Fax From Email and Other Ways the Internet Has Made Running a Business Cheaper

When it comes to running a business, there’s no denying that I don’t sing the praises of the Internet enough. As an avid user of fax from email services, docusign programs and virtual assistants, I often tell my colleagues that I can do practically everything online without even breaking a sweat. They often think that I’m exaggerating – but I’m really not.

Think about it this way: with the Internet at hand, you can fax by PC. You can post ads to fill positions in your company and set up interviews without ever having to pick up the phone. You can outsource projects to subcontractors and consultants without ever meeting them face to face. You can even gain a large number of your clientele base purely through advertisements and marketing campaigns online.

In short, thanks to the Internet, businesses can be more profitable than ever before.

Want further proof of what I’m talking about? Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and relax – because I’m about to illustrate precisely why the Internet has made running a business much cheaper than just a decade or two ago:

Email Fax Services: If you’ve never heard of a fax from email service, listen up: this is just one example of how the Internet has completely revolutionized the way the world gets in touch with one another. For decades, offices everywhere have relied on clunky and oversized fax machines to deliver important documents to locations around the world. Even with the advent of the Internet, the need for fax machines still existed – after all, how else where clients and employees supposed to send important documentation and signatures?

But as every office worker knows, the fax machine is somewhat of an archaic animal. It takes multiple minutes to confirm a fax number, never mind send the paperwork itself. Add to the fact that you have to repeat the whole time-consuming process over again in the event of an error, and it’s easy to see why many business experts peg the fax machine as one of the biggest productivity wasters in the office.

That’s where email fax services come into play. You see, a fax by PC system works by sending the same documentation over an email rather than fax; however, the other party still receives a fax. Likewise, someone can send you a fax, and you can receive it by email. A fax from windows system is just another example of how the Internet has made it cheaper – and more efficient – to run a business.

Docusign Programs: With regards to email fax services, one of the most important reasons offices still use faxes is due to the need to send documents which require signatures. However, a recent online invention has rendered even this small task obsolete, as people no longer have to send documents back and forth just to collect signatures.

Docusign programs work because both parties agree to the legality of an electronic signature. For example, let’s say that a client sends you a contract that needs to be signed. Instead of emailing or mailing it back and forth, the client can upload it to a docusign system, insert their electronic signature and invite you to do the same. You can use a special electronic signature to sign the document, or you can upload your own signature to the contract. Either way, it’s a sure-fire example of how the Internet has made it possible to sign off on contracts and other important paperwork in the space of a heartbeat.

Virtual Assistants: If you’ve never used a virtual assistant before, then it’s time to discover one of the best-kept online business secrets around. Virtual assistants are essentially online contractors who agree to do your paperwork, write emails, compile documents and tend to other important errands – except the relationship exists entirely in the online world. In exchange for an hourly wage, your virtual assistant will take care of all of your online needs, draw up paperwork and conduct other tasks that help your business – and you! – to operate more smoothly.

If you’re interested in hiring a virtual assistant, I recommend heading to Elance.com, Guru.com or Craigslist and placing an ad for a virtual assistant. Be sure to specify your hourly wages and project needs, as this will help you vet out virtual assistants who just aren’t the right fit for you and your business needs.

When it comes to running a successful business with less expense, there’s no denying that the Internet has helped the world to do so by leaps and bounds. How else would you be able to hire an assistant, send a fax from email and sign a contract – all without having to leave the comfort of your own office desk?