Vonix Flex: The Ultimate Solution for Restaurant Text Ordering

Vonix Flex is a top-tier platform that enables restaurants to manage both texting and calling from a single business number. With group-managed messaging and seamless integration, Flex helps restaurants provide excellent service while cutting costs and increasing efficiency.​

See Vonix Flex In Action

So why should a restaurant invest in a solution for text ordering?

Texting Saves Time & Increases Convenience

Convenience plays a crucial role in where customers choose to eat. Even for dine-in guests, the ability to make reservations or place orders via text saves time and enhances the overall experience. When customers can easily interact with your restaurant through text, you’ll attract more business and build stronger relationships with repeat customers.

Stand Out from your Competition

Offering text ordering gives your restaurant a competitive edge. You can promote text ordering on Google, Yelp, and social media to reduce the friction of customer interactions. Because text messages have an extremely high open rate, customers are far more likely to engage via text than by making a phone call.

Reduce Costly Third-Party Fees

One of the biggest benefits of direct text ordering is eliminating expensive third-party fees. By bypassing online ordering platforms, restaurants retain more profit per order—allowing them to reinvest in operations, improve customer experience, and even offer lower menu prices. It’s a win-win for both the business and its customers.

Increase Customer Loyalty

We don’t have to tell you how important customer service is in the restaurant industry.  Bad service is one of the top reasons why customers do not return to a restaurant.  Make sure your business goes the extra mile to offer excellent service.  The better service you offer your customers, the more likely they will be to return.  Make it easy for them to communicate with you, and you’ll increase their loyalty.

How to Implement Text Ordering for Your Restaurant in 3 Easy Steps

So how does a restaurant business transition to handling texts? A texting platform which allows employees to group-manage messages is a must. The entire team must have visibility into the text conversations from customers to ensure that no text message is missed. Many business texting applications only allow one-to-one messaging, meaning that responses depend on one person or one phone that is passed around. This can be both a hassle and burden. With a group-managed platform, multiple people can be available to handle texting from the same number from the computer, tablet, or smartphone of their choice.

As a restaurant owner or manager, you want to be able to two-way text with your customers, but where do you start?  Here are a few simple steps you can follow to transition your business away from calling and onto texting:

1. Choose a Business Phone Provider like Vonix that offers Group-Managed Texting

To accept text orders on your main business number, you need a phone provider that supports text messaging. Not all providers offer this feature, so ask whether their platform includes group-managed texting. Be sure to see a demo of how their system works to ensure it’s easy to use and integrates well with your operations.

2. Train Your Staff for Seamless Execution

Managing group text orders differs from one-on-one texting. Set clear procedures and train your staff to handle text orders efficiently. Decide whether specific employees will oversee texts or if all staff will have access. Additionally, determine whether messages will be managed through smartphones, tablets, or a centralized computer system.

3. Promote Your Text Ordering Features to your customers

Make sure customers know they can text your restaurant! Update your business profiles on Google, Yelp, and social media to highlight text ordering. In-store signage, table tents, and receipts can also advertise your new text ordering option. Consider running a text-in promotion to collect customer numbers for future marketing efforts.

Vonix Flex is a fantastic platform for restaurants to manage texting and calling right from the main business number. Interested? Learn more about Flex or schedule a demo today.

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Get More Reviews

One of the first things people check before they choose a business is their online reviews. They want to know the experience other people have had working with you. The more reviews you have, the more business it looks like you’ve gotten. Ask past clients directly if they would leave you a review on Google, Yelp, Capterra, or whatever platform works best for your company. If you ask right after they’ve had a great experience and provide the direct link for them, then you’re more likely to get a yes.

Use Phone Menus

Even if you’re the only one answering the phones, you can appear larger by using IVR menus. This means that when someone calls, they’ll make a selection – such as to place a new order, for customer questions, to contact billing. Their selection will appear on your caller ID so you can answer appropriately. Picking up the phone with, “billing department, how can I help you?” instead of a generic greeting will make it seem like you have more departments and people working to help each customer.

Set Up Department Emails

Similarly, directing people to department email addresses instead of individuals gives the impression that multiple people are ready to assist with questions. By having customers email support@yourcompany.com instead of firstname@company.com, you can keep your emails more organized. Plus, if anyone ever changes their name or leaves the company, you won’t miss out on any incoming emails.

Get Personalized Mail Supplies

If you mail invoices or ship anything, give a better first impression with personalized labels, envelopes, and shipping supplies. You won’t have to write your return address over and over and you’ll get a more polished look. Budget-friendly options like Vista Print even offer packaging tape so your items can be branded inside and out.

Polish Your Website

For businesses today, their website is the first impression for a potential customer. Your website should be modern, mobile-friendly, and fast. Try a service like SquareSpace to set up your website without any coding required. Because modern websites are more visual, use a free service like Unsplash or RawPixel to find stock images to fill the pages. You’ll be surprised at how well a website novice can make your company come to life!

The post Ways to Make Your Small Business Appear Bigger – And Get More Customers appeared first on Vonix.

1. Image Quality

Set up your video for success with just a few steps. Before your call begins, open your Camera or Photo Booth application to see how you look on camera. Remove any clutter or sensitive materials from view. Check your lighting – would it be better to open the shades on a window and turn off the overhead light? Can you dim the monitor so it reflects less in your glasses? Noticing these tweaks before the meeting lets you address any image issues so you’ll be able to focus on the meeting.

2. Sound Quality

The next step is making sure that you sound clear when speaking in the meeting. If possible, close doors to the rest of your space and turn off any noise-making devices like air purifiers and fans. If your voice echoes in the room you’re in, try placing a throw pillow behind your computer screen or on your desk to absorb some reverberating noise. You may also have better luck using the call-in feature (not speaker phone) rather than your computer’s built-in audio.

3. Mobile Tips

If you have to join a call from a mobile device, you want to provide the other attendees the best experience seeing your video, as if you were joining from a webcam. That means you want it to be stable and horizontally-oriented. Turn your camera to the side and find something to prop it against. You can either use a phone stand or balance it against a sturdy book. Just make sure to also elevate it to as close to eye level as possible instead of having the camera looking up at you – it’s much more flattering. You’ll be free to talk with your hands and the people you’re meeting with won’t be distracted by shaky camera work.

The post Tips for Better Video Conference Calls appeared first on Vonix.

Between a lack of customers and an abundance of restrictions, many small business owners may feel like they are in some sort of limbo. If you are one of these small business owners, there are a few strategies you can try to keep your finances afloat without sacrificing your entire business. Take a deep breath, take a step back and then put these resources to work.

Health & Safety Should Always Come First

Weigh your options when it comes to implementing tech and policies that will preserve your profits and of course, your health.

• Be sure to review the most current CDC recommendations and guidelines regarding COVID-19.
• Also check in with your state’s health department to see what public health orders may currently be impacting your small business.
• One way you can acclimate to coronavirus is to embrace remote work capabilities whenever possible.
• You can also find free business tools, including signage, to ensure health and safety protocols upon reopening.

Tech Will Be Absolutely Crucial for Reopening

Tech will be essential for retaining customers and keeping your business protected, so use any downtime you have now to upgrade your tech systems.

• If you will be transitioning your team or business to remote work arrangements, implement tools and strategies that keep everyone connected.
• Update your systems and make plans in the time away from the office.
• Protect your business with enhanced cybersecurity, especially since criminals are taking advantage of the crisis.
• In terms of reopening, streamlining payment systems may be your best bet for efficiency and safety.

Financial Help is Available for Businesses In Need

Despite an overwhelming demand, there are still financial resources available that can help your business stay open.

• From federal to state resources, there are still grant and funding opportunities available to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• There are even special funding opportunities that may be available to women or minority owners of small businesses.
• It may also be helpful to look for ways to trim your business expenses.

Few things are certain right now, but one thing is: we will overcome this crisis. Even though we don’t know when and how, rest assured that the world will eventually move past the coronavirus pandemic. Until then, businesses have to find ways to survive.

Elena Stewart is a certified life coach who specializes in the teachings of Brené Brown, Danielle LaPorte, and Marie Forleo. She successfully transitioned from the corporate world to running her own business, and she now helps others achieve their career goals and dreams.

The post How Business Owners Can Reduce Stress & Survive the COVID-19 Crisis appeared first on Vonix.

We’re getting on more conference calls today with more office staff working remotely. But too many conference calls are disorganized, don’t have a clear purpose, and might seem unnecessary to some attendees. In this post, we’ll help you get your meetings on track so you can accomplish more not just in the meeting but also as you complete the projects you’re discussing.

1. Limit meeting attendees

The more people you have in the meeting, the more it turns into a presentation the host is giving with everyone else just listening. It’s more difficult to have conversations without people talking over one another. And, it’ll be more intimidating for people to unmute and speak up, leading to long silences.

Decide who the decision makers are and meet with fewer people, then send meeting notes to everyone who needs to know what’s happening next. Be open to having one-on-one or small group discussions after the high-level call.

2. Have an agenda

Before you start any meeting, bring a bulleted list of exactly what you need to get through. Allot a certain amount of time to each item by dividing the meeting time by the number of points. Get comfortable with phrases like “we only have another 3 minutes on this topic” and “we need to wrap up on this and move on” to cut down on losing the topic at hand.

Consider emailing attendees your planned agenda ahead of time and giving them time to send you any preliminary thoughts that might change the meeting or help you keep it on track. And use the agenda to decide if a meeting is even necessary.

3. Decide if you need to have it at all

One of the biggest complaints of office workers today is that there are too many meetings that are unnecessary or could have been quick conversations or emails. By outlining your agenda, you’ll find which questions you need answered by whom – and you can talk with them directly ahead of time to cut down on what you need to meet about. Don’t be afraid to cancel a meeting and send an email instead, sharing that you can meet if someone finds it necessary.

4. Leave with action items

Don’t wrap up a meeting until you know exactly who is on point for which items. Go through your agenda and identify the tasks that need to happen next, who will be doing them, who will be assisting or editing, and what the due dates are for review and delivery. If you leave a meeting without any action items, then the meeting might not have been as effective as you thought.

If people leave without any action items, consider if you need them to be in future meetings on the topic or if it makes sense for them to just get the recap afterwards.

5. Send a follow-up email

After the meeting, send an email to all attendees with a recap of what was discussed, what decisions were made, and why. Often, decisions are made verbally and later contested because people don’t remember the decision happening or why. Put it in writing so that you can refer to what happened and cut down on unnecessary follow-ups.

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Leticia Gasca: Don’t fail fast – fail mindfully

“Sharing your failures makes you stronger, not weaker.”

[Warning: explicit language]

A lot of entrepreneurs start a lot of businesses, and many of them fail. However, we only hear about the success stories and not the failures. In this talk, Leticia Gasca explains how being open about failures can open you to new growth and embracing the lessons from life.

Celeste Headlee: 10 ways to have a better conversation

“Conversational competence might be the single most overlooked skill we fail to teach.”

It’s harder now than ever before to have a conversation. Celeste Headlee explains that this is because we have stopped listening. Headlee provides 10 useful rules for better conversations based on her career as an interviewer that throw out some of the “rules” you’ve been taught.

Dean Furness: To overcome challenges, stop comparing yourself to others

”The quicker you move onto what’s next, the quicker you can start attacking things”

After an accident, Dean Furness lost the use of his legs. He later became a wheelchair athlete and raced in the Chicago marathon. He discovered that by focusing on redefining his new personal average and by not focusing on other people, he could get better and achieve great things.

Bill Gross: The single biggest reason why startups succeed

“Look at if consumers are really ready for what you have to offer them”

Bill Gross has founded and incubated many startups over the years. Some succeeded, some failed. He gathered data from hundreds of companies to rank them on five key factors: ideas, team, business model, funding, timing. Find out why one stands out above the rest.

Regina Hartley: Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume

”Hire the scrapper.”

In her talk, Regina Hartley compares job candidates as “the silver spoon” and “the scrapper.” Commonly, managers and business owners choose the candidate who doesn’t have a patchwork resume and has the better education. She urges you to interview the “underestimated contender” who have the grit to succeed.

The post 5 TED Talks Every Business Owner Should Watch appeared first on Vonix.

How to Increase Sales and Strengthen Your Communication Skills

Many entrepreneurs start their businesses driven by passion, independence, or opportunity. However, few launch a company because they excel at sales. Yet, business owners quickly realize that success hinges on effective communication—whether that means attracting customers, networking, or making sales calls.

Strong conversations are the foundation of successful sales. However, most business owners have never been formally trained in the art of conversation. The way you engage with potential customers impacts not only the first sale but also their long-term loyalty and spending.

We’ve outlined 10 Steps to Great Business Conversation strategies to help you improve your interactions and drive revenue. Success is less about what you sell and more about how you connect with the person in front of you.

The Power of Practice

Great communication is a skill that improves with time and experience. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, engaging in more conversations will enhance your confidence and effectiveness. By applying these techniques, you’ll strengthen your ability to connect with customers and drive business success.

The post 10 Steps to a Great Business Conversation appeared first on Vonix.

When you’re at a networking meeting or someone just asks, “So, what do you do?” you should have a prepared and practiced answer. Not only will it get the most important information across, but it’ll also help you seem more knowledgeable and experienced.

Practicing an elevator pitches is also a smart tactic for more shy or introverted people. You’ll be less likely to get tongue-tied and be more confident starting conversations – which is often the hardest part.

Here, you’ll find 4 elevator pitch templates and examples to help you get started writing your own.

The Generic Pitch

My name is [name], and I’m the [title] of [company]. We [make/sell/service] [product] for [target audience], allowing them to [value]. We also offer [feature]. Unlike [competitor], we [competitive advantage].

My name is Amber, and I’m the director of marketing for Vonix. We provide VoIP and communication services to small and medium businesses, letting them connect with their customers. We also offer mobile softphones and desktop apps to give more flexibility to how companies connect. Unlike Spectrum, we offer more business features like unlimited lines and business texting, and we offer a direct line to our in-house support team to make it easy for our customers to reach us when they need help.

The Why

My name is [name], and I’m the [title] of [company]. As a [business owner, parent, other identity], I was always frustrated by [pain point] so that’s why we build [company/product]. It solves [pain point] by [features].

My name is Jessica, and I’m the CSO of Vonix. After a previous VoIP company I was with got acquired, I was frustrated with how poorly our customers were being treated. They couldn’t get the support they needed and kept facing rising costs without getting more features. That’s why we made Vonix. We wanted to create a phone company that treats customers the way that we want to be treated. We have over 30 years experience in VoIP and cloud communications and provide customers with all the support they need, when they need it.

The Sales Pitch

My name is [name], and I’m the [title] of [company]. We [make/sell/service] [product] for [target audience], allowing them to [value]. Have you ever [pain point?] We solve that by providing [solution].

Hi, I’m with Vonix, a cloud communication provider based in Orlando. We provide business calling and texting to small and medium businesses, allowing them to get more sales and provide better service to their customers. Have you ever lost business because potential customers get busy signals or overflowing voicemail inboxes? We solve that with unlimited lines, custom hold messages and music, and voicemail to email or text so you never miss a message.

The Shock Factor

My name is [name], and I’m the [title] of [company]. So – did you know this? X% of people [do y]. But most [industry] companies don’t offer [solution]. At [company], we want to make sure that our customers don’t [pain point], which is why we [solution and features].

I work for Vonix, a cloud communications company. Did you know that 1/3 of people who get a busy signal from a company won’t call back? But most of our competitors only offer businesses with 2 lines. That means you could be losing business every time you’re on the phone. That’s why we offer unlimited lines with custom hold music and messages to keep your callers on the line longer. We want to help companies get and keep more business, which is why we offer more features to help them get more out of their phones.

How to Write Your Elevator Pitch

Feeling inspired? It’s easier to write than you think. Before you get started, think of these key factors:

• Why do we do what we do?
• What is the biggest pain point for our customers?
• What is our greatest value to customers?
• What are the top 3 features or reasons people might choose us?
• How are we different from our competitors?

Once you’ve written your pitch, practice saying it out loud. If you’re tripping over words or something doesn’t feel right, try breaking your pitch into shorter sentences, removing complicated words, and making it as simple as possible.

Next, practice saying it until you can memorize it. Practice before you head to an event but also think about taping it in an area you see a lot until it’s committed to memory. Soon, you’ll be able to recite it without thinking and make variations to help address points you know your audience will care about.

The post 4 Effective Small Business Elevator Pitches & Examples appeared first on Vonix.

Successful country clubs and golf courses cater to their loyal members while attracting future members. Thanks to the rise in driving ranges like Top Golf and younger professional tournament players, more young adults are getting into the game. In fact,  36% of all golfers in the U.S. are between 18 and 39 years old. To drive success at your course in years to come, it’s imperative to reach this budding audience of players.

Now is the perfect time to capitalize on the growth of golf among a new audience while still catering to your existing members. Make a few updates this year to drive new memberships and keep golfers coming back year after year. Here are 5 ways to modernize your golf course or country club.

1. Create an Experience

Think of your course as more than a place to just golf. Give people a reason to want to choose you over your local competitors aside from the green. Consider making your clubhouse a place people want to hang out in by featuring works by local artists, a rotating craft cocktail menu at the bar, and other limited edition “features” that keep people coming back. Even commissioning an Instagram-friendly mural can go a long way in getting free marketing via visitors’ social media pages.

Think about what brands like TopGolf and DriveShack are doing to get new players into the game. They’re offering a fun, low-stakes experience to dip their toes in the water without judgment. It’s strengthened by new technology, low cost of entry (compared to buying equipment), and an overall “cool” factor. Consider ways you could integrate some of the appeal of these driving ranges into your own property at times when it won’t interfere with your existing members’ enjoyment.  The goal is to set up an environment where people aren’t intimidated to see you for the first time and then want to keep coming back.

2. Update Your Shop

Have you been stocking the same items year after year? It’s always good to keep staple pieces in stock, but maybe it’s time to test out some new items and brands. Keep an eye on outlets like Golf Threads and Golf Digest, who are also invested in expanding their clientele and will be covering the newest styles. You’ll see what to stock and stay in tune with the newest tends. How else will you know that tie-dye golfwear is in?

3. Open New Lines of Communication

Many country clubs rely on the fact that their clientele enjoys a certain level of personal service. That’s why we find that many businesses in the industry still have a reception desk answering and forwarding all calls. However, this results in busy signals and wait times that annoy callers – and sometimes lose them altogether.

We recommend updating to a VoIP system, which allows callers to use voice menus (IVR) to access the department they need. Instead of being forwarded to make a tee time or dinner reservation, they can get directly to the right person.

And if you want to stand out and provide a valuable service to your guests, then you can integrate texting into your plan. Using your business number, you’ll be able to send and receive texts from your patrons. You can confirm appointments, ask for special requests, and give an even higher level of service by being available over text.

4. Improve Social Media Presence

One of the best ways to spread the word about your club is also free. Golfers who tag your location in their Instagram and Facebook posts are sharing you with all of their followers. Engage with these interactions and encourage more people to share through giveaways. Fill your stories by sharing posts from visitors. They’ll love the exposure and you’ll get authentic content to post throughout the week without your marketing person needing to be on the course.

Additionally, take advantage of the Events section of your Facebook page. Share tournament watch parties, dinner specials, or live music. Each event stands out more than a regular post in your Facebook Feed. Plus, when people mark that they are “going” or “interested in” your event, Facebook will send them reminders. You’ll reach more people and increase attendance.

5. Refresh Your Brand

Search for “country club logo” on Google images and you’ll find a swath of dated, old-fashioned logos in golds and greens. Does it look familiar to your own? Maybe it’s time for a refresh. You want to stay true to your industry with a long-lasting feel, but consider updating toa serif typeface, changing up your colors, and including a high-impact visual element.

Don’t just follow the trends, though. The last thing you want to do is pay for a costly website redesign only to find that today’s trends like gradients become dated in a few years. Consider looking to your own brand history for inspiration. Could you incorporate styles from the year your course was founded, like these 80’s-inspired designs? Is there a landmark statue on property that you could incorporate? Start by thinking about your defining characteristics and open up a brainstorm session with your marketing team. Plus, a total rebrand is a perfect opportunity for press coverage, special events, and many other ways to draw attention to your club.

Younger golfers choose the sport because they want to spend time outside and with their friends. They’re less concerned with score keeping and more interested in making the most of their experience. Newcomers who are introduced to golf through driving ranges will be shopping for a course to call home. You need to be ready to stand out from the pack to keep your memberships growing.

The best way to keep golfers coming back is by focusing on the guest experience and communication. You can provide members more value by allowing them to contact your team via text instead of waiting on hold. Updated phone systems will update your club and make it easier to book services at your property.

Vonix works with country clubs to connect their golf course, catering, event spaces, and restaurants into one simple system. It’s easier than ever to give your team members the tools they need to help your members and guests feel cared for. Contact us for a complimentary consultation today.

The post Increase Club Memberships with These 5 Updates [Video] appeared first on Vonix.

Hiring for sales roles is an art form. While interviewing candidates you’ll likely weigh personality highly on your list. Not everyone is good at sales, and generally, an experienced exec will know right away whether someone has the right balance of charisma, tenacity, and empathy for customer relationships that close deals. You may even identify the traits of a great salesperson in someone who has never sold before. 

Whether you’ve hired someone new to the job market or someone changing career paths, first-time salespeople need more support when onboarding. Here are a few tips on how to enhance your success with new hires: 

1. Develop Your Training Plan Before They Arrive

Onboarding is much more than the first day, week, or month. Most salespeople take 6-9 months to get fully ramped up. After all, there are many facets of your industry, customers, prospects, company, and sales cycle. And with sales teams facing high turnover and short tenures, it’s important to invest in your team and make them feel valued, so they won’t want to leave. A key is putting a high priority on training your new hires. 

Set your new hire up with their company email before they arrive and share their onboarding agenda with them.  Don’t forget to include a detailed schedule of their first week followed by more generic outlines of the following weeks. When training on nuances such as products or personas, include time for them to review independently and come back with questions.  

2. Invest Time in Software Training

After getting them connected with email and a direct phone number, a detailed review of your CRM software wins the highest priority spot. Team them up with a sales member who is both high-performing AND great at keeping records. Ask this person to mentor them and train them on the processes they find work best. You want them to form good habits from the start, so their contact records follow your company’s protocols. Plus, chances are, your CRM has some unique customizations that the new person will need to know.  

You can supplement in-person training with videos and guides created by the software provider. Don’t simply give them a log in with no follow up. Salespeople should live and breathe by their CRM; make sure you aren’t throwing a first-time user into the deep end.

3. Share Templates and Examples

For long-time sales managers, sales emails or phone calls are likely second nature. Newbies need more guidance on the right mix of pressure and finesse.  

Share high-performing email templates, call scripts, and follow-up cadences with your team. Your newest hire doesn’t have the institutional or industry knowledge to know what works for your clients. There’s no need for him or her to reinvent the wheel; set them up for success by sharing examples of what has worked for your team in the past. 

4. Provide Shadowing Opportunities

The best sales managers recognize that different salespeople find success with individual methods. Don’t simply pair your new hire with the top performer; give them opportunities to listen in on a variety of pitches. They’ll be able to identify what tactics and phrases feel comfortable to them, and this will augment their individual strategy. 

VoIP phone systems with conferencing or call recording allow your trainees to listen in on calls without being physically present with the caller. Plus, your trainer can share or record their screen through an online meeting, so your trainee can see notes, CRM updates, and presentations in real time. 

We recommend that companies driven by an internal sales force choose a VoIP system with features tailored specifically for sales teams, such as: 

• Whisper Mode: listen in to calls while you’re training with the ability to give feedback in real-time to your employee, without the other party hearing 
• Call Recording: record and playback calls later, so you can review sales progress after a call or re-listen together to give feedback 
• Desktop Application: place and take calls from the desktop by dialing or clicking on the contact record in your CRM. Add on a hands-free headset to really help your team work more efficiently.  

Is it time to upgrade your phone system? Vonix VoIP systems allow your team to stay connected from anywhere with an internet connection. Learn more about our contact center solutions to see better results from your sales and support teams. 

The post Arm First-Time Sellers with the Tools for Success  appeared first on Vonix.