Are you an entrepreneur thinking of starting an international business? If so, you should know that it has never been easier to start an international business with virtual phone numbers. Virtual phone numbers are a revolutionary type of business phone number that routes calls internationally without typical barriers. Instead, businesses can get in touch with clients abroad in ways that were previously difficult and cost-intensive.
In this article, we’ll cover how to start an international business by using virtual phone numbers to make the process more efficient and profitable. We will discuss the following:
- Accommodating Time Zones
- Anticipating Cultural Differences
- Localization
- Setting Up a Business Presence
Accommodating Time Zones
If you’re starting an international business, chances are, your customers are going to be located in different time zones. This simple fact means that how you engage with international businesses shifts according to where in the workday businesses and individuals are.
As an example, if your business is based in Montreal but you want to do business in London, you should know that there are only a few hours of overlap. To accommodate this difference in time zones, a business phone number with “time of day routing” solves this easily. Time of day routing instantly transfers inbound calls to another destination number that can be setup with staff in a more favorable region. Your Montreal-based business can use an Ireland-based call center to accommodate those callers in the United Kingdom more effectively.
Anticipating Cultural Differences
As you may be aware, not every culture runs business the same way. These difficulties must be anticipated and adapted to as you plan to expand your business. Failure to do so beforehand can be costly and frustrating.
Bear in mind, many cultures demand punctuality or an adjustment to how your company does business. Germany, for example, is noted for its fastidiousness and preparedness with little flair. Spain, by contrast, has a more relaxed approach and favors long business hours, particularly during the summer “siesta” days. Israel typically treats Friday the same way that the United States treats Saturday. Therefore, doing your research beforehand is paramount.
Using Technology to Your Benefit in this Regard
To address cultural differences for inbound calls to your business phone number, consider using add-ons like failover forwarding and simultaneous ringing. These add-ons enable callers to reach an available representative when dialing your number, either through:
- Routing your call to the next available business phone number (failover forwarding)
- Ringing all connected devices to the business phone number at the same type for the fastest response (simultaneous ringing)
Localization is the Answer
Many international customers only want to do business with domestic entities. While many large corporations and enterprises are shifting towards virtualization, SMBs and startups can benefit by using local business phone numbers. Depending on the telecom service provider you choose, you can use phone numbers with a matching area/region code to your target market. This helps your brand blend in with local businesses, gaining trust and authenticity needed to establish your business interests internationally.
Setting Up a Business Presence
Thanks to recent advancements in virtualization, a brick and mortar presence is no longer necessary to engage with customers around the world. Instead, new international businesses can use business phone services that help carry out what your business offers to international customers. This means that you can circumvent local restrictions and overheads, such as licensing fees, leasing/renting a property, staffing concerns, and much more. Business phone numbers provide an adequate level of customer engagement while your company can leverage many virtual services. These include online collaboration platforms, comprehensive e-commerce platforms, custom apps, and much more.
Best of all, business phone numbers can be tailored to your marketing approach. This means that if you want a national appeal, using toll free numbers relative to that country gives you professionalism. And, as mentioned above, local phone numbers can target hyper-specific markets that you’re looking to engage with. By following these pointers, your international business can grow thanks to the power of virtual phone numbers.
Author Biography – Tom Senkus is an international entrepreneur and writer with over 15 years of experience, sharing his knowledge with business owners – particularly startups – to gain a competitive edge globally.
