By Emma Lewis, bOnline
The famous Black Friday, a day of attention-grabbing discounts and working out the best deals. Whether you’re an avid bargain hunter or just someone who gets caught up in the hype, it’s hard to resist the allure of slashed prices and shiny “limited time only” offer.
But for small businesses looking at big-ticket essentials like VoIP and broadband services, are these deals really as good as they seem?
What’s Good and What’s Not?
Who doesn’t love the idea of saving money, especially when you’re running a small business and every penny counts? Switching to a VoIP phone system or upgrading your business broadband can feel like a challenge. Suddenly, you see a deal offering “Half price for six months!” or “Unlimited VoIP lines for just £9.99!” and it looks really alluring.
But the marketing is persuasive for a reason. These companies know small business owners are watching the pennies and dangle the carrot accordingly. So the trick is to do your homework to make sure that sparkling deal is definitely right for you.
Watch Out For The Small Print
The thing to ask yourself with any Black Friday deal (but especially tech-related ones) is: is there a catch? Will the price suddenly jump after a certain period of time, or does the offer only apply to certain basic features or products that don’t really meet your needs?
And then there’s the dreaded small print. It’s easy to skim past the details when you’re trying to bag a bargain before time runs out, but this is where you’ll find the real “price”. Fees for installation, hardware, early cancellation charges or extra services can add up fast. Before you know it, that “amazing bargain” ends up costing you more than you’d have paid for a simple no-frills package.
Price Over Value
Another trap is to only focus on price, instead of price plus value. For example, say you spot a super low-cost VoIP deal that promises unlimited calls and a system packed with features.
But when your team tries to use it, the call quality is bad, the service is glitchy, and customer support is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, saving a few pounds doesn’t look so great when you’re losing clients because they can’t hear you over the phone.
The same applies for broadband. A flashy Black Friday deal might lock you into a subpar provider that struggles to deliver reliable speeds. For a small business relying on video calls, e-commerce and cloud storage, that’s a nightmare waiting to happen.
How Do I Spot a Genuine Deal?
Whilst Black Friday deals can be worthwhile, proceed with caution and make a plan. Here are a few steps to consider:
Know What You Need
Before you even start browsing, make a list of what you want from your VoIP or broadband provider. What features do you really need? What’s your budget? What’s your minimum required bandwidth or speed? This will help you weed out deals that don’t actually fit your business.
Research the Provider
Online reviews are a great place to start, including Trustpilot and Google Reviews. Check their customer support reputation and make sure they have a track record of serving businesses like yours.
Ask Questions
Following on from this, don’t be afraid to contact any prospective provider and ask for further details of the deal? A reputable company will be happy to answer your questions without pushing you into a decision.
Read The Fine Print
We’ve touched on this already but it’s crucial to spend time going through the terms and conditions. Look for information about when the promotional period ends, what the contract length is and whether there are any hidden fees.
Compare Long-Term Costs
Don’t just focus on the promotional price. Work out what you’ll be paying once the discount expires and compare it to other providers offering regular rates. Some providers offer shorter, more flexible contracts while others are much longer; in some cases up to 24 months.
Don’t Bow To Pressure
Discounts and offers come up throughout the year so don’t worry if you’re feeling a bit jaded about Black Friday deals right now. Many providers offer year-round discounts for small businesses, especially if you bundle services like VoIP and broadband together. You could even get a free trial to test out all the features before committing (bOnline offers this too).
Or there’s good old-fashioned negotiating directly to get the price down.
Remember, the key to a smart Black Friday purchase is to think longer term. Focus on reliability, quality and value for your business. And if you’re ever not sure, step back, take a breath and remember; a deal is only really good if it works best for your business, even if it’s not the cheapest.
