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Posts Tagged ‘24 Hour Telephone Answering’

Apr23

Help us find the Truth about Voicemail!

Posted in Surveys | 1 Comment

 

At Office Response we like to challenge things. We find it helps us to continuously improve our 24 Hour Telephone Answering Services. So, when I recently heard someone pontificating that “80% of people wont leave messages on voicemail” it made me wonder where that information actually came from. Lots of our competitors have the statement on their website as a way of highlighting the benefits of telephone answering services. However, no-one seems to know what research was undertaken or by whom.

So, to get to the bottom of the facts, we have decided to do our own research. Please take a minute of your time to complete our 10 Question survey. We will then publish the results on our blog so everyone can benefit from knowing the truth about voicemails.

We will be giving an iPod Touch to one lucky participant for their time – Good luck and thank you in advance!

by Steve West

Marketing & Business Development Manager

Apr13

UK’s “Best” Economic Barometer?

Posted in Call Centre Industry | 1 Comment

 

Is there a better indicator of the state of the economy than the call volumes of a Telephone Answering Service?

As the fall out from the collapse of the US housing bubble spread through the world’s financial markets, calls received at Office Response started to fall in January 2008 and continued downward as we headed towards Easter of that year. Britain’s economic recession was officially announced a full 12 months later after 2 consecutive quarters of decline in the size of the economy. We spotted the trend a long time earlier and acted to reduce our cost base, unfortunately including making redundancies, months before many other UK business followed. The FTSE 250, often a better UK economic indicator than it’s big brother the FTSE100 that get’s 80% of income from outside the UK, did not bottom out until June 2008.

Whereas we have specialities in some market sectors, our client base is taken from many diverse business types and the depression in calls was directly related to the falls in activities of the general economy. Telephoned enquiries come many months before the flow of funds that follow the actual placing of orders hence the unique position we have as an economic indicator.

And what’s happening now at Office Response? Well, taking into account seasonal factors, we have just recorded call numbers for March 2010 at 8.7% above our predictions; it’s a bit early to be announcing a new trend of economic activity but it’s interesting none the less.

What might be going on? Is it increased business profits? Our financial year end is March and we are back to a healthy profit position principally as a result of our lower cost base. I’m sure that many businesses may be similarly profitable and could be releasing their purse strings as a result of the confidence that the profits bring -  perhaps consumers are going on a pre-election splurge prior to a possible VAT rise? We would preach caution until we see the effects of the inevitable slashing in government spending and the expected hike in taxes that will be needed to tackle the country’s budget deficit but the upturn we’re experiencing is pleasant none the less.

We’d be interested in your feedback about the state of your organisation’s finances and outlook. We will keep you posted about our call volumes. For the brave, is now the time to invest in some of the UK’s smaller stocks?

by Martin Blain

Sales Director

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Apr08

Dont encourage mobile phones whilst driving!

Posted in Tips, Knowledge and Experience | No Comments

 

It goes without saying that in situations when someone witnesses  a crime being committed, most people will act in someway. This may be either by confronting the culprit, calling the police or at the very least feeling a bit uneasy about the matter and removing themselves from being associated with the incident.

So why is it that most people don’t confront drivers that are using their mobile phones whilst driving?

One of our sales people rang a prospective customer back the other day to finalise their telephone answering service agreement. However, it soon became obvious that the customer was on their mobile phone, and not using a hands free set either.

“I’ll call you back as it’s a bit dangerous to speak whilst you’re driving”, Simon explained.

“Whats that got to do with you?”, the customer snorted. “Listen mate, I’m a big boy and I can make my own decisions.” he continued before slamming the phone down. And we’ve not heard from him since…

Of course, I could go on here and explain the virtues of telephone answering services and why they are useful in situations like when you are driving, but I think its pretty obvious.

Here’s the scientific bit from ROSPA…

• USA study – Crash risk is 4 times higher when using hand-held or hands-free mobile phone.

• USA study – Drivers using mobile phones are 9 times more likely to be in fatal accident, more likely to cause an accident, hit a pedestrian or overturn their vehicle.

• UK Study – Drivers using hand held and hands free phones took longer to react to a hazard than drivers impaired by alcohol.

And finally, if your staff are using mobile phones whilst driving YOU can be held responsible under corporate manslaughter law if it results in a collision or death…

by Steve West

Marketing & Business Development Manager

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Oct14

How to divert calls to a telephone answering service.

Posted in General Business Comments | No Comments