen discussing about CRM

Selling or buying property is a complex, expensive process, and agents are often expected to juggle several at once. This creates the need for proper customer resource management (CRM) software to keep each realtor on track, and to keep the flow of closings happening. The right CRM software will depend on your needs, but we look at the best options available to the real estate industry in this article.

Best CRM for Real Estate Overview

Zoho CRM – Best Overall
Pipedrive – Best for Pumping Up Sales
Wise Agent – Best for Large Companies
Follow Up Boss – Best for Managing Sales Team
LionDesk – Best for Commercial Real Estate
Insightly – Best for Customization
Realvolve – Best for New Agents
Top Producer – Best for Growing Businesses

Zoho CRM

Standard – $14/user per month*

Web forms, social media engagement, lead scoring rules

Large library of integrations

Build custom automations w/rules

Docs, videos, community help, and professional consultants; service plans w/phone support

Pipedrive

Essential – $12.50/user per month*

Kanban-style customizable sales pipelines, ‘deal rotting’, @mentions, and comment on leads

Marketplace of integrations, including common options

Custom automations, including mobile and email notifications, and webhooks

24/7 help requests and email support

Wise Agent

$32/month or $326/year

Capture forms, automation rules for different lead sources, new lead alerts

Integrates Gmail and many other tools directly

Automated drip campaigns, customized notifications, and lead distribution

24/7 phone or email support

Follow Up Boss

Grow – $57/user per month

Pull leads from 200+ sources, pre-written drip campaigns, auto-route leads to agents

Small market of integrations

Easy-to-use interface helps filter leads and create action plans

Business hours phone support, or help tickets and support docs

LionDesk

Starter – $21/user per month*

Lead imports and distribution, track email engagement, AI Chat Sales agent

Short list of integrations

Auto-responders and enhanced drip campaigns

Phone and email support

Insightly

Plus – $29/user per month*

Create relationship trees to track lead contacts, route leads automatically, track email opening, and more

Drag-and-drop integration builder, w/hundreds of integrations already available

Drag-and-drop app builder to create your own automations

Webinars and help docs; Customer success program

Realvolve

Basic – $74/month

Categorize contacts, track lead sources, search along several criteria

Integrates w/handful of apps

Automations through Zapier

Limited support docs and email support

Top Producer

Starter – $54/user per month*

Connect w/150+ lead sources, insights into contacts’ social media, integrated text and email

Limited native integrations

Follow Up Coach suggests daily contacts, calendar reminders

Support docs, chat and email support, business hours phone support

Quick Verdict

Best Overall – Zoho CRM. Zoho provides all the features you need at an affordable price.

Zoho CRM

$14

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

Zoho provides a range of business apps, with its CRM software being one. It’s not a dedicated real estate CRM system, but it offers all the tools the average real estate agent requires.

The software provides a range of useful features, starting with click-to-call capabilities to make phone calls right in the app, through automation and reporting tools, to third-party integrations. Zoho provides just about any CRM tool you may need, at an affordable price.

Custom sales pipelines.
Auto-assign leads.
Phone, chat, email, and more through the app.

Some nice features saved for more expensive tiers.

Pipedrive

$12.5

★★★★★

4.4

Visit

Pipedrive isn’t focused on real estate and may be one of the best CRM for eCommerce, with a lot of focus on contact management and creating sales pipelines.

Many of the same features are great for a real estate CRM, however, like communication and lead qualification tools. Real estate agents may also appreciate the ability to automate some repetitive admin tasks.

Email campaign opening and click tracking.
AI-driven performance suggestions.
Create customizable reports.

‘Open deal’ limits.

Wise Agent

$32

★★★★★

3.9

Visit

Wise Agent provides a big toolbox to real estate agents trying to locate clients. The real estate business often depends on good timing and the best CRM software helps agents react quickly. Wise Agent can help you find, organize, and respond to new leads quickly, with alerts and other tools.

Additionally, integrating with a range of other apps, for example, Google calendar sync, is easy. The pricing plan is straightforward, with a custom Enterprise plan available for specific needs.

Free 20 minute set-up session.
Transaction management templates.
Custom landing page platform.

More expensive than some options.

Follow Up Boss

$57

★★★★★

3.0

Visit

Real estate agencies are usually team efforts, with prospective buyers being divided among real estate agents. Follow Up Boss automates that process, collecting leads from hundreds of sources.

You can then set up your own distribution system or select from some options. You can also set up automation for individual contacts using Action Plans, an easy-to-use feature with a gentle learning curve.

Export all your data easily.
Transfer leads automatically.
Team sales leaderboard.

Pricey

LionDesk

$21

★★★★★

2.6

Visit

LionDesk comes at a middle-of-the-road price and with almost all the features you want from a real estate CRM, like handling incoming leads, auto-replies, and some reporting options. It also includes the ability to call or text through the real estate software, though there are limits and overage charges to track.

Texting manager.
Enhanced drip campaigns add text and phone calls.
30-day free trial.

Plan limits emails and texts through the app.

Insightly

$29

★★★★★

3.8

Visit

Insightly’s CRM might be better thought of as a tool for building a CRM as it’s built around very flexible customization options. These allow you, without doing any complex coding, to build your own tools and dashboards.

In other words, while it may not provide a ready-made real estate CRM, it does allow you to build one. You can even create different tools for different real estate teams.

Create custom data sets and relationship trees.
Design a custom dashboard for your agents.
Scan and upload info from business cards automatically.

Few ready-made features

Realvolve

$74

★★★★★

1.6

Visit

Realvolve aims at keeping the real estate CRM they offer fairly simple, so lacks some of the advanced features of competitors. Instead, Realvolve focuses on offering workflows and webinars.

Rather than lots of marketing automation or other tools, they offer help in areas many real estate agents may struggle with, such as organization and efficiency. The workflows have an additional cost.

Send text and social media messages.
Workflows and webinars to improve your business.
14-day free trial.

Expensive.
Workflows have additional costs.

Top Producer

$54

★★★★★

2.4

Visit

Top Producer’s applications work together as a unit, with their real estate CRM acting as a base the others build on. Together, they may make a great real estate CRM with plenty of tools for managing a business. Without the other apps, however, Top Producer is limited in what it can do.

Includes other apps.
Setup coaching and support w/success program.
Email templates, CTAs, and signatures included.

Priced higher than competitors.

Choosing the Best Real Estate CRM Software

It’s not unusual for real estate agents to form relationships with their clients. You may be working with them for months, sometimes helping them through landmark moments in their lives. Before you get to that point, however, you have to attract leads, manage your time, and keep everything organized. Customer relationship management, while it might sound a bit cold-blooded, just means doing all that efficiently, to everyone’s benefit.

As a result, successful agents use the best CRM for real estate businesses, and selecting the right CRM system can be vital.

Lead Management

The centerpiece of the best CRM software are its lead management tools. The ability to connect to potential buyers is vital, so lead generation tools need to be robust and easy to use. Once more leads have been generated, advanced lead scoring helps you choose how to use your time best.

Good CRM software should also provide more than just contact management, instead provide a depth of client management tools to aid in developing customer relationships. Some options will also help remind you to reconnect with past clients, fostering the potential for future sales.

Team Management

CRM for real estate has to take into account the size of your business. If you’re a one-person real estate agency, then a collaboration-oriented CRM solution doesn’t do you much good.

On the other hand, it can save larger agencies a lot of time if new leads are distributed automatically. CRM platforms usually include some amount of task management tools, though some are more limited than others.

Marketing

Both old and new real estate agents can struggle to draw attention to their property listings. Marketing automation tools can make a difficult task a lot easier. CRM platforms will often create or link to your agency’s real estate websites, providing chatbots or contact forms. Many will also provide additional marketing options, like email marketing campaigns and other types of drip marketing campaigns.

Transaction Management

The sales process for both residential and commercial real estate is often complex and protracted. Transaction management tools may be necessary simply to keep everything straight.

Once the marketing has done its job and clients are in your sales pipeline, part of the pipeline management should be making paperwork and other bureaucratic aspects as easy as possible. Document management tools, calendars to track important dates, and other features can make things less stressful. A mobile web app means you can handle business even when at a property.

Reporting

Pipeline management is important during the deal but afterward is when real estate professionals can learn how to improve. Reporting can help you spot the hiccups in client relationships, see which team members may need help, or locate where a deal went wrong in your communication history.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – CRMs for Real Estate

Do realtors use CRMs?

Real estate is a business that thrives on personal relationships, so customer relationship management is a vital tool. CRM platforms provide features for tracking contacts, lead generation services, and more.

What is the best CRM for the real estate industry?

Real estate depends so much on the local market, the type of real estate, and more that there may be several options among the best real estate CRMs. Our assessment found that Zoho has the best mix of features and price. However, options with more project management features may be better for some agents. Those just starting out may want to check out our list of the best free CRM platforms.

What CRM does Keller Williams & ReMax use?

Wise Agent claims both Keller Williams and ReMax use their CRM platform for generating leads, organizing deals, and their other needs.

What are the four types of CRM?

Real estate CRM software is only one aspect of customer relationship management. While sales agents depend on lead generation and CRM data as a practical matter, understanding some of the underlying concepts might be helpful. CRM has four approaches, which are:

Strategic: Identifying types of customers.
Operational: CRM as a business process.
Analytical: Analyzing customer data.
Collaborative: Connecting businesses to customers.

Final Thoughts on CRMs for Real Estate

The CRM app you use for real estate business should reflect your approach to customer relationships. While some are straightforward, simply presenting what you need, others allow you to build your own sales pipelines and methods for success.