#Telephone Answering Service UK

[sgiandubh]

Lallybroch: copyright vs. trademark

An excellent question was asked by our friend @rosfrank in the comments thread to 'The door faces North' post and given the cosmic amount of uninformed bullshit being ventilated for almost ten years in this fandom, I think it's time to answer it once and for all:

Whenever we are informally talking about 'owning the rights to something', I think it's very important to bear in mind a fundamental distinction between two different categories of ownership rights: copyright and trademark.

The copyright is the most familiar one to many of you. It is what you usually find on those annoying and apparently useless first or last pages of all the printed or digital editions on this planet. Something like this:

In the US, copyright issues are regulated by the Copyright Act of 1976, as included in Title 17 of the US Code. The US public authority competent for registering and managing copyright is, as predictable, the US Copyright Office.

Perhaps the most seminal US Supreme Court decision, as far as copyright is concerned, is the 1991 Feist Publications, Inc., v. Rural Telephone Service Co. In it, the Court ruled that mere compilations of information or facts (such as, for example, telephone books) are not protected by copyright, according to US law. In other words, the ancient legal concept of 'sweat of the brow' (which simply means the amount of work required to gather and compile those facts/information) is not enough to qualify a work for copyright protection, if no creative effort is added to enhance its content. This is why I have always considered absolutely ridiculous Marple's efforts to watermark public information screenshots: it is useless (to the extent that it legally protects her from nothing) and, as her timelines, a mere compilation of facts (legally ditto). A similar approach is preferred by the UK and also by many Roman law legal systems, such as the French one - just making things clearer, here, by the way.

See how 'Erself is roughly doing, right now, in this department:

But I am rambling. In my view, Lallybroch, as a pivotal concept used in Diana Gabaldon's books, is protected by the copyright granted to each and every of her books mentioning it, according to the Roman law principle 'accessorium sequitur principale' (the accessory follows the principal). So it will remain protected for at least 70 years since the last of her books mentioning it would have been published under copyright. Unless she chooses to separately protect the entire finished cycle as a whole, once Book Ten (fingers crossed) is published, preferably during our foreseeable lifetimes.

That being said, that goes only for one copyright category: (published) text - you cannot copyright that secret diary in your drawer, LOL. This is why, the current US Copyright Office records concerning Lallybroch look like this:

Sony Pictures Television Inc owns the copyright to the fictional name Lallybroch in the motion pictures category, as it is the title of the Episode 12, in Season 1 - DG has been handsomely compensated for this, no worries. And someone I have no idea about owns the rights to an original musical score she has written and titled Lallybroch in the music category, since October 2013.

Onwards to the trademark. This is something different and this is all about making your name/concept/idea profitable. It is all about branding it, putting it on a product and selling it under that brand. It includes all the graphic elements and the logo of the brand (accessorium...) - in short, its visual identity to the consumers. In the US, trademark issues are regulated by the 1946 Lanham Act and the public competent authority is the good old US Patent and Trade Office (USPTO).

Right now, the situation for the Lallybroch trademark is as follows:

So, we see three different trademarks: two of them, owned by Diana Gabaldon, are classified as 'dead' (cancelled and/or abandoned) and the third, Lallybroch Spirits, owned by S's Great Glen Company is pending approval - he will not be able to label any booze bottle Lallybroch Drink Me before permission is granted by the USPTO.

Let's unpack:

Both Lallybroch trademarks formerly owned by Diana Gabaldon were filed at the USPTO on February 21, 2000 and granted on December 12, 2000. The first was aimed at producing 'tartan fabrics for the manufacturer of clothing' and it was abandoned in December 2003:

The reason is that the owner did not file in any Statement of Use after the trademark was granted. She had three years to do so, and since she chose not to do anything about it, the trademark was deemed abandoned (Stacy K. Smith is the attorney hired by Herself, btw). That means she specifically implied not to intend using it in the future. As such, she may claim NO rights on a now free to use mark:

The second trademark was aimed at producing 'clothing, namely, t-shirts, dresses and headwear' and also 'jewelry, namely, rings, pins and necklaces'- to cut the story short: OL merchandise - and it was cancelled on March 1st, 2013:

The reason is that the owner did not file the Section 8 declaration (of continuous use for five years) within the allowed legal timeframe (6 months after the fifth anniversary of the trademark granting renewal). Her trademark federal rights are now deemed canceled (but not her state law and/or common law rights!) and if she wants to ever use that name again, she would have to start the whole process over, bearing in mind the trademark could have been granted to someone else, in the meanwhile (not her case).

And for anyone who might ask, 'Erself does not own any other trademarks whatsoever:

The other (Doll Lab - LOL for ages) Diana Gabaldon is a pharmacist from Albuquerque, NM. Chill. 🤣🤣🤣

The owner of the copyright to the fictional toponym Lallybroch, as far as published text is concerned, is Diana Galabdon.

The owner of the copyright to the fictional toponym Lallybroch, as far as motion pictures are concerned, is Sony Pictures Television Inc.

The owner of the copyright to the fictional toponym Lallybroch, as a personal work of music, is Mrs. Kelly Ruth Davis, of Pennsylvania, USA.

The owner of the Lallybroch Spirits trademark will be Sam Roland Heughan, when that trademark is granted by the USPTO.

I hope this answers your question, @rosfrank. Thank you for asking.

[scotianostra]

On September 25th 1956 the first telephone cable connecting the UK and North America “went live”.

Before 1956 a phone call to Canada, or the United States, would require booking several hours in advance as the various radio links required were established – assuming atmospheric conditions allowed the connection to work at all. But on 25th September, 1956, the first voice call crossed the pond from Newfoundland in Canada to Oban.

The cable carried 35 simultaneous calls, and 22 telegraph lines (squeezed into a 36th voice line), bringing down the cost of calling America to a pound a minute (bought in three-minute chunks) which would equate to over £30 in today's money.

TAT-1, as the cable was known, didn't just carry public phone calls, it was also used to send the Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth, live, and was a vital segment of the Moscow-Washington hotline, which is why the 100 or so Post Office workers had to sign the Official Secrets act.

The cables were laid over the summers of 1955 and 1956, with the majority of the work done by the cable ship HMTS Monarch. At the land-end in Gallanach Bay near Oban, Scotland, the cable was connected to coaxial (and then 24-circuit carrier lines) carrying the transatlantic circuits via Glasgow and Inverness to the International Exchange at Faraday Building in London.

On this day in 1956, TAT-1 carried 588 London-US calls and 119 London-Canada calls in the first 24 hours of public service.

Arguably the most important instance the cable was used was when the world was on the verge of Nuclear war during the Cuban Missile crisis.

TAT-1 carried the Moscow-Washington hotline between the American and Soviet heads of state, although using a teleprinter rather than voice calls as written communications were regarded as less likely to be misinterpreted. The link became operational on 13th July 1963 it took the US, for example, nearly 12 hours to receive and decode the initial settlement message that contained approx. 3,000 words. By the time the message was decoded and interpreted, and an answer had been prepared, another – more aggressive – message had been received.

After the success of TAT-1, a number of other TAT cables were laid and TAT-1 was retired in 1978.

Pics are the cable coming ashore in Scotlan a stripped back piece of cable and a map showing the route.

[beeseverywhen]

White collar workers

When I started work as a civil servant at the London Passport Office 22 years ago I made the terrible mistake of believing I was going up in the world. I arrived at work wearing my best suit (in fact it was my only suit). I got the shock of my life: everyone else was wearing jeans. I ended up being assigned to a huge office, where half the people opened letters all day and the others stuffed envelopes. My job was to stamp the passports with a huge brass embossing machine all day long. I was part of a clerical production line.

The nature of white collar jobs has changed massively over the last 100 years. Clerical workers in the 19th century were regarded as middle class. Their pay, status and even dress made them more akin to managers. A clerical post was seen as a prized job and was usually a lifetime post. It was also a job that required a high level of skill. Very few clerical workers see themselves as that today.

The growth of white collar jobs throughout the last century has been accompanied by a huge growth in the number of women workers. Over the last 40 years office work has become increasingly deskilled and dependent on machinery. Work has become boring and repetitive. The introduction of costly technology (computers, faxes and photocopiers) has changed the pattern of work inside the office. A similar process has gone on in education, banking and local government.

One council housing worker described the drudgery of his work.

"We don’t have to clock in and out like my dad did when he worked in a factory. We now have a computer—I call it the hidden foreman. It is used by management to record and monitor how much work we do. It knows what time I start work, what time I finish, how long it takes me to have a piss. It monitors the number of telephone calls I answer and at a flick of a switch a supervisor can increase the pace of our work."

Investment in machines means that white collar jobs are no longer nine to five. White collar workers are expected to do shift work. Many offices are now open 24 hours a day. Certainly, in terms of pay, a routine clerical worker is part of the working class. A low-grade civil servant earns around £17,000 a year—no more than a manual car worker at Fords does. The growth of a large layer of middle management has accompanied this growth in white collar jobs.

Today the myth that white collar workers are not part of the working class remains as strong as ever. Yet unionisation levels and strikes in this sector refute this myth. The drive to attack the working conditions, skills levels and pay of white collar workers over the last 30 to 40 years has been accompanied by a growth of trade unions in the public sector. Figure 3 below shows the gross weekly pay scales of public sector workers. It demonstrates that the majority of white collar workers’ wages are comparable to manual workers’ wages. It also demonstrates that women workers are predominantly found in the lower paid jobs.

White collar workers such as office workers, many council workers and teachers make up a large section of Britain’s workforce. Today, they are some of the best-organised workers in the country (see Figure 2 above). Just as with their forefathers and mothers in the cotton mills, the mines and car plants, the growth of trade unionism in the white collar sector came about over a relatively long period and as a result of a number of disputes, strikes and campaigns.

Over the past 20 years Britain has witnessed a huge growth in call centres, there are approximately 850,000 workers currently employed in them. Some studies describe the workers in these centres as white collar workers and others as part of the service economy. But they are also commonly described as the new coal miners of the 21st century. If you read most reports in the media you would assume that these workers are completely atomised, have no power and face the constant fear of having their work outsourced to India or Romania. But again that is not a true picture. A series of recent studies shows that most of the companies which run these operations expect the number to keep on growing over the next few years, though not at quite the rate of a few years back. For every story about outsourcing to India, there is one about a new call centre being built in Britain, mostly ignored by the press. In fact a recent report in the Guardian notes that companies like Kwik-Fit Insurance and Powergen, who had outsourced their work to India, are now relocating back to the UK because they can’t find enough staff with the right level of technical skills and knowledge. Ironically, ICICI OneSource, a Mumbai-based outsourcing company, said it was building a new 1,000 person call centre in Belfast because of ‘its highly skilled workforce and relatively cheap property prices’.

Again expanding job opportunities and skills shortages in the industry are giving call centre workers the confidence to demand higher wages and better conditions. Last year I spoke to a call worker from Newcastle. He told me:

"There are five call centres on our industrial park. All of them are constantly advertising for trained staff. You end up meeting workers from other call centres in your lunch break in local cafes and pubs. Of course you find out who has the best hours and who gets the best rates of pay. All you have to do is ask your supervisor for a pay rise or a change in conditions. If they say no you just move to the next call centre across the road. There is a natural levelling up. It’s good old fashioned economics of supply and demand."

It’s also become clear that unions like the CWU, Amicus and Unison are now organising in some of these centres.

[studio52sblog]

IVR Greetings for the Holiday Season

If you own a service-centric business, then IVR should be deployed as the highest priority. IVR, or Interactive Voice Responses, is an automated pre-recorded message system that assists users through menu options via keypad selection or voice recognition. The IVR system can contribute to the direct growth of your business and engage users without frustrating them, especially in the long run.

A successful IVR system can also increase customer satisfaction and streamline the user experience, ultimately resulting in user retention. A study discovered that 74% of people using IVR self-service successfully resolve their issues on the first call. The report also mentioned how users prefer a self-service option rather than connecting to an agent.

And that’s why you need to embed an IVR Script in your customer service portal! First, let’s look at the basics of IVR so you can better understand its role and impact in your business.

What is IVR?

Today, technological advancements have revolutionised the customer service industry with innovative automated audio content. Deploying Interactive Voice Response Systems, or IVRs, is one of the most effective ways to engage with your customers.

IVR is an automated telephone system that provides users with pre-recorded messages to help them with their problems. These pre-recorded messages will engage with users and provide them instructions to solve their issues without a live agent, and if the issue persists, the user will be connected to a live agent in no time.

Using IVR, you can build product awareness, send promotional messages, and even improve customer relations.

What is an IVR Script?

An IVR script is a written document or instructions describing how the caller and the IVR system will communicate. The IVR script specifies the voice prompts, menu options, and potential user answers that will be used to steer the automated conversation during its design and implementation.

Making an effective IVR script is challenging and should ideally be handled by the experts.

Example of an IVR Greeting Message

“Thank you for calling Dubai Chambers of eCommerce and Industry; your call is important to us.

Please note that our working hours are from 8am – 4pm, Sunday through Thursday.

Please leave your name, number and a message after the tone, and we will get back to you on the following business day.”

(Translate the same in a regional language)

IVR Dos and Don’ts

Research in the UK shows that >80% of people like a brand based on its customer support. Studio 52 helps you navigate the clutter and create an effective IVR recording for your customers. Our experts will guide you through IVR’s dos and don’ts and craft the perfect IVR message for your business this holiday season.

IVR Greetings Message

The message can begin with a jingle or a holiday song to get the customer’s attention. You can provide options for customers to hear about your services or the deals you offer. Brands even use this service to get customer reviews by giving them a menu to choose from at the end of the year.

Too Many Options

If your message has too many options for the customer, they might get frustrated and confused. So, you must provide limited and concise options for the best results. Additionally, provide a contact to your customers so they can contact you during emergencies. You can lay out the types of emergencies in the IVR message itself. And if there are none, they can connect back after the holidays.

Call-back Option

A call-back option is an efficient way for customers to contact you through a holiday wish. The message can be a reminder to renew or acquire your services. Start with the season’s greeting and give them the option of calling back when your operations are up and running again. They should know that their voice is being heard and you will be available to them right after the holidays.

A call-back option in your IVR message lets customers contact you through a holiday wish. The message can be a reminder to renew or acquire your services. Start with the season’s greeting and give them the option of calling back when your operations are up and running again. They should know their voice is heard and they will get a call-back after the holidays.

Music and Tone

When a customer calls the helpline, they first hear your greeting, or they may listen to it while on hold. This message needs to be engaging enough to retain them on the call. A beloved jungle or a childhood Christmas carol could be an excellent choice to accompany the message. The festive season is all about celebration, so collaborate with our IVR team to bring a unique, cheery greeting to your customers.

Also Read: Need a Voice Over? Here is Why You Should Hire a Professional

Components of the Message

The message should have a personal touch in spreading the holiday spirit while staying true to its purpose. They can be used for many purposes, such as informing the customer of store timings, availability of customer support, new packages and deals, etc. 

Here are the things you can inform your customers through IVR:

Company holidays and renewed business timings for the holiday season

Contact information in case there is an emergency

The company’s social media to go to for further information

Starting or ending the interaction with a holiday greeting for New Year’s or Christmas

Precise and tangible information to avoid confusion

The exact date from which your operations will start up again, so the customer knows when to call

Sample Holiday Wish IVR

Use our free IVR message template to boost your customer retention this holiday season. Happy Holidays! We are happy to cater to you at [company’s name]. Our employees are on holiday with their families and the office will be closed from [date] to [date]. You can contact us starting [date] on our regular working hours [time]. We wish you a wonderful Holiday Season. It was a pleasure to assist you today. Seasons Greeting!

Voiceover Artist

If you want to hire an in-house voiceover artist, we are just the right option. Studio 52 has in-house artists that can speak in various dialects, languages, and accents for all types of needs. They are well-versed in making explicit, helpful, and impactful audio content.

Closing Messages

If your business or store remains open during the holiday season, you may benefit from a welcoming or closing holiday greeting. The season’s wishes can play at the end of each call, in case your helplines are active. This can be a way to maintain the holiday spirit within customer interactions.

Difference between holiday greetings in the US vs the UK

The people in the UK are very precise with their holiday wishes, which mainly consist of “Merry Christmas” and “A Happy New Year.” Opposed to this, Americans mostly greet each other in a more generalised way by saying “Happy Holidays.” For the people in the US, this season brings along other festivities, such as Super Bowl Sunday. Companies in the US need to incorporate these events into their wishes. In the UK, most companies have a smaller window for working hours and greet their customers with polite wishes during the winter. Locational insights are thus necessary for customised IVR messages for your demographic.

Conclusion

IVR is the key to maintaining customer relations and improving customer retention in your business. Invest in an IVR holiday greeting to create customized greetings for your customers this holiday season. Connect with our experts to learn more!

FAQs:

What is the IVR message for holidays? The IVR greeting message for holidays is a customised script deployed during holidays. This script ensures that holiday greetings are wished to the customer while also informing them about closed services in observance of holidays. Many companies also leave an emergency contact for customers in case of urgent concerns.

What are common IVR messages? Some of the widely used IVR messages include; “You’ve arrived at [business name]. Right now, all of our agents are very busy. We will return your call as soon as possible, so please hold. Please know that your current hold time is 3 minutes.” “You’ve reached [name of company].” Our agents are all helping other callers right now. You can skip the waiting queue by pressing 1 to leave a message or 2 to have a representative contact you back. Please hold on and your call will be answered in the order received if you choose to do otherwise. Your current hold time is 3 minutes.”

What is the IVR script for holidays? The IVR script for holidays provides a festive welcome message and informs them about connecting after the holidays. Here’s an example of IVR Script; “Happy Holidays from [Your Company Name]! We appreciate your call. Our staff is taking a festive break to spend time with loved ones as we celebrate the holiday season. We’ll be back on [Date] to help you. In any emergency, please dial 9 to reach our on-call assistance. Press 1 if you have questions about product information or want to leave a message. We will respond shortly after we return. We appreciate your understanding and hope you have a joyful holiday season. We are grateful that you chose [Your Company Name].”

[danishkhan786]

Hog roast catering near me

Hogroast.company

Welcome to the heart of hog roast delight, where tradition meets modern culinary excellence! Our hog roast services in Yorkshire are a celebration of taste, bringing the quintessential flavors of slow-roasted perfection to your table. As we delve into the art of hog roasting, let's explore how our unique offerings elevate your dining experience, right here in the vibrant city of London.

Hog Roast Hire Near Me | UK's Best Spit Roast Catering

With more than fifteen years of involvement with hoard meal and grill catering, our process started at a clamoring market where we were besieged with solicitations to provide food individuals' occasions. We were at first reluctant, yet following a time of turning down demands, we at last chose to dive in and stretch out our business to the portable world.

We've idealized our hoard cook and bar-b-que food, however we didn't stop there. We zeroed in on making an arrangement that was remarkable inside and out and wouldn't frustrate any future booking. Many years, we worked on the arrangement, guaranteeing that it was perfect with no cost saved. Presently, we exclusively center around portable occasion providing food, and we've surrendered the market as there is simply an excessive amount of interest for our administrations out and about.

Unveiling the Essence of Hog Roast:

A hog roast is not just a meal; it's a spectacle, a communal experience that has stood the test of time. At HogRoast Company, we bring this time-honored tradition to the forefront, crafting an unforgettable culinary journey for our patrons. Imagine succulent pork, slow-cooked to perfection, with crispy, golden skin, creating a symphony of flavors that captivates the senses.

Hog Roast Yorkshire: Where Tradition Meets Excellence:

Our focus on hog roast in Yorkshire is a testament to our commitment to preserving tradition while embracing culinary innovation. Yorkshire, with its rich agricultural heritage, provides the ideal backdrop for our hog roasting mastery. We source premium Yorkshire hogs, ensuring that every bite reflects the region's finest flavors.

The Hog Roast Experience – A Feast for the Senses:

Picture this: the tantalizing aroma of roasting pork wafting through the air, the sizzle and crackle as the skin crisps to perfection, and the mouthwatering sight of a beautifully presented hog at the center of your event. Our hog roast services transcend the ordinary, creating an immersive experience that engages all the senses.

Why Choose Hog Roast for Your London Event:

London, a city known for its diverse culinary landscape, is no stranger to exquisite dining experiences. So, why choose hog roast for your event in SW1W 0NY? The answer lies in the unparalleled combination of tradition, taste, and spectacle. Hog roasts are versatile, catering to a wide range of palates, from the most sophisticated to the most discerning.

Tailoring the Experience to Your Needs:

Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, our hog roast services are customizable to suit your needs. From classic hog roast buffets to innovative menu options, we tailor our offerings to ensure a seamless blend of tradition and contemporary taste.

Contact Us

Address - London, United Kingdom SW1W 0NY

Telephone : 0800 099 6136

Email: events@hogroast.company

Click here to get more information:-  https://hogroast.company/

[golfgeardirect]

Golf Equipment

Address:

Unit 11, Headcorn Business Park, Maidstone Road

Headcorn TN27 9PJ

Phone: 01622 891675

Email: sales@golfgeardirect.co.uk

Website: https://www.golfgeardirect.co.uk/

Description: Golfgeardirect.co.uk is the UK Online Golf Superstore, dedicated to the serious golfer, which provides all the top brand names in the world of golf. Quality Golf Equipment, Clothing and Accessories at lowest guaranteed prices and accompanied by a complete service to our golfing customers with well-trained staff available to answer every query you may have either by email or telephone.

Keywords: Golf Equipment, Golf Clothing and Golf Accessories, Golf Shop

Operating Hours: 24 hours

Payment Method: Master Card, PayPal, Amex (online transactions)

[virtualpaservices]

For all your executive tasks:

[memorybusinesssystems]

Memory Business Systems

MBS based in Warrington, specialize in UVB light therapy at home.  Narrowband UVB light therapy devices, for the treatment of Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Eczema and Scleroderma. Our phototherapy devices deliver treatment, using medically approved Philips TL01 & PL01 lamps, identical to the UVB light therapy offered within the Health Service. Our units, manufactured in the UK, are designed for use within your own home, enabling you to access UVB treatment at home immediately, whenever your condition requires. Our team offers Pre-sales advice and Post-sales support to assist your choice of the right product for your condition and ensure timely delivery. Not all UVB Devices are the same, Let MBS help you choose the best.

Address: DA14 6NE

 Telephone:

0800 612 0954

Business hours:

Our normal office opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9.00am till 5.00pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

On Saturday mornings the office is closed, but we will still answer calls until 1pm.

Outside these hours you can still leave a message, and we will return your call the next working day.

E-mail: sales@treatpsoriasistl01uvblamps.co.uk

Website: treatpsoriasistl01uvblamps.co.uk

[umegalettingsblog]

Get answers about moving home safely in Edinburgh with Umega.

Are you planning to move home in Edinburgh and not sure how you can do it safely? Umega is here to help! As one of the top estate agents in Edinburgh, we offer a range of services for those looking for a smooth transition.

At Umega, award-winning Edinburgh estate agents,  we understand that safety is key when relocating from one property to another. That’s why our team follows strict guidelines and stands by best practices to ensure your move is as stress-free as possible during the current pandemic. 

To start with, all client interactions are carried out online or over the phone before any viewings take place. All questions are answered via email or telephone so clients have complete transparency regarding their move without needing to meet anyone face-to-face. Moreover, we inform potential buyers and tenants about available measures they can take during viewings such as wearing a mask and keeping 2 meters away from other individuals at all times. 

We also make sure that preceding visits do not go ahead if either party feels uncomfortable due to Covid-19 symptoms or has been advised self-isolation according to UK Government rules on social distancing. Should this be the case, virtual tours are offered instead where suitable technology is available such as Skype video calls or 360-degree images taken by our staff prior to the visit for added convenience and safety assurance. 

In addition, Umega strictly enforce wiping down surfaces after each visit with hospital grade disinfectants such as cleaning door handles before leaving each property viewed with customers present at all times if needed in order to keep everyone protected - thus eliminating any concerns over hygiene between parties involved in the process of moving house in Edinburgh safely while following local guidance relating Covid-19 regulations set by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon . 

Finally - once your desired property has been selected – signing contracts become digital too meaning this also limits intimate contact between agents, landlords/vendors involved in transactions which guarantee peace of mind when selecting your dream home or rental property. 

[amritokumar-seo-expert]

Phone-Direct.com

Address: 344-348 High Road Ilford IG1 1QP

Telephone: 020 3393 5357

Website https://www.phone-direct.com/

Services: Call Answering Service VOIP Phone Providers, Call Centre Solutions

Phone Direct is a phone and digital service provider based in the UK. We work with businesses looking for reliable and professional phone services.

[seeklovenet]

High 5 Courting Sites Uk Reviews Learn Customer Support Critiques Of Top5-datingsites Couk

High 5 Courting Sites Uk Reviews Learn Customer Support Critiques Of Top5-datingsites Couk

They must fill within the particulars about themselves and list what they’re on the lookout for. Based on this, the site suggests matches – you'll be able to message them, however customised messages can be found only to paying customers for a month-to-month charge of £12. The web site can be out there as a cellular app you have to use on your telephone.

So whether or not you’re on the lookout for a short-term hook-up or one thing long-term, maybe what you’re in search of is Zoosk. Additionally, id verification is the model new commonplace of online dating. This easy authentication activity certifies your id to spice up the protection of this platform. Hence, using your driver’s license or other review best dating sites australia accredited type of your ID will provide your prospective date serenity. When discussing the most effective free dating websites UK, you in all probability need to know which one is probably the most profitable of the lot. Match.com is the leader in success rates relating to long-term relationships, adopted by eHarmony and OkCupid.

Top 5 Courting Sites Uk Reviews

You will also obtain every day matches and get skilled coaching for a profile makeover. If you’re a premium member, you presumably can see everyone that’s visited your profile. Furthermore, these UK relationship apps are the best resolution these years, notably when the pandemic opened up courting slightly. Corona closed our doorways, and everybody was fairly alone. As the world has recycled freedom following a lockdown-stricken world, there’s more possibility to start again.

This implies that review42.com may obtain a compensation if you join and / or buy a product or a service utilizing our hyperlinks. However, all opinions expressed on this article are solely ours, and this content is by no means supplied or influenced by any of our companions. Digging Deeper – This permits you to ask questions eharmony has come up with or to write out your individual questions. These would be asking issues like describing certain private habits you deem important. Quick Questions – You select 5 questions out of a total of fifty five, like “What are your thoughts on conventional gender roles? ” Your match would choose specific choices for answers and reply with 5 questions for you.

First Time I Attempted A Dating Website Efficiently

If you are on the lookout for an affluent, well-traveled art lover, then Guardian Soulmates may be your best wager. It gives you a great likelihood of discovering a serious match. Further, eharmony has five million UK members and 60 million worldwide. Also, it’s known for being popular with people in search of long-term relationships.

[callcenterstech]

What Is a Call Center? A Detailed Guide 2023

Exactly what is call center, so how exactly does it vary from a message center and just what do day-to-day operations seem like?

Editor’s note: The information was updated in November. 21, 2022 to mirror current trends and knowledge. It was initially printed in the month of January 2022.

Customer support is a valuable part of managing a modern business. What is call center organizations with medium-to-large customer bases frequently making use of a centralized answering services company to deal with customer support issues?

Gartner defines the call center as a “department by which employees receive making high volumes of phone calls” with internal customers (for example helpdesks) and exterior customers (customer support and support).

Call centers have numerous purposes, including:

Customer service and support

Account management

Market research

Telemarketing

Billing

What Is a Call Center vs. a Contact Center?

Traditional customer support models trusted customers making an appointment to some company every time they were built with a question, concern, or problem that needed solving. Thus, the call center was created.

Today, however, customers can interact with brands in a number of ways – through phone, text, email, live online chats, and much more. As a result, the call center has changed into a contact center.

You may see some call center company definitions that argue sales departments deal solely with calls while contact centers handle another way of communication. Many people, however, begin using these two terms interchangeably.

We’ll dig just a little much deeper into the role of the call center, such as the impact of recent and emerging technology.

How Call Centers Work

What do call centers do, exactly?

They function as the hub for customer support. They permit people to communicate with companies without the need to visit an outlet, branch, or office.

If your customer includes a question, really wants to pay an invoice, or creates a complaint, they are able to achieve this at their own convenience. And they are not restricted to telephone calls, either. They may also use social networking, texts, email, and live site chat.

Still, phone-based call centers haven’t fallen in favor, regardless of the rise from the digital-first landscape.

According to data from a 2022 Hiya report — surveying 12,000 consumers across the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Spain — people prefer phone calls over all other communication methods when interacting with brands.

Consumers’ top five communication channels, ranked, include:

Phone Calls (32%)

Email (20%)

Text Message/Instant Message (12%)

Video Call (6%)

Chatbots (5%)

The large takeaway from this data? Customers want to speak to humans and obtain their questions clarified in tangible time – something phone support is capable of.

How companies offer this phone support typically varies according to their size and also the sources and tools at hand. It isn’t uncommon for big brands to possess multiple departments inside their sales departments, with everyone coping with a specific kind of call (complaint, questions, general comment, etc.).

Small brands, however, may have just one department with a number of dedicated agents.

Types of Call Centers

We have already reviewed what is call center means as it requires means of contact (phone versus. other methods). However, the phrase a phone call center is much more nuanced, breaking lower into three types:

Inbound

Outbound

Automated

Inbound Call Centers

An inbound call center is one that primarily handles incoming calls.

Within this setup, the client calls an unknown number to achieve the company. Oftentimes, customers will first encounter an interactive voice response (IVR) system.

This technique depends on keywords, for example, “pay an invoice,” “track a delivery,” or “username and passwords” to know the client’s request and hand the phone call off right agent.

Agents employed in these sales departments know how to approach common demands rapidly and precisely to make sure maximum client satisfaction.

Outbound Call Centers

In an outbound calling center, agents make outgoing calls to people on a qualified list.

The organization pulls its list from the (CRM) platform and filters it to make sure employees only contact individuals who’ve opted directly into communications.

Organizations typically use outbound sales departments for marketing campaigns, sales or researching the market. However, they are susceptible to government regulation in lots of parts around the globe, with guidelines dictating when and how companies can call residential phone figures.

The Phone Consumer Privacy Act (TCPA) in America, for example, explains limitations on using telephone equipment, for example, automatic dialing systems.

Because of these limitations, a lot of companies have transferred their outbound communication techniques to non-phone options, for example, email and text.

Automated Call Centers

Many modern contact centers rely on IVR systems to automate call routing. Some smart systems also handle common customer queries without resorting to agent intervention.

For example, a person can get in touch with, condition their address and receive updates about the status of the package. They may also enter their account number and payment information to pay for an invoice.

The machine may also reroute the phone call for an agent when the customer prefers talking to an individual or includes a complex ask.

These self-service options save time for purchasers and release agents to operate on more complicated tasks. Plus, the machine can certainly reroute the phone call for a worker when the customer prefers talking to an individual.

Virtual vs. Office-Based Call Centers

Prior to the rise of the digital age, sales departments were situated in physical offices. Today, because of the wide accessibility to fast, reliable internet, many answering services company agents work at home.

These workers are maintained by exactly the same technology as traditional sales departments, and also the finish-consumer experience continues to be the same. All online answering services company workers must job are online sites, a pc along with a headset.

Because call center agents could work around the world, call center company availability can span multiple time zones, which is a big benefit to companies searching to provide 24/7 availability.

Virtual jobs are also advantageous to employees, as hrs tend to be more flexible and workers do not have to commute to a workplace or follow a specific dress code.

Call Center Technology

Call center intelligence comes down to the technology a brand employs to handle calls and ease agent workloads.

Most established brands utilize technology such as:

Computer telephony integration: Synchronizes computers and phone systems, allowing customer data to show onscreen during a call.

Interactive voice response: Uses pre-recorded menu options and keywords to direct inbound calls.

Automatic call distribution: Routes calls to the agent or department best suited to the inquiry.

Omnichannel routing: Syncs, updates and manages all communication channels, including phone calls, text, email, and live chat.

Team chat messaging: Allows internal teams to communicate via instant message for quick collaboration.

Call recording: Records phone calls automatically or on-demand, typically for quality control or training purposes.

Today, many call centers use cloud-based solutions, which tend to be more flexible and adaptable than traditional software.

With cloud-located software, brands do not have to accommodate or maintain hardware. This kind of option would be available too anywhere anytime, which makes it beneficial for businesses with home-based agents.

Metrics That Measure Call Center Performance

Call center company operations are essential to companies simply because they cope with customers at various stages of the customer journey – from inbound sales to billing and account cancellation.

This pivotal role causes it to be essential to track the performance of the center and individual agents and appear to techniques for call center optimization. To get this done, brands utilize metrics that break lower into three groups:

Historical: Help managers understand the historical demand of the call center, allowing the team to better forecast, schedule, and plan for the future.

Real-time: Show the current demand the call center faces, helping managers understand intraday demand and better handle staffing levels.

Customer-focused: Give an idea of the quality of customer service that callers receive, both on an overall and per-agent level.

The Pros and Cons of Working in a Call Center

Like any job, working in a call center has advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of Working in a Call Center

Some of the biggest benefits of call center work include:

The barrier to entry is low. Someone could gain it by having a senior high school diploma or equivalent and virtually no previous experience. It is a great walking stone to positions in sales and customer experience.

It offers valuable experience. A call center agent will gain many transferable skills, including communications, product knowledge, problem-solving, and team collaboration.

The work is flexible. Many call center agents could work remotely or perhaps in a hybrid capacity. The hrs also usually flexible, well suited for individuals in class or along with other commitments.

There’s an opportunity for advancement. Individuals who stay in it to have an extended time could possibly get promoted to team leader or any other more senior roles. Even individuals in junior-level positions can typically earn bonuses.

Cons of Working in a Call Center

Unfortunately, call center work comes with a few potential drawbacks, such as:

The work can be challenging. Workers often deal with unhappy or irate customers and may not receive a lot of recognition for work well done.

The work is mostly sedentary. Most shifts include sitting in front of a computer all day. Workers must actively remember to stretch, walk around, and drink water.

The job can have a high turnover. In 2021, the call center attrition rate was 42%, according to a NICE survey.

It can be hard to bond with colleagues. The high turnover and workload challenges can make it difficult to form long-term relationships.

Call Centers Promote Customer-Brand Relationships

Regardless of what service or product a business offers, it must keep its lines of communication with customers open. What is call center That relationship is exactly what keeps customers satisfied and builds loyalty?

The call center is a crucial element of brand-customer communication – without them, brands know less regarding their audience, lose out on significant areas of the client journey and, ultimately, lose business.

[low-cost-letter-box]

How Small Businesses Can Weather the Inflation Storm

The rocketing costs of inflation in the UK are an increasing threat to small businesses. Almost a fifth of UK business owners says inflation and the rise in living costs will have a worse impact on their business than the COVID-19 lockdowns. 

In times of crisis, small business owners have to find practical solutions. Downsizing the payroll is the typical go-to strategy. However, these days, small businesses do not have to downsize their workforce to save money, you can downsize your workplace. 

Virtual offices and co-working spaces provide small businesses with cost-effective and viable solutions to significantly cut down on costs. Either option enables you to work from home or pivot to a hybrid work model. 

Downsize Without Losing Customers 

Small businesses that can adopt a permanent remote working model eliminate the cost of leasing office space. However, the risk here is that the lack of a physical office can have a negative effect on your ability to acquire new customers and grow. 

Credibility plays a central role in developing a brand image that consumers trust. There is a question of trust when it comes to faceless businesses – and with so many bad actors kicking around, it’s hardly surprising there is an element of consumer distrust when purchasing goods and services from brands that do not have a physical presence. 

A physical address can have a positive impact on a consumer’s purchasing decision – especially virtual office addresses in prestigious locations in central London. Let’s say, for example, you don’t display an address on your website. How does this look to consumers? Can they trust you as a brand?

Bear in mind that Google ranks businesses with a physical address you can pin into Google maps. However, if your address is a residential home, street view and Google Earth reveal this to customers. Will they trust that you are a real brand? 

A virtual office in London resolves all these issues. Any business can legally register its office with a virtual office provider and display it on its website and other marketing materials. This gives you all the advantages of a physical office without the expense. 

Hot Desks, Private Offices and Meeting Rooms

Some virtual office providers also provide office space you can rent when you need it. Serviced offices give you access to everything you would expect from a fully-functioning office without the expense involved in furnishing, running and maintaining an office. 

This gives you and your employees the opportunity to meet in an office environment and take advantage of the amenities. Serviced offices are typically equipped with photocopiers, projectors, scanners, TV/audio equipment and a telephone answering service. 

The business model we have at Low-Cost Letter Box is designed to help start-ups and small businesses keep costs to a minimum. If you need to downsize but keep up the appearance you had when you leased office space, our virtual office address in central London is a practical solution.  In addition, we don’t tie you into monthly or long-term contracts like most virtual space providers. We offer a flexible and cost-effective pay-as-you-go solution which gives you more control over your spending.

Source: https://www.lowcostletterbox.com/blog/how-small-businesses-can-weather-the-inflation-storm/

[connectcommunications]

5 top tips when working from home or remotely

For some, working remotely or working from home seemed like a dream too good to ever come true. No more early starts to miss the rush hour, no more hitting the snooze button 2 or 3 times too many and then actually being caught in the rush hour. No more sitting next to the unwashed new guy who still after 2 months hadn’t worked out where your personal space started and ended.

Then the pandemic struck and a huge swathe of the population suddenly found themselves battling with Zoom calls and dodgy internet connections whilst their kids demolished the broadband playing Fortnite instead of home-schooling. The dream of remote working was suddenly real but with it came the realisation that sometimes, being around people in an office, having a routine, having somewhere away from the house is actually quite nice.

Could our telephone answering service help whilst you’re working remotely?

Here at Connect we have a team of virtual receptionists currently working remotely from home where they can and a smaller team that are based in the office. The few staff that we do still have in the office are mainly operational to help ensure that our telephone answering service remains operating at the professional levels our clients expect and rely on, especially our medical and other key worker clients.

We recognise that many businesses may be struggling with their inbound telephone calls whilst working away from the office and so we continue to offer a free trial of up to 30 days of our service.

  5 top tips to follow when working from home or remotely

I’ve worked remotely for Connect Call Answering for the last 10 years or so and, I’ll be honest, I’ve never really given much thought until recent events about the guide and tips I’m about to bestow on you below. Having scoured the internet to compile the tips that follow I can safely say I seriously need to take a spoonful or 2 of my own advice!

  Workspace

Routine

Boundaries

Communicate more

Switch off

1. Workspace

Don’t work from the kitchen table

OK, first and foremost this is one area where I did learn early on that you really do need a good, tidy workspace to get things done, for the sake of your own sanity and also wellbeing. Just as it is in the office, it’s important that you are not only comfortable but also sitting correctly. Find a desk and chair that allow you to keep your posture straight, don’t be sat on your sofa or bed slouched over a laptop.

  Get a room

It really is far easier to stay focussed on work if you have a dedicated desk and or room for you to work from. This, however, may simply not be available for many, we don’t all have an extra room in the house just waiting to be commandeered.

I’m lucky, we had a small dining room that was never used (does anyone actually eat in a dining room these days?) and so that has become my office but my wife had to make space as there was no question of us sharing a room! She took my son’s room, much to his dismay, during the day which meant he had to be up and out by 8:30am. Not ideal but it means she has somewhere where she can shut the door and know that she won’t be disturbed when she’s on an important telephone call- OK, that’s a lie: Somewhere where she won’t be disturbed most of the time.

  Think about what’s behind you

This doesn’t really concern me as I don’t do a lot of video conferencing but my wife does and so it’s important to keep the background acceptable. It doesn’t need to be spotless, everyone knows the situation we are all in, but there shouldn’t be piles of dirty clothes or a poster of your son’s favourite WWE wrestler in the background (it’s Roman Reigns by the way).

2. Routine

Have a wash

Get up, get showered, get dressed and have some breakfast. I’m bad for this, mainly as I start at 5am and move around the house like a stealth Ninja trying to avoid waking anyone up, but rolling out of bed and straight onto your computer is not advisable. It’s important to have a routine in the morning as similar as you would do if you were going into the office.

Try to wake up at the same time as you would normally, does that mean you have a spare hour or so to kill as you’re not needing to commute? Great, prepare your lunch now, do some exercise or take some extra time with the kids but don’t waste the gift of that extra time by lazing about in bed!

  Schedule your work day

What sort of a morning person are you: productive, lethargic, happy or grumpy? Try and schedule your tasks to suit the times of your day when it suits you best. Save more demanding or thoughtful tasks for when your brain works best, if that’s first thing in the morning for you then great for others it might be later in the day once they’ve managed to settle all the mundane tasks in their inbox. If your main job is answering telephone calls, as our virtual receptionists do, then make sure you have got out of bed early enough to wake up properly and make that extra cup of coffee!

  Take a break

This is a common theme and I’ll repeat it later but don’t sacrifice your breaks and lunches just because you are working from home. Stick to your scheduled lunch and get away from your desk, let co-workers know you’re away for lunch if they are likely to try and contact you. If restrictions allow, get out for a walk or go down to the shops. Would you sit at your desk for lunch in the office? Hopefully not but if you did remember this for when you do go back into the office- don’t!

3. Boundaries

Know you place

Or rather make sure everyone knows you place, time and space. Make a point of telling the kids (if they’ll listen) when you’re working and that you really can’t be disturbed unless of course it’s an emergency. Don’t just close the door, actually get a “Do Not Disturb” sign and stick it to your door.

  Give me peace

Personally I work best when I have complete peace and quiet but others find having some background music can help them to concentrate. I did try playing music to try and drown out any noise the kids were making but that failed as the kids hear my music and think that it’s fair game to come and disturb me. “But you were playing music, must be playtime”, no – I’m playing music to remove you from my thoughts! Genuinely I invested in earmuffs so that, along with the closed door and “Do Not Disturb” sign, I have some hope of silence.

4. Communicate more

Out of sight, out of mind

It’s easy to feel forgotten when working remotely and so it’s important to keep up the communication with co-workers and your managers. From both a mental well-being aspect for you but also to show your work that you’re not sitting with your feet up all day watching daytime TV. Make a point of detailing your daily/weekly goals or projects and then on a daily or weekly basis record this, either by email, internal CRM or at least through conversation with your peers.

  Office chat

We are all social animals, if one thing the past year has taught us is that the need for human interaction shouldn’t be taken for granted. Being in the office allows you to chat, catch up on the latest gossip and that’s important for our mental health. Try to make time to chat with co-workers (you might even now realise they could be classed as your friends, well some at least might be) either on the phone, video conferencing or even a Whatsapp group chat.

It’s important to feel part of the team so don’t feel bad that a telephone call that could have taken 5 minutes takes an additional 3 or 4 because you were catching up on a personal level.

5. Switch off

Walk away from the desk!

Far too easily the line between whether we are “at work” or not can blur when working remotely. Just as it is important to stick to scheduled breaks, it’s equally important to switch off when you are finished for the day or week and also to make sure work colleagues know and respect your working hours. Get away from your desk at breaks, lunch and the end of the working day.

  Be harsh

If you find that you are still receiving telephone calls or emails that expect an immediate response outside of your working hours – ignore them, better still, simply switch off your computer. I found, to my detriment, that by giving the impression you are always available, always keen to help that co-workers just assume that means you are contactable 24/7 no matter how small the enquiry.

A few years ago I was on my annual holiday with the family in Turkey, I’d forgotten to take the divert off my phone and so I found myself taking calls by the poolside from the office trying to pick my brains about a problem they were having 2,000 miles away. It was my own fault as, up until then, I really was always available, even when I wasn’t scheduled to be working and that was all because I was working from home and didn’t ever really switch off.

When will things return to normal?

Hopefully the restrictions that we are all living under won’t last too much longer, however I don’t expect things will ever return to how they were before. There has been a fundamental shift in how a lot of us work and for some that means the prospect that remote working may become the new norm with time in the office reduced to a handful of days a month or perhaps less.

So with the prospect of more remote working becoming the long-term norm remember to continue to communicate with colleagues as if you were in the office, get up and get dressed as if you were in the office and start, finish and physically leave work as if you were in the office.

Page Last Updated: January 13th, 2021

from Telephone Answering Service | UK Phone Call Professionals https://www.connect-communications.co.uk/blog/5-top-tips-when-working-from-home-or-remotely/ via https://www.connect-communications.co.uk