No More Waiting for Faxes: Email to Fax Saves the Day
By David Berger
A key problem today is that faxes are not portable and the technology is decades old. As the day progresses, more and more employees hover around the fax machine anxiously waiting for important documents to arrive. It's even more of a problem for those who spend a large part of the day prospecting as they have to wait until the end of the day to pick up their fax documents.
We all know fax machines live in their own world. They jam, eat paper, stop in the middle of a transmission, are difficult to forward and generally make life miserable for those dependent upon them. In addition, traditional fax machines require a dedicated line (sharing your phone line makes you look small.)
Introducing Internet Faxing
Email to fax bridges the gap between traditional paper faxing and Internet-based communication; there is no need to pay for equipment, maintenance, supplies or a dedicated phone line. If you wish several team members to receive faxes, clean copies can be forwarded to several mail boxes.
How Email to Fax Works
Email to fax is fast, simple and, above all, cheap. There are no problems with software and no standing in line waiting for your turn at the fax machine. Internet fax providers supply you with a personal, private fax number located in an area of your choice. When someone sends a fax to your fax number, faxes are converted to Adobe PDF files and delivered directly and privately to your email inbox as an attachment.
Once you have been assigned a fax number, you can receive faxes via email, any where, any time.
Sending a fax is simple
You simply insert the fax number in to the email address as shown in this example: faxnumber@faxcompany.com. The message goes to the fax company where it is forwarded to the recipient's fax machine. The message contained in the body of the email will automatically by inserted into the fax's cover sheet. Other documents and files may be easily attached to the fax as well.
Internet Faxing: Perfect for Real Estate
An obvious candidate for Internet faxing is the real estate business. Few industries depend so much on time-sensitive information -- signed offers and counter offers -- relayed via fax. The problem is most realtors worth their salt are not in the office where the fax machine is located. Realtors must be out meeting clients, showing or pre-viewing properties and dealing with mortgage officers. Only at the end of the day do they return to the office and read their faxes.
Internet faxing changes everything. A laptop or smart mobile phone makes it possible to conduct business while on the road. It permits real estate sales forces and other road warriors to receive valuable signed documents and completed forms wherever there is an Internet connection. Furthermore, the faxes are sent to private email accounts, no small advantage in today's highly competitive business environment.
How to Get Connected
You may find a detailed comparison of key Internet faxing services at http://www.a2.com/telecom/freefax.html. Prices start at just pennies a day a month and many fax services offer free trials.
About David Berger, Author
David lives in Ann Arbor, MI and is a best-selling author and telecommunications consultant. He founded a2.com, where he's compiled a list of key Internet faxing companies. Feel free to download David's book, The Cheapest Way to Make Phone Calls, Send Faxes and Use the Internet, free of charge via his Website.
Occupation: Consultany
David A. Berger, founder of A2.com, lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a business development expert and best-selling author, he worked with IBM, NEC, Cisco, ABB, Boyne USA Resorts, Grand Traverse Resorts and others. His university degree in business, language and technology furnishes him with a unique perspective for employing Strategic Marketing Outsourcing® globally.
As you can see by browsing A2.com, David provides broad leadership in areas other than sales and marketing. Case in point, he self taught himself the principles of Web design and built page after page using only a simple text editor. Many people have commented his online cv is innovative and the best presentation they've seen.
David actively employs the latest technology trends—eFulfillment, Printing-on-demand and Wireless Mobile Marketing.
He's a true problem solver. In the '80s, he operated an electronics repair business from his dorm room. Servicing thirty repair locations around Detroit and running Curtis Mathis' warranty operations, he realized success greatly depended on logistics.
In 1991, David worked for UBE Industries, Japan. With no prior experience in selling heavy machinery, he seized the bull by the horns, taking charge of UBE's North American Marketing Operations and uncovered a record $20 million in new business.
Detroit News StoryA year later, David moved to another billion-dollar company, Buhler of Switzerland. After achieving outstanding results running a five-state territory, he was asked to manage Canada as well. David generated record sales, selling experimental manufacturing technologies to General Motors and tier-one suppliers such as CMI. Employing his own solution-selling techniques, he closed million-dollar deals—"selling the invisible."
After three years, as Direct Marketing Strategist for IBM, David developed marketing campaigns for CATIA and Product Data Management groups, targeting IBM's most prestigious customers—Fortune 100 companies. This experience confirmed the validity of his own approaches, encouraging him to write Berger's Guide to Hybrid Direct Marketing.
In 1997, foreseeing the potential of the Internet, David secured A2.com as his online brand. He wrote, after two years of research, his best-seller The Cheapest Way to Make Phone Calls, Send Faxes or Use the Internet. His predictions were right on target. Shortly after, he applied for a patent on his eCommerce engine—APSS (Automated Personalized Selling System).
Anticipating the '90s Internet boom, David consulted for Internet startups, some of which were acquired by AppNet, Commerce One and Bowne. He also had a chance to work with SGI, Cisco, 3Com and ABB.
In 2000, David joined NEC in Silicon Valley to incubate Auraline, an eMarketing company, where he developed the "Auraline Engine." By employing this strategy, he closed deals within 30 days of being hired.
After cashing in on the the Internet boom, David served on Boomerang Mobile Media's advisory board, reporting directly to Glenn Field, Founder and CEO. David provided advice on wireless mobile marketing trends and strategies. Over the past few years, David developed and trademarked his own Always-on Marketing® and Strategic Marketing Outsourcing® brands.
Once again, David realized it was time to explore yet another technology—this time in the medical industry. In 2005, he began learning about Nuclear Medicine and landed a project with, MedImage, a PET/CT Imaging software firm located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And in 2006, he continued to apply his solution-selling skills, helping the Chinese sell heavy machinery in the US and Canada. David had a great year in '07 by signing up customers for his online affiliate partners in record numbers. As usual, he is at the forefront of Internet marketing. Moving into 2009, he continues to excel at helping small to medium-size companies understand how to effectively market in the 21st century.
David's main hobbies are fishing and photography. He and his wife enjoy walking their rescued beagles.
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