With the world globalizing and technology advancing, it is now easier than ever to communicate with each other. Whereas in the past, you needed to buy a calling card to get a few minutes of talking time with a family member, nowadays, it’s as simple as downloading an app to achieve the same result.
Making international calls to your business partners or customers is as simple as opening your web browser. Keep reading to see how you can make free international calls right now!
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How It Works
You can easily make calls from your browser using VoIP technology. If you’re wondering what VoIP is, don’t worry, we’ve also got you covered with that. VoIP is a technology that lets you make calls using the internet instead of the traditional method.
It’s not limited to international calls either; the technology can be used to make local calls as well! The most common methods for making international calls are web phones, international callbacks, and Voice Over IP.
Web Phones
Also known as web dialers, these let you make calls over the internet. They work just like a conventional cell phone in the sense that you have to dial in to make a call. The platform is hosted on a provider’s website, so you just need to sign in to gain access.
Web phones offer functions such as call history, transferring, and a plethora of other benefits to enrich your experience.
Here are a few pros and cons of using web phones:
Pros:
1. Engage with new clients
As you can see, web phones are used to increase your productivity and effectiveness. Your customers are essential to your business, so don’t spend time on activities that prevent you from getting new leads. The history function allows you to go back and contact your clients quickly.
Want to make notes about specific clients? Well, there’s a function for that as well. You don’t need to spend time thinking about what you spoke about; notes take the pressure off you.
2. Research New Leads
Promoting your brand doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Research your target market before spending your resources. This is made easy when you call through web dialers: you can make sure your leads are interested in what you have to sell or introduce current clients to new products or offers.
You won’t believe how many clients are hoping to get acknowledged when they first join a business’s rewards program. Verifying and thanking new clients using your web phone shows how appreciative you are of them for giving you their business.
3. Great for Improving the Customer Experience
Customer care is a very inexpensive way of keeping your clients happy, but it’s something many organizations fail to pay attention to. Showing your customers that you care for them will bring in more business because they will more likely tell their peers about the wonderful things you’ve done for them.
In addition to great customer service, customers want to make sure that organizations are trying to build long-term relationships instead of transactional ones. Asking customers to leave feedback lets them know that you are always trying to improve your business.
Not only that, follow-up calls to check whether the customer is enjoying the product can help to make sure that you’re in the mind of the customer. They are likely to come back as repeat customers and are less likely to return to companies that don’t do follow-up calls.
Cons:
1. Auto-Call
Many web phones enable numbers to be highlighted on your browser. This can sometimes be troublesome because it only takes a simple mistake for you to end up calling a random number. On the bright side, it does provide you with more information about the company when you hover over it.
International Callback
International callback is mainly used by individuals, but that is not to say that businesses cannot benefit from it as well. If you’re just starting out, it might be difficult for you to change your number, but we are here to help you.
All you have to do is call your trigger number and follow the prompts when asked if you would like to change your number. Many newcomers find this stressful, but with time it will become second nature to you.
Here are a few ways to benefit from this service right now:
Pros
1. Inexpensive
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about an international call is the rate. You don’t need to worry about that! Many services provide quality calls for an affordable price.
The way the callback system works is quite simple; you make a call using an ID number that’s provided to you by your service provider. Simply drop the call after one ring. Your provider then calls you with another ID number to connect you to your destination.
As you can see, this is not a direct call like other methods, but it saves you resources. There are different methods for using this trick, from email to SMS. Callbacks have become popular because of how expensive international calls have been, and the traction just keeps growing.
2. You Decide When to Use It
You don’t have to worry about being charged a monthly fee if you don’t plan on using the service continuously. You are only billed when you use it, making it very flexible and convenient. International Callback uses third-party services, so you’re always saving.
The best part of all is that this is completely legal. There are many people out there that believe this service is illegal, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It is seen as an uncompleted call, and your carrier does not charge you as long as you’re using the ID provided to you.
Cons:
1. Audio Quality
An important disadvantage to look out for when using this particular service is the audio quality. Not all resellers have the level of audio quality you’re looking for, so make sure to research this carefully before haphazardly choosing.
2. Cost Can Fluctuate
Using third-party calling can sometimes be a hit or miss, and web phones are no different. Using different third-party providers gives you a variety of rates, so make sure not to always go for the first one. Shop around and see what you can find.
Voice Over Internet Protocol
You can’t find a more common communication tech for making international calls than VoIP. It’s easy to see why it’s becoming more popular and less expensive than landlines. VoIP also has many features that are not offered by traditional phone companies, which adds to its popularity.
Considering that Voice Over IP uses the internet, it is important to note that for the best service, you should make sure that you have a strong internet connection. You can get separate equipment, but many providers have software that comes packaged with everything you need.
Making international calls becomes easy because you don’t need to pay the outrageous prices that some companies charge you. Because of price, it’s no wonder that VoIP is the number one choice for businesses.
Here are a few pros and cons of using VoIP for international calls:
Pros:
1. Advanced Features
VoIP gives additional features that enable smaller businesses to compete with the bigger fish. You don’t need to be physically located in a certain city or country to use that area code. Features such as these allow you to market to different segments of customers without entering that market physically and risking resources.
2. Scalable
Everyone wants their business to grow with them, and that’s exactly what VoIP services give to their customers. There is an endless opportunity to grow along with your business. Offsite technology means that technicians are ready for any upgrades you need.
3. Supports Collaboration
VoIP creates a seamless virtual office that encourages group work. Each worker has a workstation that they can use to share videos, documents, and images with others. Calling transfer and many more features build on multitasking and team dynamics.
Cons:
1. No GPS Tracking
Due to third-party and enhanced security, it is hard to track a location when using VoIP. This also opens you up to being vulnerable in case of an emergency because the police will have difficulty tracking your location. Make sure to have an alternative way of contacting the right authority at all times.
2. Potential Hidden Cost
One major disadvantage of using VoIP is that some companies charge you for calling non-VoIP numbers. Be sure to keep an eye out for companies that have those charges.
Conclusion
No matter which way you decide to go, make sure that you carefully look over the pros and cons of each option. International calls from your browser don’t have to cost you much if you know what you’re doing. Use our tips and more to take your company to the next level!