We are living in an era that gives us many choices when it comes to communications like television, internet, phone lines, and, believe it or not, even faxing. With services like a cell phone plan, we search high and low for the best prices at the right quality for our needs. With faxing, however, it seems we just suffer with whatever cards we’re dealt.
Although we use digital formats for most documents, hard copies and signatures are still necessary. Online faxing has provided us the opportunity to make a dreadful task a breeze – if we get the right service. When individuals and businesses choose the right service and plan for their needs, the benefits are countless. Maintenance costs disappear, hefty machines are a thing of the past, and all the headaches are gone.
Here are the top three mistakes people make when choosing their online fax service and how to avoid them so you can enjoy faxing with ease.
1. Forgetting To Do Your Homework
The biggest mistake you can make here, as with anywhere else, is jumping in a service before you know your faxing needs. You need to think about the specifics of your intended use in the same way you think about talk time, text limits, and data usage for a phone plan.
For example, knowing the average faxes you send in your company per month is vital when comparing online faxing services. Just imagine reaching your limit right when you have to send an important fax. Other factors to consider are the number of users and whether or not you’ll need a toll-free line or eSignature features.
2. Choosing Too Quickly
While online faxing companies provide the same end service, they are not created equally. You’ll need to do your research to make sure that the service you choose has all the features you need for a price you can afford.
Luckily, there are services which gives you a quick side by side comparison of offers from the top online faxing companies. Finding the right service and plan is a snap with search filters, side by side comparisons, and supplemental guides and tips.
3. Picking the Wrong Pricing Plan
So now that you’ve done your homework and narrowed down your choices, you’ve almost chosen the perfect online faxing service. But there is still one last mistake that trips up many people – they pick the wrong pricing plan. There are several pricing plans to be aware of: per page, monthly, and annually.
Per page pricing is great for those who don’t send a lot of faxes. Instead of paying for 500 faxes when you’ll probably only send 50, it’s better to pay a higher per page price because you’ll end up saving in the end. If you are new to faxing, aren’t sure what your faxing needs are, or want to try out a service before you commit, monthly billing is the most cost-effective way to go. Once you find the service that is the perfect fit, choosing an annual plan will give you the most bang for your buck.
There is no doubt that online faxing is the smartest way to go. This is a very positive development for any company, big or small. However, just like when picking any new service, you have to do your homework, compare your options, and make sure the price and payment plan is right for you.