If you spend a lot of your time meeting clients and securing deals, then the chances are that you’ll spend some time travelling the globe. Doing so can be exciting, and make your job more enjoyable, but it can also be difficult to keep in touch when you’re on the go. Whether you want to stay up-to-date with your business colleagues or you just want your friends and family to know that you’re safe, it’s easy to keep in touch on a business trip. Here’s how.
Find out what your data plan allows before you set off
Before you jet off on your next adventure, speak to your mobile phone operator so that you can find out exactly how much data and how many calls and texts you’re entitled to overseas. Some operators offer free calls, text messages and data in countries around the world, while others will charge or will block your phone entirely. By knowing where you stand with your cell plan, you’ll be able to make arrangements before you lose contact.
One thing that you could do, for example, is buying a local SIM card that you can use overseas. Provided that your phone is unlocked, you should be able to insert any SIM into it and use it as a pay-as-you-go model, enjoying the discounted rates of calling, texting and using data in the country you’ll be spending time in. CNET has put together a guide on how to use local SIM cards, from finding them in airport vending machines to using them to save money.
Use your business phone
If you have a business phone that you use while at work, then take it with you and use that on your travels. After all, it makes sense if the company is going to be paying for your calls and data. Of course, you should double check with your human resources or technology department to ensure that you’ll be able to use your phone abroad, and you should consider upgrading your business contract to include overseas calls and texts if necessary.
Schedule e-meetings with principal members of your team
Keeping your team members in the loop when you’re on a business trip is important – after all, you may be able to provide them with information that will help secure a big contract, or they may be able to assist you with data and numbers that you can use in meetings. Instead of an ad hoc approach to communication, which is common when team members are away from the office, you should schedule e-meetings with your colleagues at home at set points on your travels. By de-briefing at the end of a conference or calling them before an important presentation, you’ll be able to stay in contact and give each other a significant boost, which will ultimately improve the effectiveness of your business trip.
Get your friends and family to call you
Staying in touch with your friends and relatives is an equally as important part of your business trip, so you should make sure they have a direct line to get in touch. With the cheap international calls offered by companies such as Planet Numbers, your friends and family will be able to call you from the UK from as little as a penny a minute, saving you both hundreds of pounds in expensive overseas call costs. Such services are especially helpful if you’re planning on being away from home for an extended period and have a fixed line that they can call, or for situations where you don’t have access to the internet to make voice over IP (VoIP) calls through Skype, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Send a postcard when you get there
It wouldn’t be right to write a list of ways to keep in touch without going back to basics. Postcards are one of the oldest and most effective forms of communication for travellers – and they’re an interesting souvenir that your friends and family will love to receive. Shop around for a postcard on your travels, and take advantage of local mail services to deliver it for you. Even if it takes a few days to get home, it’s a fun reminder that you’re thinking of your nearest and dearest while you have to be apart.
There you have it – five of the best tips for keeping in touch with your friends, family and colleagues when you’re on an important business trip. Remember that you may not always have access to a mobile phone or Wi-Fi, so you should always have a backup plan in case you need to reach your loved ones away from home. Wherever you’re headed, good luck on your next business trip and have fun!
