Philbrick

Okay, so youve made the controversial and often contentious decision to outsource your customer support operations to an external call center. Before closing this all-important deal, there are a few steps you should take to ensure that your business is getting the quality and flexibility it deserves.

First of all, its important to ask where your support calls will be handled. Just because a call center has offices in your area doesnt necessarily mean that calls will be sent there; in fact, many customer support firms outsource their business to other countries or even continents. Before signing a contract, its best to be clear on this issue, and ask yourself whether you (and more importantly your customers) are happy with support calls being dealt with from half a world away.

Secondly, you should ask exactly how much of the vendors business your company will account for. Ideally, its best that your business account for at least 5% of the call volume at your call center of choice, so as to allow agents to become familiar with your products and services. This isnt always possible for very small businesses, but its still a good thing to look in to.

Another thing to remember is that most call centers will try to set up their own in-house phone number(s) specifically for your business. This is an offer your should flatly refused, as the vendor can later use it to their unfair advantage in keeping your business. Its much better to own your own 1-800 number so you can switch providers at any time without changing your marketing material.

Finally, its always a good idea to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement with any vendor that you use for call center services. This will prevent the company from learning about how your business works, then taking that information to one of your competitors. This step is especially important if your call center of choice specializes in your industry.

About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelance writer, who covers customer relations and other business-related issues.

Love is a feeling of commitment. Commitment is a joining of forces. My commitment to myself is to be all that I can be to be happy, so that others can be all they can be, to be happy. Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Looking for happiness in all the wrong places. I know someone who said his commitment is, not to die with a fifth grade education in his faith, and to help other people not to die with a fifth grade education in their faith.

I found out that you can not make people happy. Happiness must come from within a person. I could possibly please someone; however each person must want to be happy. I know someone that says over and over again. You got to want to be happy! He will ask you first; do you want to be happy? You must answer the question for him or he will persist in asking the question before attempting to please you.

Everyone finds happiness in different ways. Some people love people, science, music, animals, flowers, books, hard work, mountain climbing, math, the universe, birds, law enforcement, the oceans etc. The commitment you seek must be to yourself first, then your family, profession and community. The greatest commitment of all is learning to have a commitment with you. Finding your commitment with yourself is a journey. The journey can change, from being an Attorney to an Ordained Methodist Minister. How much happiness can you stand?

Some times you can have a double commitment. You can be both an Attorney and a minister. What ever floats your boat! First be a person who needs people, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world the song says. There are so many good messages in songs, books, and movies about your commitment. Everyone must find their own way to happiness. It seems that happiness is just a thing called Joe.

The commitment you have with yourself will be the commitment you will have with others. I know a couple that both of their children grew up to be doctors. I said, You must be so proud, both of your children are doctors. She replied, Mike, we would be proud of our children what ever they decided to be, as long as they were happy and it was legal. How may I serve humanity with humility? What can I do to be happy?

Mike Marino, Jr. aka In Person, is the co-author of two books and a Distinguished Toastmaster who helps people fall in love with learning. He speaks and writes on the love of Knowledge is the root of all good!. To book Mike for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Mike Marino, Jr. In person 504 833 4405 or email marinojr@bellsouth . Proud member of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. All presentations are available in PowerPoint or Keynote.