As construction projects resume in Fort Worth following the recent delays for the recession, now is an excellent time to start a new plumbing business in the area. What does it take to be a successful plumber in this market? Smart advertising and marketing, good customer and community relationships, and selecting the right Fort Worth answering [...]
As the economy climbs out of the recent deep recession, new construction is popping up across the San Antonio skyline, aided and abetted by renovations, delayed when times were tough. This is an excellent market for a new electrical business and, if you create a good plan and stick to it, your new business can grow [...]
If you're starting a new business of any kind, Austin is the place to be! Outpacing the growth of most other U.S. cities, Austin is in a post-recession building spree, and HVAC services are in demand. What does it take to be successful in this endeavor? Smart marketing, good call answering services, and a solid plan for [...]
For many customers, their opinion of your business will begin and end with how their calls are answered and handled. A good experience with your answering service can solidify a great customer relationship, while a bad one can cost you a customer and damage your reputation. Here are the must-remember practices when it comes to handling [...]
When customers call, what impression does that phone experience make on them? Do they hang up feeling as if they've spoken with a professional who knows their stuff, or an amateur wanna-be? Here are the worst business phone practices and how to avoid them. Using Your Cell Number as Your Business Number One-person businesses often make [...]
Companies that can provide excellent customer service over the phone can often retain customers even when that customer calls in unhappy. Conversely, a customer can be 100 percent satisfied with your company, and one bad customer service call can drive them away forever. Here are the best practices to assure your company is on the right track [...]
It's not always the big mistakes that eat away at a company's profits. Often, it's the small mistakes that go overlooked far too long that end up costing profitability, and, sometimes, the inevitable success of the business. See if your company can save big bucks by making these small changes. Giving Customers Too Much Time to [...]
According to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index, small business loans are up 20 percent over this time last year. The trend is toward using larger banks which offer lower interest rates than the smaller and non-traditional lenders. Though the rate of loans is up, the reasons small businesses obtain loans is about the same. Here [...]
The holiday shopping season is almost here -- the time of year when many businesses earn as much as 80 percent of their entire profits. Whether your company is product or service oriented, it's time to get ready for an influx of new customers. From the stock room to the call center, everyone working for you needs to [...]
Customer service in this age is challenging. Faced with ever-tighter budgets, a dwindling pool of qualified customer service agents, and more demanding customers than ever, it's hard to deliver top-notch service to each customer every time. But you can avoid these no-no's. Here are the top pitfalls when it comes to providing an answering service for your [...]