Today I received a call from an existing client who uses 24 hour Telephone Answering Service.  He has 3 phone lines in his office.  If one of the lines is in use the 2nd & 3rd calls will “Hunt” to the next available line.  In the event any call goes unanswered, after the 3rd ring it will automatically Call Forward to Business Connections 24 hour Call Center.  The client has a phone compnay feature called “Call Forward Don’t Answer” installed on ALL 3 phone lines.  The client also has “Call Forward Busy” installed on his 3rd phone line.

With “Call Forwarding Busy/Don’t Answer” calls are automatically transferred to Business Connections when all of your lines are busy, or after a preset number of rings.

(+) Everything is automatic. You never need to activate or deactivate Call Forwarding. If all of your lines are in use, calls will be transferred to Business Connections.

(–) Unanswered calls will ring 3 to 4 rings at your office before transferring to Business Connections.

(+) A great safety feature in the event of a problem at your location (i.e. power outage, flood or fire).

PLEASE NOTE – When ording this feature, please confirm with your phone company representative that Call Forward Don’t Answer is installed on ALL 3 of your phone lines + Call Forward Busy is ONLY installed on the last line of your hunt group, in this case Line #3.  The phone company representative should ask you 2 questions when you order this feature.  Question #1 should be “How many rings would you like the phone ring at your office before the phone call is Call Forwarded.  Most people have it forward after the 3rd ring.  Question #2 should be “What number would you like the phone call Call Forwarded to if you are unable to answer the phone within the preset number of rings?”

Compliments of Business Connections 24 hour Telephone Answering and Voice Mail Service.  For more information call 866-601-6115 or visit www.bcanswer.com

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

 We ask every Employee three commitments:

 1) A Commitment to our customers.  The basis of our business is providing service to our customers.  While you are employed at BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, INC. we ask that you make our customers your first priority.  They have entrusted to us their businesses and their reputations.  At all times, the answering of inbound calls, a professional and helpful attitude, accuracy and completeness of the message taken, and proper follow through in dispatching and delivering the messages should be the goal of every employee.

2) A Commitment to your Fellow Employees.  We only achieve our goals and provide excellent service to our customers if we work as a team.  This commitment involves being present and at your work station for every scheduled shift.  It means being on time so your co-workers are not required to handle your work load.  It means sharing your expertise and being helpful to a less experienced employee.  It means making sure that you are not away from your workstation except for authorized breaks and that you are back at your workstation at a specified time.  And it means occasionally extending yourself to work an extra shift now and then so that employees are not required to work “short-handed” in the event of an absence or perhaps a change in anticipated call traffic.

3) A Commitment to the Company.  We are BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, INC.  The health of our business and that of our clients, is entrusted directly to you.  In your hands we place the reputation of the company, the reputation of the management, the supervisors and every person who works or has worked for BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, INC.  We ask that you handle this repuation with care for it is very delicate and easily damaged.

When these commitments are demonstrated by every employee, then we truly have a team effort which will ensure the growth of our business.  For more information call 1-866-601-6115 or visit www.bcanswer.com

Sigmund Freud once said that the Wealthy and Big Thinkers MOVE TOWARDS what they want;  as oppossed to AWAY FROM what they don’t want.  The movers and shakers of society see through eyes of opportunity, while the followers see through fearful eyes.  Great baseball players will charge towards a ground ball and usually make the play.  Great baseball players play the ball, they don’t let the ball play them.  What you think determines how you behave.  Are you a Big Thinker?  Are you encouraging Big Thinking at your home, place of business and circle of friends?

According to a well-known study by Professor Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, an expert in personal communication, believability in a message is comprised of three elements. Those message elements are verbal (your words), vocal (your tone of voice) and visual (your facial expressions and body language). Meharabian researched which elements people find the most believable when they receive an inconsistent message. For example, envision a new employee in front of you saying, “I’m excited about this job,” While they make this statement, they are looking downward, examining their fingernails. They do not make eye contact. Their voice is shaky and soft. This employee is giving you an inconsistent message. The research determined that we “weight” each of the elements in the following manner: Verbal = 7% Vocal = 38% Visual = 55% Total = 100% What does this mean to our Telephone image? Clearly, when we lose the “Visual” element over the telephone, we are losing the most “believable” portion of the message. So it means that our tone of voice is even more important than our words when we are trying to convey a professional, courteous and caring image. Recognizing and controlling your tone of voice requires awareness and practice.

Manner #1 – When asking for something say “Please.”

Manner #2 – When receiving something, say “Thank you.”  Hand written Thank You Notes are even better.

Manner #3 – Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.

Manner #4 – If you do need to get somebody’s attention right away, the phrase “excuse me” is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.

Manner #5 – When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.

Manner #6 – The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of others.

Manner #7 – Do not comment on other people’s physical characteristics unless, of course, it’s to compliment them, which is always welcome.

Manner #8 – When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.

Manner #9 – When you have spent time at your friend’s house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.

Manner #10 – Knock on closed doors — and wait to see if there’s a response — before entering.

Manner #11 – When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Manner #12 – Be appreciative and say “thank you” for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.

Manner #13 – Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.

Manner #14 – Don’t call people mean names.

Manner #15 – Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.  “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel”. – Bible, Proverbs 11:17

Manner #16 – Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.

Manner #17 – If you bump into somebody, immediately say “Excuse me.”

Manner #18 – Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don’t pick your nose in public.

Manner #19 – As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.

Manner #20 – If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say “yes,” do so — you may learn something new.

Manner #21 – When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.

Manner #22 – When someone helps you, say “thank you.” That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!

Manner #23 – Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.

Manner #24 – Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.

Manner #25 – Don’t reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Cheerful, professionally trained telephone receptionists always available to work for your fast growing company.  No sick days, no lunch hour, no vacations, no coffee breaks and no health insurance for you to worry about.  Salary = about 9 cents per hour.  24-hour Telephone Answering Service from Business Connections.  We are your telephone receptionist while you’re away from the office.  For details call 1-866-601-6115 and ask for Dirk or Stuart.  You can also visit www.bcanswer.com to hear testimonials.