Integra Telecom; New Hosted Voice Service

Small and medium businesses can affordably get their communication needs met with Integra’s new offer; Hosted voice VoIP by the seat! Product components include Access Line (utilizing Ethernet Private Line (EPL) for subscriber access and Subscriber Line (per subscriber basis- single line with traditional capabilities). Package choices are basic, standard (traditional uses and workers), or premium package (which is ideal for mobile capabilities and increased productivity), and even “Ala carte” features and/or customization options.

Some of the key product features of Integra’s Hosted Voice Portal include: Integra Desktop communicator, Easy Attendant, Premium Attendant, Internet and Call Me Buttons.

It’s really an optimal choice for clients and can provide solutions, reliability, scalability,  and easy administration. In addition Polycom phones are available. Get in on this now!

For more information on these services please contact a NW MAP Agent today: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/request-quote

 

Business Leadership; Do You Qualify?

With the ongoing elections beating at the heart of America, making a decision about who will be our leader comes to mind. What makes a good leader? We’ve seen this age-old question, maybe mulled it over, for as long as we’ve been in the business of business. There are theories, there are tests even, but leadership evolves and changes with the business culture and atmosphere of today….and tomorrow? As usual this is yet another aspect of business when what works today may not work tomorrow.

Leaders in various industries stand out to us…some are role models, others may have gotten that far by happenstance. Either way, people are beginning to mull this question over again so let’s take a thoughtful look into it. Often times we think of a boss or CEO as a good leader, or the obvious leader, but the ability to lead does not come with the highest ranking position. So what qualifies someone, in general, as a leader?

  1. Balance of positive versus negative. Is this a 50/50 percentage of good and bad? No. research has shown just one negative comment takes about five positive ones to counteract. This also applies to constructive criticism- lead with the good followed by constructive advice.
  2. Communicate effectively. Ask questions about how people perceive what you’ve communicated to them. Don’t assume that you are leader and everyone needs to learn your communication style. This also means co-workers communicating well with each other and within the organization you lead.
  3. Don’t be too busy…for anyone or anything. The problem with getting too busy is things begin to get overlooked. Maybe you forgot to tell an outstanding employee how good they did. Little things like that effect big things like performance.
  4. Always invest in people…clients and employees. People are your business no matter what business you’re in. In the age of Internet and lack of face to face encounters, one thing still remains, people are the face and voice of your business so make personal meeting and customer reviews a regular part of your business.
  5. Learn from mistakes. Sometimes it’s helpful learning from your competitior’s mistakes or another business, but you will always remember the mistakes you made so that is naturally great, and memorable, learning material. All CEO’s will confess to having to learn through some hard-earned whoops.

Carrier Promotions; Cash Money Now for Telecommunications Agents

Representing over 40 Telecommunications carriers, NW MAP (Master Agent Program) has several promotions available at any given time. This is an opportunity for telecom Agents to earn money now and residual. NW MAP also provides the tools for Agents to get started and continue down a successful path, working in a field that supports technology, can offer superior solutions for clients, and is rewarding. Just one of many examples below:

Comcast Promotion: Happening now through 9/21/12

  • PRI — $500 per deal

Both Fractional and
Full PRI’s qualify

      Min. 2 year agreement. Pay on Order
Acceptance

  • Metro-E — $700 per deal

 50 Mbps minimum

  All 4
Metro-Ethernet solutions qualify (EDI, ENS, EPL, EVPL)

 Minimum 3 year term

 Pay on Order Acceptance

  PRI and Metro E volumes continue to grow each month.

Would you like to work for yourself, make your own hours, earn money now and in the future? NW MAP is looking for motivated Telecommunications Agents to work on our team. Work from anywhere and we give you the tools you need. One of the fastest growing Master Agencies in the area is looking for Agents. Join our team today! https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent

Approaching the Topic of Sales Approaches

Businesses know more than ever today, thanks to the Internet. They know what their problems are and often times the solutions as well. Then the right sales agent comes to the rescue, but is this the only way to sell? Shouldn’t you be one step ahead of your clients with your sales approach. Most businesses are learning to be- with new services, innovative products, businesses are trying to anticipate their customers’ needs before it comes to their attention. Bet you didn’t know you needed an iPad, but now you can’t imagine not using it. How about mobile access to the Internet? As consumers, we had no idea we needed these products and services and now they’re practically a necessity.

Elite sales professionals report they don’t just sell more effectively—they sell differently. Perhaps one step ahead. There’s the thought that improving one’s sales strategies boost sales, but changing the way they sell altogether is often the key to higher performance.

  • Engage customers much earlier, well before customers fully understand their own needs. Sometimes this requires finding their problems before they can define it.
  • Discover a personal outcome for the buyer as well.  People still buy based on personal decisions.
  • More creativity is needed for solutions- get creative and think of things your customer hasn’t.  This also involves knowing your product well and asking questions.

NW MAP has the tools to help you be a successful Telecommunications Agent. Contact us today: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent

 

BYOD; The Good, The Bad, and The Divided

Almost as dramatic as the 1966 Clint Eastwood western (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) is the talk and opinions about the BYOD (Bring your own device) revolution. I think the lesson learned, as in the western, is to be ahead of the game… at least 10 steps ahead. As a business leader (perhaps CIO, entrepreneur, and otherwise), certainly knowing the benefits and risks of BYOD is key. For Telecom Agents, being knowledgeable is always profitable.

With the Smartphone/ iPhones, tablets, and laptops, people can do business any time, from anywhere. In fact tablets outsold PC’s or desktops last year. Website visits are coming from mobile users.

Similar to the Cloud, a business really needs to have a strategy in place before adopting BYOD practices, evaluating the pros and cons to determine (and deal with) security risks. Basically, the benefits must outweigh the risks.

The debates continue:

  • Employee
    chooses device versus controlling the types of devices and uses.
  • Going mobile versus chained to a desk.
  • More productive versus more risk.
  • Effectiveness versus costs of networks and other cost for usage.
  • Employee empowerment and choices versus lack of IT support

How to decide:

  1. First question is…’Is it doable?” Find out from a Telecom Agent at NW MAP if BYOD is manageable and appropriate for your business (type of business and/or size).
  2. Employee surveys- finding out who would use them and what they think about it. Some research has shown employees would accept a lower paying job if able to use their own devices.

How to do it:

  1. Talk to your Telecom Broker or Agent.
  2. The current thought and what many businesses are allowing is BYOD but with limited support. Issues with this is of course security but also employee satisfaction with limited support. Allowed with full IT support is optimal, but your choices are not allowing it, allowing with minimal support, allowing with full support, and allowing with no support.
  3. Check and evaluate network capacity. Most people using BYOD have 2-3 devices.
  4. Money! Realize BYOD will not eliminate costs, but rather place them in areas of support functions rather than devices.

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. Employers are equally on the fence as about 40% of companies allow it.

Contact a NW MAP Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us

 

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. We’ll see how it all unfolds.