Communications weigh heavy on SMB minds

Looking into the 2013 crystal ball, small businesses are worried about communication issues holding back their businesses. From simple voicemail issues to dropping customer calls because of bad cell service, SMBs report communications at the top of their Fears list heading in to 2013 - and with good reason. According to a new survey from eVoice, more than one-third say they've lost clients because of phone issues.

"I've been using eVoice for over a year and truly believe the service has been a critical factor for our success," said Kirk Nebel, founder and director of Hollywood Academy of Music. "I need to know that my customers can always reach me, because if they can't then my business won't grow."

Some interesting findings from the report include:

• Half of SMBs say calls have dropped in the middle of a conversation
• 72% of respondents say they use the cloud for nearly one-quarter of their workload
• 39% say email is their preferred communication method; 31% say they prefer voicemail
• 62% believe the 2012 holiday season will be better for their business than 2011

For those dropped calls, respondents say the problem isn't just looking bad or appearing unprofessional - it's that they may not have call information readily accessible for a quick call-back. Respondents also say the worry they'll miss important conversation nuances. More than one-third (38%) say dropped calls have lost them customers.

Tags: ecommerce trends, eVoice, small business trends, smb survey, smb tools