5 errors to avoid for a successful business call

5 errors to avoid for a successful business call

Using telephones, company-assigned smartphones, or calling apps empowers a business to become more strategic in several aspects. Using a calling device enables employees to increase business outreach and profitability. However, apart form the benefits, one may often make mistakes during a call that might hamper their reputation and that of the business. Therefore, avoiding these errors and learning about ways to improve them may help one sail through business calls smoothly.

Ignoring calling scripts
Most cold calls follow a directional and well-structured script. And while one does not need to follow it to a T, winging the call might be tedious and could quickly turn into a blunder. Therefore, one should ensure they stick to the calling script as far as possible to avoid hiccups and make a positive impact on the client.

Not profiling
An individual might make direct calls after generating their leads in a race to complete a set target on time. However, this will result in a relatively cold call that lacks connection with the other person on the line. Therefore, before making a call, one should profile one’s client with the help of professional tools approved by the business. Through this, they could create a direct dialogue with the client and increase conversation opportunities, making a successful business call.

Passing on the caller
Many loyal and potential clients often spend several minutes on the automated system before being informed by an agent that they’ve connected to the wrong department. What’s worse is that these agents ask the customer to call another department, which could reflect terribly on the employee and even more on the business. So if an individual comes across this situation, they should collect the caller’s details and assure them of a callback by the respective department as soon as possible.

Getting the wrong information
An employee who isn’t trained to take notes may remember incorrect information about a caller. And feeding in inaccurate data could be drastic to a business. To ensure that the business call sails smoothly, one should ask the customer for a few moments so that they can type in the necessary details appropriately. Moreover, one should also consider using phonetics to confirm whether the information is accurate.

Excessive hold times
Placing a customer on hold for too long is one of the worst errors to make on a business call. This may happen when the employee looks for ways to address a query. As a workaround, one should be more proactive about why they need to place the call on hold. If the problem is taking longer to solve, they should inform the client about the hold-up and arrange a suitable callback within a tentative time frame. Moreover, one should also avoid placing calls on mute for too long.

Apart from these factors, one should avoid using low-quality and glitchy software for communications as these may result in dropped calls, glitches, and longer downtimes, affecting the business. Instead, they could look at popular options from companies like 8×8. The brand offers the 8×8 eXperience Communications Platform™ that has features including an integrated contact center, video, chat, voice, and embeddable communications. Business owners can find the pricing for various versions of the software on the 8×8 website.

Previous Read

Top 5 cable service providers to choose from

TV has become the necessity of the modern house. Whenever you are back from work, school, or college, you just wish to lie down on your couch and catch up on some entertainment on your television sets. This brings us to the myriad of TV channels that are available on our TV sets. But, these don’t come free, do they? You should always opt for a service that is well within your budget and offers you a lot of channel options. So, here are some of the best cable services in the budget category. DirecTV The best part about this provider is that unlike many of its competitors, you will be spending comparatively less here. The base price starts at $49.99 per month in which you get all your favorite channels. To be precise, DirectTV offers you more than 155 channels. Plus, you can also get more than 40,000 on-demand titles. Along with all your favorite local channels, the package includes digital music, news outlets, and family-fun channels.Verizon Fios TV Verizon Fios doesn’t bind you with any contract. It is only when you bundle packages, you will get a 24-month contract. It serves nine states in total and starts at a base price of $50 per month. With Verizon Fios TV, you get to choose five of any of your favorite channels; based on this the company recommends a plan best suited as per your preferences. To add on, your personalized TV plan will feature more than 125 channels, including the local networks.AT&T U-verse AT&T has for long been one of the best cable services in the country. It services more than 21 states across the country. As far as the deliverance of channels is concerned, it marks its way ahead of most competitors. It is also one of the cheapest cable service providers starting at $35 per month. Talking about one of its entertainment packages that start at $49.99 per month for 12 months excluding taxes, you can get your hands on comedies, dramas, hit movies, and much more. You can even opt for a voice remote with Google Assistant functionality.DishTV Reviewed as one of the cheapest and the best cable services in the country, DishTV gives you plenty to choose from. You can get over 190 channels at a price tag of $59.99 per month. It’s long been praised for its customer service and the quality of its channels, giving customers the best viewing experience. At this price, you also get additional channels like ESPN, E!, USA and Disney. DishTV is only one of the few providers that offer you a DVR and a Google Voice Remote at no extra cost.Xfinity If you are still looking for a cable service provider that can offer your favorite shows and movies with tons of other features, Xfinity can be your best bet. At $49.99, you get over 140 channels like ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and many more. Also, there is no term agreement to bind you. If you opt for the Digital Starter TV plan starting at $70.99, you can get thousands of Xfinity on-demand choices. You’ll even be able to stream shows and movies on all your devices.

Next Read

10 Easy Ways to Control Data Usage

Prepaid plans generally do not carry overage fees but require one to use data top-ups to continue using the internet. Whereas for postpaid plans, the user buys for a specific high-speed data limit. If one uses that data within a given period, one either pays overage charges for the additional data or continues using the internet at reduced speeds. Buying unlimited data plans, using the internet judiciously, and changing some phone settings can help prevent data overuse. Here are some ways of managing data usage wisely so that one can stay within purchased limits: 1. Get a data plan that covers the family needs Make a rough assessment of the monthly data required based on the number of family members and devices. On average, one requires around 1.5GB of data if one uses it only for browsing, reading news, texting, or sending and receiving emails. Others would need about 2 to 2.5GB of data for streaming apps, watching videos and movies, listening to podcasts, or playing games. Choose a plan that can provide the bandwidth for all the family members, considering if they would use Wi-Fi or other broadband at school, college, or workspace. One can find many carriers that offer plans offering 100GB and more. 2. Know the plan After finding a plan that comes with sufficient data, it's important to understand how it works. Does it enable one to track data usage for each device or for the entire family account? Additionally, make sure to research and find out what the consequences or penalties are if one goes over the data limit outlined in the plan. 3. Choose unlimited plans Unlimited plans are one of the best ways to avoid data overuse and overage charges. After determining the data usage requirements, one can look for plans from the current carrier or carrier supporting the phone. 4. Use public Wi-Fi Use secure Wi-Fi at schools, colleges, workplaces, and other community places offering these services to users. Set up auto-connect to places one visits regularly to reduce data usage. 5. Track data usage One can track the amount of data used in the plan by following any of these options. Go to Connections on the phone and check Mobile data usage for a single device. Download the carrier app and link the numbers under the plan. Download a data monitoring app. Set usage alerts from the carrier through text or email. 6. Download content only using Wi-Fi Downloading movies and music consumes a lot of cellular data. Whenever possible, download them using Wi-Fi to save data and additional costs. 7. Work offline in apps Many apps, like GPS and gaming apps, allow one to work offline. Use them offline and turn on data only when real-time statistics or information is required. 8. Disable data-guzzling features Disable features like location tracking, default and automatic downloads, and automatic updates and set them to manual downloads and updates so that they do not use cell phone data. 9. Enable the data save option Check phone settings and enable the data save option to close background apps, data fetching, and toggle off auto downloads of apps and photos.  10. Share large files only through Wi-Fi Unless urgent, do not transfer or share large images, videos, or documents through text or email using cellular data. Use a Wi-Fi connection while uploading images and videos on social media and sharing large files or images with friends/family. Data plans for multiple lines from different carriers AT&T – Unlimited Premium Plans for four lines (up to 200GB data) For $50 a month, the Unlimited Premium Plan is one of the best data plans without overage charges. AT&T offers unlimited data, text, and talk time without any overage charge or slowing down speed. One can utilize 50GB of monthly data for each of the four lines. The plan supports 4K UHD streaming and features mobile security and identity monitoring. Sprint Max at $85 per month Users can get unlimited data, text, and calls with 40GB of high-speed internet with a Mobile Hotspot from Sprit. One can get Hulu access, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, up to 4k UHD video streaming, and global roaming. Additionally, the cost includes taxes and fees. Verizon - Unlimited Ultimate at $65 per line Get the Unlimited Ultimate plan at $65 for one and $30 for four lines for 5G Ultra Wideband Internet. Users can get an additional 60GB mobile hotspot and 1080p HD video streaming. Upon adding a new smartphone line with the Bring Your Own Device tool, users can receive up to $540 in promotional credit. In addition, one can get a 50% discount on two-device plans. US Cellular - Even Better Unlimited Plans Get unlimited text, call, and data with the Even Better plan from US Cellular at $50 per line for four lines. Users can get unlimited priority data and full HD streaming. Other benefits from US Cellular include the Call Guardian app, which filters spam calls, and a price protection guarantee.

Our Blogs

Stages, diagnosis, and prevention of ADHD

Stages, diagnosis, and prevention of ADHD

ADHD, short for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, affects children worldwide, and this also often carries on into their adulthood. Some of the different problems faced by kids suffering from ADHD include sustaining attention for a long time, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. There might be other problems associated with ADHD, like low self-esteem, low grades in school, and difficulty in keeping up with relationships. More often than not, symptoms of ADHD are seen to have decreased with age. However, there are cases wherein ADHD symptoms never subside. Levels of ADHD There are three different levels or stages at which ADHD can affect individuals. They are: Predominantly inattentive ADHD This level of ADHD may be related to missing details very easily and getting distracted often. Also, one may get bored very quickly. One has difficulty in processing new information, and there is also the tendency to not listen properly. One might not be able to follow directions very clearly and also lose things like pencils or papers. It has been observed that girls are more likely to get inattentive ADHD than boys. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD This is mostly associated with symptoms like restlessness and difficulty with sitting still. Kids suffering from hyperactive-impulsive ADHD have a tendency to talk consistently, and it’s less likely that they will engage in quiet activities.
Read More
Understanding skin aging

Understanding skin aging

Changes in the skin are one of the biggest signs that the body is aging. But how the aging of skin takes place depends on a lot of factors such as our diet, lifestyle habits, stress levels, and the like. For example, if you smoke regularly, it can lead to the production of free radicals, which damage healthy skin cells and cause wrinkles. So, let’s dig a little deeper into skin aging so that you can diagnose it and prevent it for as long as possible. Stages of skin aging As you age, you will start noticing changes in your skin. These changes take place in phases or stages. Learning about these phases can allow you to take better care of your skin and stay away from everything that can prove to be harmful to it. So, these stages of skin aging are: Stage I – Between 25 and 35 years This is the time when your skin will look extremely voluminous to you. But, this is also the time when the early signs of aging will start to appear. Therefore, it is important that you follow a good skincare regime. Some wrinkles can start appearing on the forehead. Lines can also start to appear on the face when you make normal expressions such as laughing, smiling, or frowning.
Read More
Stages, diagnosis, and prevention of addiction

Stages, diagnosis, and prevention of addiction

There are three terms that one can relate to addiction – reward, motivation, and memory. Addiction is when the body craves a behavior or substance in an obsessive pursuit of a reward. The person will have little concern about the consequences of the particular behavior or substance. Things to note in case of addiction Some of the attributes that one can relate with addiction include an inability to stay away from the substance, lack of self-control, an outrageous desire for the substance or behavior, ignorance towards the problems that the behavior might be causing, and a growing tendency to ignore the emotional response. Addictions have been known to interfere with daily life and there are also cases of relapse and remission. The complications of addiction can be physical, emotional, as well as financial. Stages of addiction There are five main stages of addiction. These include: Experimentation Every addiction starts with experimentation and during this stage, one cannot understand that this is the beginning of an addiction. One cannot be sure that this will turn into something serious, and hence no necessary steps are taken at this stage. A simple way to find out how this will turn into addiction is understanding the reason for experimenting and how often a person experiments with new substances.
Read More
Top debt settlement companies in the USA

Top debt settlement companies in the USA

Incurring debt is really common in this age and era as everything has become extremely expensive, from college education to owing a house. If you ever feel that your debt is too large and you may not be able to pay it in time, then you can seek the help of a debt settlement company. These companies essentially communicate with your creditor to try and lower your debt and the rest of it is typically forgiven. Given below is a list of the top 9 debt settlement companies in the USA. National Debt Relief If you have USD 7,500 or more in debt, then the National Debt Relief can be a great choice for you. It is one of the most prominent debt settlement companies in the country. The initial consultation is offered for free, but you will have to pay 15-25% of the settled debt amount as a fee. Freedom Debt Relief This a dedicated company that offers debt relief services to people who have at minimum USD 7,500 to USD 10,000 in debt. 15-25% of the settle debt amount is charged as fee once a settlement is negotiated, and in return, they offer the possibility of settling the debt within 24-48 months.
Read More
Allergies – Stages and prevention

Allergies – Stages and prevention

The immune system of our bodies is constantly fighting against viruses and bacteria to keep us healthy. However, in certain cases, the immune system may also end up fighting some substances that are not always harmful. When this happens, you experience an allergic reaction. The allergens are the substances that cause the reactions. With a little carefulness, you can prevent the allergies effectively. The allergic development Even though an allergic reaction can vary from person to person, it generally progresses in the same five stages: Stage 1 The allergen enters your body through food, air, or touch, and contact the cells in your body. Stage 2 Your immune system creates immunoglobulin E, which is a type of antibody. Stage 3 This antibody enters your gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract but does not do anything. Stage 4 The next time when you are exposed to the same allergen, the immunoglobulin E treats it as a harmful substance and reacts with it. Stage 5 24 hours after the reaction, the immune system cells move towards the areas that were affected to release certain chemicals to treat it. How to diagnose allergies Your allergies can be diagnosed by a doctor. Before visiting him or her, you must recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Read More
Anemia – Symptoms, types, and prevention

Anemia – Symptoms, types, and prevention

Anemia is a kind of medical condition in which an adequate amount of oxygen fails to reach one’s body’s tissues owing to the deficiency of red blood cells in their body. When one suffers from this condition, their body feels weak and exhausted all the time. Symptoms There are different kinds of anemia and each of them has a cause of its own. It can have short-term or long-term effects and the disease can be mild or severe in nature. If one sees any symptoms suggesting that point toward anemia, it is essential to consult a doctor immediately. The signs vary from person to person and depend on the cause or their origin. Sometimes, the chronic disease causes anemia and the doctor ends up diagnosing the disease but the fact that one is suffering from anemia does not show up in the test. Sometimes, there are mild symptoms and then, with time the symptoms become more prominent indicating that the disease has penetrated one’s body more deeply. Some of the commonly found symptoms include breathing difficulties, fatigue, pale skin, chest pain, headache, dizziness, hands and feet turning cold, irregular heartbeat, and pain in the chest . Types of anemia Iron deficiency anemia This is the most common kind of anemia, which occurs due to iron deficiency.
Read More