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Sure, all fax providers offer blast fax capability, but how can you know which vendor is right for you? Beyond basic blast faxing transmission, there are a few factors to consider when selecting a vendor. • How can you import your contact list? Check what types of database and contact lists are supported. For example, your contacts may be in ACT!, Goldmine, Access, Outlook, Oracle, or simple text-based list (.csv, tab formatted). Make sure you'll be able to easily import your fax numbers to avoid additional unnecessary work. • How does the fax blast provider handle unanswered phone numbers, and can you control this configuration? For example, if a number is busy, the service could try it again in a few minutes. But if it reaches a live person, voicemail, or disconnected number, you'd want the system to mark the number as invalid and move on to the next one. • How does the vendor manage Do Not Send (DNS) lists? Every fax campaign must include a "Do Not Send" option so recipients can opt out of future faxings. The best fax providers will completely automate the DNS management, updating your database data as needed. • What is the charging scheme? There are a couple of things to consider for costs. First, does the fax blasting vendor charge for all faxes, or only for the successful ones? Most fax providers charge only for successful faxes these days, but there are still some who will charge you for everything. Be sure to clarify this. Second, will you pay by the minute or by the fax? In general, you're better off paying by the successful fax. After all, that is your ultimate goal. If you think you may be able to get a better rate paying by the minute, there are a few figures to consider. On average, it takes about 40 seconds to transmit a basic fax page and about 10 seconds to connect. Therefore, assume it takes 60 seconds (or a little less) for each fax. And remember, when you pay by the minute, you'll be paying for any unsuccessful or unanswered attempts, so consider the quality of your fax list. Web Design - Small business custom website from EverestWebDesign.com. Rich Christiansen - Management metaphors at RichChristiansen.com. |
Blast fax
