While the busy season of a business can vary depending on your product or service, for a majority of businesses, the final quarter of the year is the busiest. No matter when you have your highest period of the year, being prepared for it can make all the difference in your bottom line. Put these tips to work prior to things picking up and you’ll be sure to perform better than ever. Continue reading
Impeccable customer service is a must-have for your business. After all, if the customer is not happy, he will likely find a different provider for what you sell. If he feels that he is treated indifferently, he may not switch right away, but you will never build brand loyalty or earn referrals. To build your business, top-notch customer service is vital. Continue reading
What? You may be scratching your head about the idea of setting up a small business without a real location but the reality is that many small businesses do not have an actual office these days. Technology has made it so that you can easily run a business without having to invest in a commercial space and all the extras involved in maintaining a locale. For some businesses, running a small local company takes little more than a cell phone and a truck. However, even if you are going for a more professional business, you can still create one without the bricks and mortar location and your customers will never know the difference. Continue reading
Outstanding customer service is multi-faceted. It is not just knowing the products and services you represent and being able to explain them. Transforming good customer service into outstanding customer service is all about how you make your customer feel. Attention to detail ensures that your customers will feel valued and important, as they should. Continue reading
Does your company receive phone calls? If the answer is yes (and we hope it is!), here’s what you should consider tracking. (Definitions vary for terms below. Make sure to pick metrics – and definitions – that will provide the most insight into your business.) Continue reading
Does a fear of talking on the phone hold you back from following up on leads and making new connections? Phone phobia can be troublesome, particularly to business owners and entrepreneurs. While text and email are definitely common methods of communication these days, sometimes you just have to pick up the phone and call. If you procrastinate or moan and groan about calling, here are a few tips that can help. Continue reading
Why do businesses record calls? As many recorded messages will tell you when you’re on a recorded phone line, “for quality assurance purposes.” Many companies have staff that review recorded calls to determine: Continue reading
According to a recent study highlighted by Kissmetrics, “2013 marks the first year U.S. adults spent more time viewing media on digital devices. It appears that print, radio and even television have officially become unseated as dominant sources of media.” Time spent on tablets and smartphones has grown at an increasing rate while time dedicated to print, radio, and television is declining. Check out this infographic to see the comparisons by category. Continue reading
There are multiple trends in communication that are expected to grow throughout 2014.
1. More businesses will incorporate or deepen their integration with the cloud.
The flexibility that the cloud offers companies will drive new product and service offerings. Because of this integration with the cloud, the purpose and role of IT departments within organizations will shift. Continue reading
Imagine that you call a company about a recently purchased service subscription. When you can’t solve the activation problems on your own, you decide to call the 800 customer service phone number. The answering message greets you with a welcome and then states “Your call is important to us. Please hold.” After waiting on hold for more than 10 minutes, you are connected with a customer service agent. That agent doesn’t know how to solve your problem and transfers you to another department. Your on-hold time starts all over again. Once you repeat all of your information and problem history again to the new agent, you are suddenly disconnected from the call. Continue reading
