Cell Phone EMF Radiation: The Dark Side of Technology

Do you remember when you bought a new cell phone, opened the box, and discovered a new pamphlet that warned you about the possible health risk associated with EMF radiation? Many people would probably throw this away, if they even noticed it at all, and the industry was well-aware of that. Even to this day, there’s not much of a buzz about the disconcerting risks connected with using electrical and wireless devices. When you saw the pamphlet about EMF waves, you were probably alarmed for a moment and quickly forgot about it because, after all, how could these devices be produced and sold on a massive scale if it was that dangerous? But the fact is that EMF radiation is suspected to be dangerous, and experts are now making a new push to raise awareness about the health risks of using wireless devices. History of EMF In 1830, English Physicist …

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On Hold Music and the Psychology of Waiting

Have you ever wondered why you hear music or informational messages while you’re on hold? The reason is to give callers something to listen to while they’re waiting, right? Well, yes, but music and messages on hold were deliberately designed, based on the psychological reactions of people when they are placed on hold. To check out Talkroute’s on-hold features, click here In this article, we will examine how callers respond to being placed on hold and the reasons they react in a variety of ways. The mind of a customer works in interesting ways, but it works in predictable ways, too, which is why businesses are able to create hold programs that create the best environment for callers, if they must wait. Here’s how it works. The subject matter, research, and many of the terms detailed in this article are chiefly derived from the report, “The Psychology of Telephone ‘On …

17 Best Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

Sometimes we all need a little nudge to keep fighting the good fight, and that’s especially true if you’re running a small business. Fortunately, we can stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, been through the trials, and discovered how to navigate through life as an entrepreneur. The following is a list of thought-provoking quotes from some of our greatest predecessors. 1. “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” —Steve Jobs 2. “It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste.” —Henry Ford 3. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” —Bill Gates 4. “What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.” —Donald Trump 5. “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited …

What Drives Entrepreneurs, and What Drives You?

What moves a business owner to create a brand new empire, to carve out their piece of the pie, and to change the face of commerce through his or her own vision? Instead of subjecting oneself to the volatile mercy of a market that is sure to take over the entrepreneur’s life, why not fall blissfully into the arms of monotony and work for somebody else? Because they can’t. It’s just not in their DNA. Business owners are another breed, a horse of a different color (insert your cliché here), and they could never be satisfied with toiling to realize someone else’s dream. Being another breed of professional, the things that drive an entrepreneur is different from what drives most people. Entrepreneurs Raise the Standard When you need a certain product that you either can’t or don’t want to produce yourself, you have no choice but to get it from …

Your Competitors are Not the Enemy; They are Your Friends

Many business owners fear that a strong competitor will put them out of business, or at least take some of their customers. As long as your market is large enough, however, there are usually plenty of customers to go around. Healthy competition is by no means reason for panic, and in fact, it’s a good thing. If you’re not convinced, check out this article: “Why Competition is Good News for Your Business” Find a Differentiator Your business must have that special something that sets you apart from competitors. Think about large-scale competing companies: Apple & Microsoft; GM & Chrysler; Nike & Adidas. Each of these companies make the same thing that its counterpart makes, and yet they are all hugely successful—how do they do it? Differentiators. The market is already established for each industry, so they don’t even have to worry about that. These companies have created key differences that …

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The PSTN Proves Old School Tech Still Has Its Place

PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)—The world’s collection of interconnected, voice-oriented public telephone networks, both commercial and government-owned. Whenever you say “landline”, you are referring to a phone line that uses the PSTN. The PSTN is an invaluable infrastructure, and it’s not going to be replaced anytime soon. Even though the telecommunications industry has made a few leaps over the past few decades, the wireless network still can’t provide the kind of coverage provided by the PSTN. In fact, wireless networks depend on it to fill in its gaps in coverage to complete calls. There’s Nothing Like the Original Have you ever wondered how your calls are connected? Well, it’s a little more complicated than it used to be, but the old system is still very much in use. The original PSTN, or POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) is exactly what you think it is: Copper wires, underground and overhead, that …

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VoIP Service Providers’ Master Plan, and Why it Didn’t Work

Virtual phone service providers were on to something big. They knew they had a service that was a viable alternative to conventional phone systems, and they knew they could sell it because the cost was low for these pioneer providers and for their customers, as well. Patrons of the conventional phone system were paying a premium, and any service that could provide professional service, at a much lower price, was of course very attractive. VoIP-based systems enabled businesses to use their phones at any location with an internet connection, whereas service from the traditional telephone company is restricted to one location. VoIP and Hosted IP phone service seemed too good to be true; it looked impressive, simple, even elegant. The businesses who decided to make the switch, however, were in for a big surprise. Here’s Why VoIP Users Are Sorry They Switched. Dropped Calls This is a significant problem for …

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What Makes the Best Phone Tree for Business?

  Customizable Call Menus The anchor of any professional phone system is the phone tree, or IVR, or call menu. You’ve probably realized, like hundreds of thousands of other businesses owners have, that utilizing a service which provides a professional phone system with a call menu to direct callers to various departments is an essential element of customer service. The thing is, this call menu should be easily customizable. When you can record your own greetings in whatever format you choose, using whatever person’s voice you like, it gives you the freedom to create a call menu that reflects the nature of your company. It’s certainly something you want to look for in a service.   Variety of Options Many of the companies who provide virtual phone service don’t give you much room to build your own custom phone tree, and this is important. You know your market, your product, …

Going Paperless: Is It Really Worth It?

  So we all know that we have to save the trees and that it’s a good thing to cut down on paper waste, right? But let’s be honest—that’s not why we’re storing and managing all of our information from our hard drives and in the Cloud. What’s the real reason? It makes life easier, personally and at work. Hard documents can be lost, easily damaged, and they take up a ton of physical space. It’s also easier to stay organized, and the benefits don’t end there. What happens when you have stacks upon stacks, files upon files in cabinets all over your office? Someone has to keep it all straight and make sure everything is in the appropriate place, and that can require more time than you can give, executed by your valuable staff who would be far more useful doing more productive things.   Cut the Clutter Cloud-based …

4 Simple Steps to Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Let’s face it—most of us probably don’t put in as much effort as we should, when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. You may be surprised how easy it actually is for your business to reduce its impact on the environment, by making a few simple changes. If you get really ambitious about making a difference, here’s an example of one business that almost completely eliminated its negative impact on the environment. If you’re not quite ready to affect change on this scale, we’ll go into some easy things you can do every day to reduce emissions. Diageo North America One company took the initiative to blow away any expectations of those concerned about environmental responsibility and sustainability. The North American division of Diageo, a global producer, manufacturer, and distributor of spirits, beer, and wine, cut their total carbon emissions by 80 percent—that is a figure that would astound …