Communication Solutions

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How to Create the Perfect Sales Funnel

Spend less and make more with EquiiText SMS!         ‍ Interested in learning more? Sign up for a free account today and let us show you how to create your custom funnel on the EquiiText Cloud Platform today! What's stopping you from texting your customers? Sales funnels are the perfect way to ensure your customers are getting from the point of awareness to the point of sale as quickly and efficiently as possible. It can feel daunting, but there are dozens of different ways to establish a pipeline for your company.

No matter what type of industry you’re in or what end result you’re hoping to achieve with your customers, EquiiText offers an affordable method for funneling leads

Create your campaign message. This message can be as simple as thanking your contacts for opting in to receive texts from your business, or it can be a promotion for an upcoming special, information about your brand, or whatever you can think of!

If your goal is to generate traffic to your website, make sure you use the URL shortener so customers can reach your landing page and perform an action on your site.

If your goal is to funnel a customer through a series of messages to receive a discount, coupon, or otherwise, it is necessary to create a series of auto-responders that will be triggered by keywords.

Set timed follow-up messages to remind customers to take action on your website or at your business location.

Create timed follow-up messages that similarly let new opt-ins see your campaign message, so they can also interact with the sales funnel.

Here is an example of an effective EquiiText sales funnel:

Campaign Message

“Thank you for opting in to receive texts from Fauna's Floral! To show my appreciation, please accept a complimentary bouquet! Pick your favorite here :) laqi.co/HK948LO”

Or,

“Thank you for opting in to receive texts from Fauna’s Floral! To show my appreciation, 

please accept a complimentary bouquet! Text ROSE, LILAC, or LILY :)”

Automatic Responders

ROSE: 

“To receive your complimentary rose bouquet, simply text the promo code ROSES4ME, and you'll receive your coupon!”

ROSES4ME:

“This text is your coupon for a free rose bouquet from Fauna’s Flora! Simply show this message when you visit us and walk out smelling like a basket of roses!

LILAC:

"To receive your complimentary lilac bouquet, simply text the promo code LILAC4ME, and you'll receive your coupon!"

LILAC4ME:

"Here is your coupon for a free lilac bouquet from Fauna's Flora! Simply show this message when you visit, and I'll show you how much 'lilac' you!"

First Sequential Responder

"Limit one bouquet per customer. SMS coupons may be redeemed no more than 14 days after they are received. May only choose ROSE or LILAC, not both. Thank you!"

Timed Follow Up

"Good morning! This is Fauna from Fauna's Floral. Just wanted to remind you to redeem your coupon for a free bouquet! I can't wait to see you soon!"

In the first example, you can see how Fauna gives her customers the opportunity to purchase a free bouquet directly from her website, which will allow her to track clicks on the Cloud Platform and incite further actions from her customers online.

In the second example, it's clear that an effective use of the EquiiText Platform is to establish two-way engagement between Fauna's Floral and its clientele. This style of funneling goes beyond paid advertising and remarketing ads – by using text messaging, Fauna is letting her customers funnel themselves through a device they use every single day, and it's costing her next to nothing to do so. She sets up an identical opt-in message for new customers, but now they text Fauna and tell her what they want. She can even customize her responses so they're cute, funny, and personable like herself! A sequential responder follows whichever automatic responder the customer triggers to let the customer know about each coupon's terms and conditions. A timed follow-up message further alerts the customer to use his or her coupon before the time runs out. Fauna can set up as many timed follow ups as she needs to get customers to redeem their coupons: once per day, once every three days, once per week – whatever works best for her!

These are only two variants of a single example showing how the EquiiText Cloud Platform allows businesses to funnel customers through a sales pipeline. SMS sales funnels are simple to set up and much more affordable than any other sales tool currently available to businesses.

Spend less and make more with EquiiText SMS!         ‍ Interested in learning more? Sign up for a free account today and let us show you how to create your custom funnel on the EquiiText Cloud Platform today! What's stopping you from texting your customers?

[equiinet05-blog]

Why SMS Advertising Beats Google Ads

SMS advertising is simple and affordable compared to any other form of marketing. While many business owners utilize paid Google Ads to generate sales, they may not realize they are paying more than they need to for marketing and advertising in order to make a substantial revenue.

In order to receive website traffic from online advertising, marketers are forced to spend hours determining the best ad copy, creating banner ads, and fine-tuning their targeting approaches based on audiences, placements, and keywords. And all this work doesn’t even begin to encompass the pain of configuring a budget!

With EquiiText, there’s no need to become a certified online advertiser to establish an effective sales funnel. In fact, the average business owner will spend roughly one to two hours developing their Cloud Platform, and then they rarely need to tinker with their account afterwards. In fact, SMS is one of the most hands-off marketing tools available today. Plus, it costs less than $150 per month, on average! Comparatively, small businesses will spend an average of $9,000 per month on Google Ads (and this number doesn’t include the cost of resources and time spent to get these ads and their funnels set up perfectly).

With this difference in cost alone, it’s easy to see how EquiiText makes it incredibly simple to increase a company’s Return on Investment. Spend less time, spend less money, and make more profit with the EquiiText Cloud Platform.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for your free trial today at https://www.equiitext.com and receive 1,000 credits to play around with! See how easy it is to reach customers wherever they are and let them interact with your company on their terms. Customers love texting, and so should you!

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Millennials Are Texting Your Competition

Millennials prefer to text. They prefer using their smart phones for lurking on social media accounts, receiving push notifications, and having the ability to choose when and how to respond to a message. Texting is easy; it’s instantaneous without being interruptive. In fact, millennials generally agree that it’s rude to call someone rather than text them – and many phone call recipients are likely to message the caller while the phone is still ringing: What’s up? Can’t talk. Text.

Maybe this all sounds like a gimme. Of course millennials prefer to text and use social media. Besides, for a general cellphone user in 2018, answering phone calls every day is about as common as writing checks and is similarly regarded with apprehension and suspicion.

So, if this is the case, why are there literally hundreds of articles and blog posts and advertising seminars on how to market to millennials? The answer is that, although we all know what millennials like and why, it’s difficult for most businesses to break into millennial marketing. Advertising online is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. Even if a business owner understands what to do on Instagram and Google Ads, it becomes a budget-juggling game.

The question isn’t really how to market to millennials; it’s how to market effectively to millennials. And the answer is simple, affordable, and hands off: text them!

EquiiText uses automatic responders that operate under an artificial intelligence engine. That’s a fancy way of saying that once you set up your SMS platform with personalized answers that respond to questions texted in by your customers, you can sit back and let your marketing handle itself! Pay only for what you need with super competitive prices that ensure you’re not breaking your marketing budget.

How man millenials can you get? Sign up for your free trial today at https://www.equiitext.com and receive 1,000 credits to play around with!

[equiinet05-blog]

Virtualization and Hypervisors: An Article by Equiinet Inc.

Type 1 Type 1 hypervisors, also called “bare metal,” “native,” and “embedded” hypervisors are directly installed to a server’s hardware. In this case, you need a blank server with no operating system installed on it;a type 1 hypervisor acts as the server’s operating system. After you install the type 1 hypervisor, you need a manager program to run the server. This is the catch-22 with type 1 hypervisors: the hypervisor itself is typically free (or relatively inexpensive) to install, but the content manager program often comes with a hefty price tag. For instance, VMware, the leader in virtualization, charges a baseline of $560 for a 1-year license of its most skeletal hypervisor kit (the VMware vSphere Essentials Kit), but it does not come with many features outside the hypervisor itself. Comparatively, the base price for a VMware type 1 hypervisor kit with an inclusive management program costs $1,268 with a 1-year subscription. One of the most expensive products sold at VMware is the vCenter Server Standard, at nearly $10,000 for a 3-year license with 24/hour technical support. There is a lot to think about when it comes to pricing and management tools for type 1 hypervisors. However, they are the most effective and most efficient hypervisors because they are installed directly to a server’s hardware. With a proper management program, a business’ ability to optimize production and avoid technical issues is much higher than with a type 2 hypervisor. Type 2 Type 2 hypervisors are much less expensive and much easier to install than type 1 hypervisors because they run on the server’s preexisting operating system. These are called “hosted” hypervisors. If the hypervisor is a mattress protector, then the original operating system is a cushiony mattress topper placed underneath it. From there, another instance of the original operating system is installed directly to the hypervisor, and other instances of operating systems can be installed there, as well. Once again, the instances of applications are installed to those individual operating systems. The best case for using a type 2 hypervisor is that, unlike the type 1 hypervisor, it does not require a management program to run properly. Rather, the hypervisor appears to the user the same way an application does—it can be managed and utilized similarly to any other unique instance that is installed on it. Due to the type 2 hypervisor’s ease of access, and the fact that it’s generally free to download, many businesses prefer this product when they decide to virtualize. The biggest downside to a type 2 hypervisor is its RAM allocation. Unlike the type 1 hypervisor that can automatically switch back-and-forth between servers to ensure their resources are used effectively, the type 2 hypervisor requires the user to manually determine how much RAM an instance of an operating system or application will use on one server. This means that the host server will always being using a specific amount of RAM for each instance, even if one instance suddenly requires more than the others. Unfortunately, this can lead to computer crashes because there won’t be enough RAM to go around between everything at once. Similarly, there can be network issues if too many instances require the network at the same time, and the user wants to use the network on the host computer. The type 2 hypervisor is great if there aren’t too many instances of operating systems or applications attempting to utilize RAM and the network simultaneously, but for a larger company that requires more resources, it may be a better idea to look into the type 1 hypervisor.Conclusion Virtualization has been around for almost 50 years, believe it or not. However, its application in the real world has only been implemented within the last 15 or 20 years. There are still many companies that are not aware of virtualization and its ability to run businesses more effectively. When it is broken down, the nuances of virtualization appear difficult to understand, but it essentially boils down to these key points:

Consolidate servers to save space, money, and time Optimize server resources with the most efficiency Avoid the stress of data loss that comes with hardware damage Virtualization is the best option for businesses, period. There is every reason to switch, and no reason not to. So, what’re you waiting for?One of the best features of virtualization is that all the instances of operating systems and applications installed to a hypervisor can be directly transferred to any other hypervisor. Therefore, if a company has six servers that each have their own hypervisor, then moving something like Windows 10 from the first server to the other five is as simple as sharing a document with a coworker. Never again will your company fret over data loss, when the ability to transfer information from one server to the next is so simple.

Similarly, the hypervisor program is able to recognize when a particular instance of something will require more RAM than others—if there are peak hours during the day in which employees are predominately utilizing a single application, the hypervisor will divide resources between different servers. Essentially, programs will run quicker and more smoothly, and the servers will still save energy and resources. Servers that are not in use will not drain power, nor will they be underutilized.

So what types of hypervisors are there, and where can you buy them?

There are 2 types of hypervisors you can use: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Type 1 hypervisors, also called “bare metal,” “native,” and “embedded” hypervisors are directly installed to a server’s hardware. In this case, you need a blank server with no operating system installed on it;a type 1 hypervisor acts as the server’s operating system. After you install the type 1 hypervisor, you need a manager program to run the server.

This is the catch-22 with type 1 hypervisors: the hypervisor itself is typically free (or relatively inexpensive) to install, but the content manager program often comes with a hefty price tag. For instance, VMware, the leader in virtualization, charges a baseline of $560 for a 1-year license of its most skeletal hypervisor kit (the VMware vSphere Essentials Kit), but it does not come with many features outside the hypervisor itself. Comparatively, the base price for a VMware type 1 hypervisor kit with an inclusive management program costs $1,268 with a 1-year subscription. One of the most expensive products sold at VMware is the vCenter Server Standard, at nearly $10,000 for a 3-year license with 24/hour technical support.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to pricing and management tools for type 1 hypervisors. However, they are the most effective and most efficient hypervisors because they are installed directly to a server’s hardware. With a proper management program, a business’ ability to optimize production and avoid technical issues is much higher than with a type 2 hypervisor.

Type 2

Type 2 hypervisors are much less expensive and much easier to install than type 1 hypervisors because they run on the server’s preexisting operating system. These are called “hosted” hypervisors. If the hypervisor is a mattress protector, then the original operating system is a cushiony mattress topper placed underneath it. From there, another instance of the original operating system is installed directly to the hypervisor, and other instances of operating systems can be installed there, as well. Once again, the instances of applications are installed to those individual operating systems.

The best case for using a type 2 hypervisor is that, unlike the type 1 hypervisor, it does not require a management program to run properly. Rather, the hypervisor appears to the user the same way an application does—it can be managed and utilized similarly to any other unique instance that is installed on it. Due to the type 2 hypervisor’s ease of access, and the fact that it’s generally free to download, many businesses prefer this product when they decide to virtualize.

The biggest downside to a type 2 hypervisor is its RAM allocation. Unlike the type 1 hypervisor that can automatically switch back-and-forth between servers to ensure their resources are used effectively, the type 2 hypervisor requires the user to manually determine how much RAM an instance of an operating system or application will use on one server. This means that the host server will always being using a specific amount of RAM for each instance, even if one instance suddenly requires more than the others. Unfortunately, this can lead to computer crashes because there won’t be enough RAM to go around between everything at once. Similarly, there can be network issues if too many instances require the network at the same time, and the user wants to use the network on the host computer.

The type 2 hypervisor is great if there aren’t too many instances of operating systems or applications attempting to utilize RAM and the network simultaneously, but for a larger company that requires more resources, it may be a better idea to look into the type 1 hypervisor.

Conclusion Virtualization has been around for almost 50 years, believe it or not. However, its application in the real world has only been implemented within the last 15 or 20 years. There are still many companies that are not aware of virtualization and its ability to run businesses more effectively. When it is broken down, the nuances of virtualization appear difficult to understand, but it essentially boils down to these key points: Consolidate servers to save space, money, and time Optimize server resources with the most efficiency Avoid the stress of data loss that comes with hardware damage Virtualization is the best option for businesses, period. There is every reason to switch, and no reason not to. So, what’re you waiting for?

[equiinet05-blog]

Why You Should Consider Using a Virtual Office

According to a recent Gallup survey, approximately 43% of American employees said they spent at least some time working remotely. Whether this means they work from home or simply work from outside the office on a regular basis, the fact of the matter is that there are fewer people working in office spaces than ever before—and that number will only keep growing.

A virtual office is a place in which remote employees can virtually hang their business licenses. This is ideal for people who don’t work in an office and don’t want to: it provides remote employees with the ability to have a corporate mailing address and a live receptionist who answers and forwards business calls. A virtual office gives you a concrete, professional facility in which to have a location for meetings in a private office or conference room.

Essentially, a virtual office is a way to have an office without going to the office every day. Work from home or on the road or from other countries without sacrificing the professionalism of owning an executive office.

Virtual Offices in Las Vegas Rather than trekking to the office every day, the virtual office allows you a place to forward all your business mail and phone calls. When you need the physical space for a meeting, simply call ahead and book the location for your conference day. Plus, with the Equiinet F6PG phone system, you can simultaneously hold your conference call and maintain all your company data right into the phone!

There are numerous companies in Las Vegas that exist to assist you in securing your virtual office. Their buildings are elegant and tastefully furnished with individual office rooms, conference rooms, and lounges in which you and your team members can gather in comfort. There are always receptionists available to greet yourself and your associates, as well as to answer any questions you may have regarding mail or phone calls.

Who Provides Virtual Offices? The following list provides information about some of the Las Vegas companies that provide virtual offices for remote employees:

Davinci Virtual https://www.davincivirtual.com

Pros: Great prices 12 locations in Las Vegas Complimentary online notary Use of address

Cons: Option for live receptionist requires an additional fee.

Average price: $65 a month

Regus https://www.regus.com/virtual-office

Pros: Pedigree business lounges 16 locations in Las Vegas Complimentary license hanging Live receptionist answer with virtual office package

Cons: High price

Average price: $185 a month

Lakes Suites https://lakesuites.com/las-vegas-virtual-office/

Pros: Great pricing Optional package for executive office space Complimentary license hanging

Cons: Only one location in Las Vegas

Average price: $125 a month

Opus Virtual Office https://www.opusvirtualoffices.com/

Pros: Lowest live receptionist fee   Free first month with 12-month contract Complimentary license hanging

Cons: Only 3 locations in Las Vegas Does not offer conference rooms, executive offices, or mail forwarding

Average price: $99 a month

St. Rose https://strosesuites.com/las-vegas-virtual-offices/

Pros: Great overall value with package notification On-site private mailbox Unlimited call forwarding

Cons: Low availability due to number of rentals Does not offer option for license hanging

Average price: $125 a month Las Vegas Virtual Offices Comparison

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Tax Code 179 Helps Your Business’ Bottom Line

Section 179 of the IRS Tax Code allows businesses to deduct the cost of new equipment that was purchased or financed during that tax year.

In previous tax years, businesses could reasonably expect to write off apercentage of the total cost of new equipment purchased. For example, if a company in 2017 purchased up to $2 million worth of new equipment, they were eligible to deduct a limit of $500,000. This sounds like a great deal (and it was a much better deal than 2009’s $250,000 deduction cap), but this deduction is still only covers 25% of the total cost of new equipment a business could purchase.

In 2018, this deduction was raised significantly.

As of this year, the passage and signing into law of Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct up to $1 million dollars on equipment that is purchased or financed in 2018. This means you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE of all Equiinet equipment purchased for your business! There has never been a better time to update your company’s old phone systems and computer software with Equiinet. Plus, with Equiinet’s new Phone System Buy Back, there’s never been a better time to update your business equipment and save money in the process.

How does this work?

Essentially, between the dates January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, your business maylease or purchase any of the following items (and more!) and receive a full deduction of the total purchase prices. These items include:

Office equipment (including phone systems, printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.)  

Office furniture

Computers

Computer software(that is purchased or financed from outside your company)

Tangible personal property used in business

Simply keep complete records of all the business equipment you leased or purchased during 2018 (including where you acquired the equipment from and the date it was acquired and put into service), and fill out IRS form 4562 when you file for your 2018 taxes. It couldn’t be easier!

Let Equiinet help your business have a stellar 2018!

Section 179 truly is fantastic for businesses. It is finally time to get those upgrades you desperately need! With Equiinet’s affordable services and products, plus our amazing new Phone System Buy Back Program, we are here to enable your business and help you have most amazing year yet! For more information on how Equiinet can protect your bottom line, give us a call. Click this link if you would like more information on Section 179 of the IRS tax code.

We can’t wait to help you grow!

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Why Businesses Should Consider Being Dog-Friendly

According to WalletHub, Las Vegas ranks asone of the top ten most pet-friendly cities in the U.S. Las Vegas businesses recognize the need for tourists and Nevada residents to include their furry companions in their comings and goings.

It is no surprise, then, that businesses are more willing than ever to allow employees to bring their dogs to work. The benefits of this are well-documented—bringing your dog to work reduces stress, increases productivity, and promotes inter-office social behaviors. Researchers have also discovered unexpected advantages for companies that are dog-friendly: employees are more likely to apply for jobs if they can bring their dogs, and they are less likely to quit a job with a pet-friendly company. This means businesses have happier employees who work harder and stay longer than businesses that don’t allow pets.We here at Equiinet love seeing the office dogs when we come in. Other companies in Las Vegas are doing it, too!

Mellisaat R&R Partners says, “The office as a whole is less stressed when there are dogs around…R&R loves all of the fur babies that come in. Our HR supervisor brings her dog in everyday, and our folks in accounting are always spoiling pups with treats!” Plus, R&R Partners also offers pet insurance for their employees. How cool is that!

Of course, there are challenges associated with allowing pets in the workplace. Business owners need to be aware of several factors before implementing a pet policy, including:

Employees with allergies

Employees who are afraid of animals or object to sharing a workspace with a dog due to cultural or religious heritages

The health and behavior of every dog that enters the workplace

Liability insurance

To combat these issues, it is important that businesses ensure all employees who bring dogs to work:

maintain their dogs’ good temperaments

keep their dogs up-to-date on vaccinations

bathe their dogs regularly to decrease pet dander

The workplace itself should provide dog-free accommodations for those who are unable to be around animals.For example, R&R Partners reserves the right for allergic employees to ask coworkers not to bring their dogs to work.

A representative from State Farm also recommends that employers who consider allowing employees bring their pet to work “verify the employee’s liability coverage through a renter’s policy, homeowner’s policy, or personal liability umbrella. Additionally, [employers should] be sure to review the business policy to be certain adequate liability limits are in place.”Business owners’ liability policies generally extend coverage for customer property damage and injury due to pets in the workplace, but the employee should be individually protected, as well.

Pet-friendly workplaces like Equiinet make going to work more enjoyable! Tell Equiinet about your experience with working for a pet-friendly company—we’d love to hear from you!

[equiinet05-blog]

Equiinet F6PG Gigabit IP Phone System

Now that it’s 2018, it’s no wonder that desktop IP phones are becoming smarter and more functional. The new Equiinet F6PG is a pinnacle of smart technology, hybridized with the traditional IP phone design. It is easy to program and easier to use, and its advanced features allow for better productivity with fewer headaches.

Phone Features The F6PG stands out from the pack with three color LCD screens. The main screen boasts a user-friendly 4.3-inch display, and two 2.8-inch DSS screens which act as a built-in extension module—a cost-saving solution to traditional IP phones. These intelligent screens have twelve DSS buttons, but with five available pages, the F6PG allows for a virtualized total of sixty DSS/BLF keys. With the phone’s ability to maintain 6 SIP lines and hold up to 1,000 contacts, the F6PG is the only IP phone you will ever need.

Fortunately, since the F6PG supports its own URL, you can access the phone’s contact library, call log, and more through its webpage. Simply scan the phone’s QR code with your mobile device or log on through your computer, and you can easily keep track of all the information going in and out of the phone.

Equiinet’s incredible new IP phone is PoE enabled with an entire gigabit of ethernet capability. Its HD voice feature shines through both the handset and its full duplex speaker. Don’t want to talk the old-fashioned way? The F6PG is also includes an RJ9 headset port that is compatible with EHS wireless headsets for hands-free communication.

Call Features Along with the standard call features present on many IP desktop phones, the F6PG provides businesses the ability to set up private hot lines and unique passcodes for their employees to dial out, otherwise known as hot-desking. Here are more of the F6PG’s call features:

Interested? Give Equiinet a call today, and see if we can upgrade you to the amazing F6PG at little to no cost to you! You may also purchase this smart desktop phone directly. We know you’ll love the F6PG as much as we do!

[equiinet05-blog]

Why Businesses Should Consider Being Dog-Friendly

According to WalletHub, Las Vegas ranks asone of the top ten most pet-friendly cities in the U.S. Las Vegas businesses recognize the need for tourists and Nevada residents to include their furry companions in their comings and goings.

It is no surprise, then, that businesses are more willing than ever to allow employees to bring their dogs to work. The benefits of this are well-documented—bringing your dog to work reduces stress, increases productivity, and promotes inter-office social behaviors. Researchers have also discovered unexpected advantages for companies that are dog-friendly: employees are more likely to apply for jobs if they can bring their dogs, and they are less likely to quit a job with a pet-friendly company. This means businesses have happier employees who work harder and stay longer than businesses that don’t allow pets.We here at Equiinet love seeing the office dogs when we come in. Other companies in Las Vegas are doing it, too!

Mellisaat R&R Partners says, “The office as a whole is less stressed when there are dogs around…R&R loves all of the fur babies that come in. Our HR supervisor brings her dog in everyday, and our folks in accounting are always spoiling pups with treats!” Plus, R&R Partners also offers pet insurance for their employees. How cool is that!

Of course, there are challenges associated with allowing pets in the workplace. Business owners need to be aware of several factors before implementing a pet policy, including:

Employees with allergies

Employees who are afraid of animals or object to sharing a work space with a dog due to cultural or religious heritages

The health and behavior of every dog that enters the workplace

Liability insurance

To combat these issues, it is important that businesses ensure all employees who bring dogs to work:

maintain their dogs’ good temperaments

keep their dogs up-to-date on vaccinations

bathe their dogs regularly to decrease pet dander

The workplace itself should provide dog-free accommodations for those who are unable to be around animals.For example, R&R Partners reserves the right for allergic employees to ask coworkers not to bring their dogs to work.

A representative from State Farm also recommends that employers who consider allowing employees bring their pet to work “verify the employee’s liability coverage through a renter’s policy, homeowner’s policy, or personal liability umbrella. Additionally, [employers should] be sure to review the business policy to be certain adequate liability limits are in place.”Business owners’ liability policies generally extend coverage for customer property damage and injury due to pets in the workplace, but the employee should be individually protected, as well.

Pet-friendly workplaces like Equiinet make going to work more enjoyable! Tell Equiinet about your experience with working for a pet-friendly company—we’d love to hear from you!

[equiinet05-blog]

Upgrade Your Business Panasonic PBX with the Latest Panasonic IP Phone System

What is the Buy-Back Program?

If your business is still using an old Panasonic phone system and you are interested in upgrading to the latest and greatest in Panasonic technology, you don’t have to break the bank with Equiinet’s Buy-Back Program. For a limited time, Equiinet is offering a special deal for businesses that will allow them to sell us their outdated Panasonic phone systems for a credit toward the smart Panasonic KX-UTG300B—a $300 value.

It is no surprise that businesses pay more for new telecommunications equipment than they do for the services themselves. That’s why Equiinet wants to make 2018 the most affordable year for businesses, yet! In no time, your business could be operating more efficiently with the 300B, a feature-packed Panasonic phone system with innovative touch-screen technology.

Features

Panasonic’s impressive 300B model comes equipped with a 5-inch color LCD touch screen, enterprise-grade HD voice, a full duplex speaker system, 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports, built in Bluetooth capabilities, six SIP accounts, 24 programmable keys, and expansion module support.There are buttons that are preset for voicemail, conferencing, transferring, holding, and other standard features. Oh, and did we mention it can store up to 1,000 contacts?

With its sleek look and enhanced functionality, the Panasonic 300B is the perfect business solution for navigating the modern problems of the new year. You no longer have to deal with a cumbersome PBX that feels more like a burden to your business than an asset. Plus, with the new Section 179 Tax Code, your business can write off the cost of your new Panasonic 300B equipment!

What You Need to Do

Simply give us a call to see if you qualify for our Panasonic Buy-Back Program and let us tell you how much you can save on a brand-new Panasonic 300B phone system! At Equiinet, we love to find new ways to save your business money on our products and telecommunications services.

Don’t want to change your phone or internet service provider? No problem! Your business can still qualify for a new Panasonic 300B phone system even if you choose to keep your current provider. However, businesses who switch to Equiinet will save even more money on this deal!

Have more questions? Give us a call today for your free estimate!

We can’t wait to help you grow!

To learn more about Equiitext visit: https://www.equiitext.com

[equiinet05-blog]

Registering Your New Business in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a vibrant city full of life with an amazing community of entrepreneurs.This makes it one of the best places to start your own business! But even if you are ready to begin pulling in customers and become a staple company in Las Vegas, it’s important to make sure you are following all the right legal procedures. One of the first things every business should do is register with the state of Nevada. Here are the steps you need to follow to get registered.

Steps for Registering a Business

1.      Choose a business name

a.       Make sure the name you pick for your new business is unique and distinguishable from any other business in Nevada. Be wary of following trademark laws! The Nevada Secretary of State’s office has a database in which all Nevada businesses are registered, so you don’t have to guess whether your name is too similar to another business.

b.      If you would like to register your business under a “fictitious name” (such as creating a “doing business as,” or “dba” name), Nevada requires you to fill out an application and submit it to the county clerk’s office. Filing for a dba costs around $20.00.

2.      Form your entity and apply for a Nevada state business license

a.       The different types of businesses and their requirements for obtaining licensing are listed in the section below.

3.      Get an Employer Identification Number

a.       Apply for an EIN on the IRS website in order to ensure your business is paying its taxes accordingly and protecting you from fraud.

4.      Register with the Nevada Department of Taxation

a.       Although Nevada does not enforce state taxes, it is still necessary to apply for a tax permit, whether it is a sales tax permit (for the sale of tangible goods) or a consumer use tax permit (for any other business that does not sell tangible goods).

5.      Apply for a city business license (or licenses)

a.       Applying for city business licenses can be difficult, since the first step is identifying which city in which your business is located. In Nevada, this is tricky since the lines that separate the City of Henderson, Boulder City, the City of North Las Vegas, the City of Las Vegas, and Clark County are tough to decipher. Check the Nevada jurisdiction locator (be sure to look only at the “jurisdiction field”) to determine where your business will operate. From here, you must determine where to file for your license, based on your location. (It is even more complicated for mobile businesses like plumbers or dog groomers—they are required to file for licenses in every city in which they plan to do business!)

Determine your type of business

There are multiple types of business you can register, so here are some ways to determine what you qualify for:

·         Corporations: A corporation is a group of people working together on a business that are legally permitted to act as a single entity. It means the business functions on its own separately from any other businesses.A person could own two corporations individually from one another, so one corporation does not affect the other. Corporations can be publicly traded and give limited liability in the event of a lawsuit. This means the business itself would be liable for any costs related to a suit,as opposed to the individuals who own it. To file as a corporation, you’ll need to file Articles of Incorporations with the Nevada Secretary of State’s office.

·         Limited-Liability Company (LLC): An LLC provides a business with the limited liability that is similar toa corporation while also allowing for pass-through taxation, meaning the taxes pass through to the owner instead of the business getting taxed separately for profits. The Nevada Secretary of State requires a new business owner to file Articles of Organization to register as an LLC.

·         Limited Partnership: A limited partnership would be required if your business has multiple owners and one of those owners is responsible for the majority of the liability for the business.Other partnersare not liable, yet they are still able to own or manage the business in conjunction with the liable owner. If this is the type of business you are interested in registering, be sure to file a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the Nevada Secretary of State and include the list of managers, members, officers, and/or partners in order to receive your state business license.

·         Sole Proprietor/General Partnership: Generally, any individual working in exchange for pay, such as a freelance photographer or a contracted writer, is going to fall within this category. The disadvantage to working as a sole proprietor is that there is no legal safety net keeping the individual’s assets separate from the business. A sole proprietor/general partnership is not required to file for a business registration like the above companies are. Instead, only a notice of exemption or a business license is required.

Fortunately, the state of Nevada makes it very easy to register for these types of businesses. Most of these forms can be filled out online, but you can still send in a paper copy if you’d prefer.

Check on licensing and zoning

When registering your business, you’ll want to make sure itis able to legally function. Before you sign a lease on a space or start working, check the Nevada zoning laws for the area in which you will be working to ensure your business is able to function in that spot. Clark County has a comprehensive FAQ that details the steps for zoning a new business.

It is also important to make sure you have all licensing required to operate whichever type of business you’ve registered as. This would include making sure you have health permitsin the case of a restaurant, for example. You will also need to insure your business properly and obtain all employee paperwork necessary for the future. The Small Business Advice website of Nevada delineates all the information you’ll need for these.

So you’ve started your business!

Now that you’ve registered and obtained all your licensing, you’re ready to do business! Congratulations! The next step is considering your business’ utilities and telecommunications services. Don’t worry! Equiinet is here to take care of all your telephone and internet needs. We provide excellent products and services at an affordable rate, so you can operate your company efficiently, without giving a second thought to network security or data storage. Give Equiinet a call today to see how we can help make your new entity a success! You deserve it after all that hard work!

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Equiinet Offers Cloud Failover with Auto Attendant

What Is Failover?

In an age when almost everything is connected through the Internet (or at the very least, an electrical outlet), it is imperative for businesses to prepare themselves for potential losses of power. You buy liability insurance in case of fire or natural disasters; why wouldn’t you also ensure your company will run smoothly even if there is a hiccup in your connectivity?

Failover is a feature that acts as a back-up power generator in case your Internet goes out. Equiinet’s traditional 4G Failoveroperates like a hotspot thatassists youif you lose network connectivity.Equiinet algorithms prioritize bandwidth requirements to ensure your most critical systems are always enabled and essential operations continue without any issues.

But what if your power goes out and customers are unable even to call your business?Utilizing Cloud Failover with Equiinet guarantees you will be able to maintain your day-to-day voice operations without skipping a beat. Calls are automatically forwarded from your company’s IP phone system to your desired employee’s personal cell phone. This means customers will always have a way to reach you, no matter what.

Auto Attendant

While sending all your incoming calls to a single phone may work if you don’t expect a high volume of traffic, it is overwhelming for one person to be responsible for every phone call. That’s why Equiinet includes an Auto Attendant with our Cloud Failover. Callers are greeted with a personalized message from your company that gives them the option to be connected to a specific department or to leave a message. This way, customers can reach a particular employee based on the customer’s needs, rather than requiring one individual to handle the entire call load.

Pricing

We believe in providing affordable solutions to all our customers. No business should have to suffer simply because the power goes out. Therefore, we offer several options for your business, so you can customize your Failover plan.

4G Failover                                                                            Cloud Failover + Auto Attendant

$50.00 / month                                                                        $12.99 / month

(Plus low installation fee)                                                       (Plus low installation fee)

4G Failover + Cloud Failover + Auto Attendant

$59.99 / month

(Plus low installation fee)

*SPECIAL DEAL*

If you sign up for a 3-year contract with Equiinet, you will receive Cloud Failover + Auto Attendant for FREE for 3 years! Simply cover the cost of the installation fee, and Equiinet will provide these two services, at no cost to you!

Give us a call today for more information – we can’t wait to help your business succeed!

To learn more about Equiitext visit: https://www.equiitext.com

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“Why Spas and Salons Should Start Texting Their Customers”

Texting is a great way to keep in contact with beauty-loving clients who are always looking for the best deals. Stop losing customers to competitors by standing out with SMS marketing!

There are many types of businesses that benefit from using text message marketing, but salons and spas in particular have incredible potential for receiving a high ROI by texting their customers. In fact, Seattle Sun Tan generated almost $200,000 in new revenue in the first 30 days of their initial text messaging campaign: a voucher for $20 off the next purchase of every new mobile subscriber. What’s interesting about this study is that Seattle Sun Tan did not have an existing data base of customer phone numbers, which means they catapulted their subscriber database from zero to 4,774 entries in a mere month!

The first question that arises from this campaign is, “How many people use the coupon, and then opt-out?” Surprisingly, text message marketing case studies typically show a high retention rate following a campaign that offers a free product, service, or discount. In fact, a hair salon in the UK retained 70% of their initial subscribers following a campaign in 2010, and Seattle Sun Tan was estimated to have retained 94% of their 4,774 new subscribers in 2013.

Today, the number of cellphone users is at its highest point, with an estimated 238 million users in the U.S. alone. Now is the perfect time to start building your salon’s subscriber base and build relationships with new customers who want to keep coming back! We all know how easy it is to find good specials to salons and spas, prompting people to try new places each time in order to get the best deal on their desired services. Thanks to EquiiText’s campaign messaging system, you can ensure customers are always in the loop about your discounts and coupons for products and services. The number of returning customers to your business are likely to increase the more they are reminded of your awesome services!

Plus, EquiiText uses artificial intelligence to give your subscribers the opportunity to have a conversation with your brand. ALINA, our A.I. assistant, responds to customer questions naturally, with answers that are customized to you and your business. Let EquiiText and ALINA handle your incoming messages while you and your team pamper your customers. Want to learn more about how EquiiText is the best SMS marketing tool for salons and spas? Contact us today to get a free account with 1,000 free credits, and we’ll show you how our platform can be used to make your company the hottest spot in the city!

[equiinet05-blog]

Equiinet For Nonprofits

https://youtu.be/m90F0GPzV3Y

Equiinet wants to bring FREE broadband to eligible nonprofits in Las Vegas! For more information, read our blog: https://www.equiinet.com/post/equiine... To determine eligibility, fill out our form online: https://www.equiinet.com/verticals/no... Or call us at [phone]. Let Equiinet help your nonprofit succeed!

[equiinet05-blog]

Nonprofits Shouldn't Dismiss SMS Marketing, and Here's Why

Nonprofit organizations around the world are benefiting from SMS marketing – how can your nonprofit use text messaging to achieve its mission?

Texting is one of the most popular forms of communication today. It’s no surprise, then, that SMS marketing is considered to be one of the fastest-growing advertising tools for businesses all over the world. However, text message marketing is not limited to specific industries. In fact, nonprofit organizations are finding that the ability to send texts regarding events, projects, and promoting awareness have been extraordinarily beneficial in allowing those nonprofits to reach their goals.

For example, in 2017 Goodwill of Southern California implemented an SMS marketing campaign to increase public awareness of store sales and events. They sent 4 texts every month to subscribed recipients to encourage donations, drive traffic to stores in the area, announce sales, and promote new store openings. In 6 months, Goodwill of Southern California had generated more than 2,000 subscribers – and their campaign is still going strong!

Organizations like Goodwill are some of the first people think of when they imagine nonprofits. However, there is one type of nonprofit that is also using SMS marketing and reaping rewards from it: religious establishments.

Churches, mosques, synagogues, and more are now utilizing text messaging as a way to reach out to their members on a daily basis. Whether it’s to send a Scripture quote, a morning prayer reminder, or a friendly Shabbat Shalom, religious institutions around the world are embracing the use of SMS to keep their followers in the loop on services, events, fundraisers, and everything in between.

Similarly, school districts are now turning to text messaging to ensure simple and direct communication between schools and parents. The school nurse can text parents to remind them of immunization requirements and notify them of individual medical emergencies as they occur. Coaches and music teachers can send SMS campaigns to alert parents of upcoming athletic events and concerts. Thanks to text messaging, it is easier than ever for parents and school administrators to establish consistent and almost immediate communication.

Every industry benefits from SMS marketing, and nonprofit organizations are no exception. Whether your nonprofit is a national company, a small institution, or an entire county school district, EquiiText provides all the features and capabilities you need to achieve your mission and assist your community. Give us a call today for more information on how EquiiText can help your nonprofit succeed!

[equiinet05-blog]

How SMS Marketing Boosts Restaurant Sales

SMS marketing is the best tool restaurants can use to reach customers today. Find out what these restaurants did to increase sales and generate leads to learn how your restaurant can do the same!

Food and beverage establishments receive some of the highest benefits from SMS marketing. Perhaps your goal is to build the number of customers who subscribe to your business;maybe you want to increase the amount of new and returning customers to your business while simultaneously selling more products. EquiiText knows exactly how to help restaurants, bars, coffee shops, smoothie shops, creameries, and everything in between! It has been proven time and time again that using text messaging to advertise restaurants and bars to customers is one of the best marketing tools available.

For instance, in a case study done with Jack in the Box, it was discovered that coupon redemption rates were 3-5 times higher when the fast-food chain used SMS marketing, as opposed to traditional email marketing. The restaurant offered 2 free tacos to any customer who opted in and subscribed to their texts. Jack in the Box further found that 26% of the consumers that received SMS promotions attributed their in-store purchases to those texts; 32% of SMS recipients attributed their visit to the restaurant on text-message advertising; and 21% of SMS recipients recommended Jack in the Box to another person based on text promotions they received. The restaurant also saw a 97.7% subscriber retention rate following the text-message promotion.

Similarly, Bulmers Irish Cider in the UK used SMS marketing simply to make their targeted audience aware of Bulmers’ locations in an attempt to bring in more foot traffic to their individual pubs. Over the course of 4 weeks, Bulmers sent approximately 77,000 texts to males between the ages of 18 and 34. At the end of the promotion, their data showed that about 75% of those who were texted visited a Bulmers pub because of the SMS message. After the promotional texts were sent, Bulmers sent a follow-up survey to the recipients, finding that 53% of those who received the first text remembered seeing it. This alone is evidence that people are more likely to open and read text messages than they are any other form of traditional marketing.           

There are dozens of case studies on food and drink establishments that have found success in SMS marketing, including Pizza Hut, Jamba Juice, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell, and many more. A common denominator in these case studies showed that these businesses typically offered promotional items, discounts, or coupons as a way to generate interest in new and returning customers. This specific marketing tool is incredibly viable with great results!       

Thanks to EquiiText, you can send scheduled campaign messages to all your SMS subscribers to alert them of your upcoming deals and specials. And, thanks to ALINA, if your customers want to respond to your campaign message to get more information, she can manage all these inbound texts seamlessly and naturally. This hands-off marketing approach ensures that you can focus on running your business while still effectively advertising to and communicating with your customers.           

For more information on how EquiiText can help your business succeed, give us a call today! Or, if you want to test ALINA out for yourself, send her a text and see how conversational she really is!

[equiinet05-blog]

How SMS Marketing Boosts Restaurant Sales

  SMS marketing is the best tool restaurants can use to reach customers today. Find out what these restaurants did to increase sales and generate leads to learn how your restaurant can do the same!

Food and beverage establishments receive some of the highest benefits from SMS marketing. Perhaps your goal is to build the number of customers who subscribe to your business;maybe you want to increase the amount of new and returning customers to your business while simultaneously selling more products. EquiiText knows exactly how to help restaurants, bars, coffee shops, smoothie shops, creameries, and everything in between! It has been proven time and time again that using text messaging to advertise restaurants and bars to customers is one of the best marketing tools available.

           For instance, in a case study done with Jack in the Box, it was discovered that coupon redemption rates were 3-5 times higher when the fast-food chain used SMS marketing, as opposed to traditional email marketing. The restaurant offered 2 free tacos to any customer who opted in and subscribed to their texts. Jack in the Box further found that 26% of the consumers that received SMS promotions attributed their in-store purchases to those texts; 32% of SMS recipients attributed their visit to the restaurant on text-message advertising; and 21% of SMS recipients recommended Jack in the Box to another person based on text promotions they received. The restaurant also saw a 97.7% subscriber retention rate following the text-message promotion.

           Similarly, Bulmers Irish Cider in the UK used SMS marketing simply to make their targeted audience aware of Bulmers’ locations in an attempt to bring in more foot traffic to their individual pubs. Over the course of 4 weeks, Bulmers sent approximately 77,000 texts to males between the ages of 18 and 34. At the end of the promotion, their data showed that about 75% of those who were texted visited a Bulmers pub because of the SMS message. After the promotional texts were sent, Bulmers sent a follow-up survey to the recipients, finding that 53% of those who received the first text remembered seeing it. This alone is evidence that people are more likely to open and read text messages than they are any other form of traditional marketing.

           There are dozens of case studies on food and drink establishments that have found success in SMS marketing, including Pizza Hut, Jamba Juice, Texas Roadhouse, Taco Bell, and many more. A common denominator in these case studies showed that these businesses typically offered promotional items, discounts, or coupons as a way to generate interest in new and returning customers. This specific marketing tool is incredibly viable with great results!

           Thanks to EquiiText, you can send scheduled campaign messages to all your SMS subscribers to alert them of your upcoming deals and specials. And, thanks to ALINA, if your customers want to respond to your campaign message to get more information, she can manage all these inbound texts seamlessly and naturally. This hands-off marketing approach ensures that you can focus on running your business while still effectively advertising to and communicating with your customers.

           For more information on how EquiiText can help your business succeed, give us a call today! Or, if you want to test ALINA out for yourself, send her a text and see how conversational she really is!