In-House PBXs and Hype Marketing - Both Can Be Bad for Business

Have you ever been the victim of hype-marketing? You remember the commercials – only 10 spots left, register today! Today only – save $500! Normally you would pay $400 for this set, but today we’re offering it for just $19.95…but, wait! There’s more!

You get the idea – we’ve all been there, seen them, fallen for them and maybe even included them in a marketing campaign. And why not? For a number of years, hype-marketing worked. Consumers loved the excitement of it and bought up every product they believed would change their life or at least save them hundreds of dollars.

As highlighted in a recent blog by virtual PBX provider, Nextiva, hype-marketing worked too well. It played off the addiction of all marketers leading to its overuse and eventual implosion. Today, consumers are not into buying hype. They want value, truth and validation.

Still marketers try to leverage a bit of the momentum that may be still hanging around. On a recent car research day to replace my gas guzzling SUV, I was immediately tempted to take advantage of the 0 percent financing offered by a local dealer if I bought within the month. I then caught myself, remembering that I want to buy a car when I’m ready, not the dealer. And, if he’s that excited to sell cars, I placed my money on the chance he would offer a similar promotion the next month. (He did.)

Today’s consumers want to buy on a believable message, not hype. They also want to hear the message over and over, for extended periods of time and from multiple sources to get third party validation. At the same time, they want an opportunity to dip their toe in the water without any risk. If you leverage the virtual PBX within your environment, you can use that platform to provide clarity to your target market. In the process, define your core message and get social.

The purpose is to enhance your footprint without coming off as a cheesy, fly-by-night provider. The virtual PBX allows you to use a private branch exchange system without installing the equipment and hardware necessary to use the PBX locally. The solution is hosted and maintained by the provider on an outside server, enabling you to purchase only the IP phones and securing an Internet connection.

Professionalism and credibility are just two of the benefits afforded with the virtual PBX. Callers can’t tell the difference between a locally installed corporate quality PBX service and the virtual PBX. As a result, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can leverage enterprise-grade capabilities to compete at a higher level than ever before. Plus, with the cost savings associated with this next-generation communication strategy, organizations on the smaller end of the spectrum can invest in robust marketing strategies that shed the hype and instead focus on long-term value.