More Than A Number

Many people just leave their electrical extension cords in a giant bundle somewhere. Perhaps it’s in a wad in the corner of their garage. Or maybe it’s in a big pile inside several wholesale plastic containers. No matter where, most people don’t put much thought into the care of their electrical extension cords.

And this is a problem, because improper storage of these items can be a significant problem. There are several reasons that people should take better care of their extension cords beyond keeping their houses and work areas clean:

• Electrical fires: Electrical cords which have been damaged can be very dangerous if used. One simple short could start an electrical fire that might burn down an entire house or business.
• Heat damage: Few people know that extension cords are very sensitive to heat. Storing them haphazardly in a hot area or near a heat source can melt the external cover or internal wiring.
• Malfunctions: Beyond being dangerous, having an extension cord malfunction can be a major headache when you realize too late that the important piece of equipment won’t work because your cord is damaged.

One easy solution to this problem is a product like Pioneer Plastics’ CordGrip, which winds electrical cords and keeps them organized. It’s a wonderful piece of plastics injection molding that will keep your extension cords safe and secure.

An outsourced call center doesn’t need to be the only solution for a medical office. In fact, a growing trend in the industry is for in-house call centers to fill in the gaps in their customer support solution by turning to outsourcers to provide value-added extension services. Here are some of the valuable services that contracting with an outsourcer can provide to your call center:

• Overflow support: Even with a well-planned internal call center, there will be times when the number of calls is greater than the capacity of the staff to handle them in an efficient manner. Phone answering services can be contracted to handle calls once they reach a certain threshold, avoiding overworking in-house staff and keeping callers on hold.
• After hours support: Your in-house call center might be able to handle calls during normal business hours, but what about calls on nights and weekend? For a medical office, the caller on the other end of the line could have an emergency and not be able to wait for someone to return a voice mail message. An after hours answering service – especially one staffed by trained nurses – can help patients get medical help quickly anytime.
• Foreign language support: With the demographics of the United States rapidly changing, it can be difficult to have staff available to handle questions in the wide range of native languages of your patients. Call centers can be set up to handle questions from speakers of specific languages to ensure they are getting the most accurate information possible.

These days, there are magazines that cover pretty much every industry and interest. So is it much of a surprise that there is a publication dedicated to those looking to craft a better call center solution? Call Center Magazine is an online journal that is dedicated to providing information that professionals working in the customer contact arena can use to make their job easier. Both outbound and inbound call center professionals will find useful articles, tips, and research. The publication can also provide insight for those looking to outsource their call center — after all, it’s always better to make an informed decision. Past issues of the magazine dating back to 1999 are archived on the website for you to peruse. With so much helpful information available and no subscription fees to be seen, Call Center Magazine is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn more about customer contact.

When it comes to contracting an answering service to handle overflow and/or after-hours calls, order fulfillment, literature requests, and more, there are several options, one of which is a virtual call center. A virtual call center is most often staffed by employees who work out of home offices around the country rather than in one central location.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to this model. On the plus side, the call center can provide cheaper labor because it doesn’t have to maintain an office. Informal research also suggests that work-from-home employees have more work experience, enjoy greater job satisfaction, and are more willing to help callers. On the other side, however, the lack of a structured work environment could, in some cases, also lead to a decrease in productivity and quality of service.

If you plan to contract a virtual call center, be sure to ask them about training, performance monitoring, and whether they offer analytics for you to track to ensure that the quality meets your standards. Be sure that the service provider can also scale the service based on your future needs. A virtual call center isn’t for every business, and performing due diligence is an unassailable component of making the right decision.

Keeping an entire family organized is almost like maintaining a business. Between everybody’s school, work, and after-school schedules, not to mention doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands, it can be nearly impossible to keep everyone on the same page. In fact, according to a recent article by The Associated Press, Americans are finding the need to create an information hub in the home that encourages communication and teamwork.

Of the information hub, interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn said, “It doesn’t have to take up much room, but it does need to be planned carefully to maximize efficiency and style.” Flynn recommends choosing a single location, such as the corner of a kitchen or large room, to serve many purposes. The first purpose for the central workspace would be to provide information. This can be easily accomplished by hanging up a whiteboard or dry-erase board to write down appointments, invitations, shopping lists, and even short messages between family members. According to the article, dry erase boards save space and help keep the family organized. The interior designer offers additional ideas to make the hub more personal and visually attractive, including designating separate areas on the board for each family member. You can also purchase white boards that come with a monthly calendar already printed on the board. For that personal touch, you can custom-order a white board to feature your family name or favorite motif.

You’ve found a talented person to ghost write your book. The research, writing, editing, and revising are done. The manuscript is formatted and looks great—now what? Many people who hire a ghost writer have trouble with the next steps: publishing and marketing. Admittedly, it’s a complex, tricky process that ghostwriters generally do not attempt, leaving the author to navigate the publishing world by him or herself. This can be almost impossible in the hands of a new author who does not possess sufficient media contacts to effectively promote his or her book.

At the cusp of the publishing and marketing world is where a publishing company can come in handy. According to Bowker, the company responsible for ISBNs in the U.S., more than 276,000 new book titles were published in the U.S. alone in 2007. Additionally, more than 134,000 “On Demand” and short-run books were also published that year. Clearly, the competition for new books is stiff.

Full-service companies like Arbor Books will typeset, print, and copyright your book, as well as assist with getting endorsements and handle all marketing needs. Having a company take over marketing can mean the difference between speaking engagements, a book tour, media interviews, and sales and having your book get lost in the shuffle.

Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana recently signed a new bill into law that gives teachers near-total immunity from lawsuits as a result of disciplinary actions against students provided that the teachers act “reasonably and in good faith.” Under the new law, for which State School Superintendent Tony Bennett campaigned, judges can now dismiss lawsuits at the beginning of the legal process.

The bill was Gov. Daniels’ top non-economic priority for the 2009 legislative session. Daniels said, “As of today, Indiana has the nation’s strongest law protecting teachers against unruly students, unreasonable parents, and lawyers of all kinds. But the new law is just a start. We need to change old habits and liberate teachers from a culture of resignation to unacceptable student behavior.”

Under current law, a background check is optional. However, the bill will require tougher screening in the form of an employee check of every teacher before he or she is hired. A public database of teachers convicted or drug and/or sex crimes will be created as well. Additionally, the bill will require school districts to conduct checks in counties where a teacher has lived previously, and school officials can elect to perform a national online employee check on potential hires.

National Apartment Association Projects Increase in U.S. Renting Population

A new report by the National Apartment Association (NAA) predicts that there will be $1.1 trillion in demand for new apartment buildings by 2030. Furthermore, the association foresees U.S. home ownership declining by eight percentage points or more as apartment living rises to accommodate a growing immigrant population, Generation Y housing needs, and a shift towards urban living that will require high-density residential options. According to the report, the U.S. renting population will grow by more than 10 million in the next 10 years. Christopher E. Lee, president of CEL & Associates, Inc. and special advisor to the NAA, said, “A number of factors are aligning to create a significant shift in U.S. housing trends, bringing us nearer to a European model, where homeownership tends to be below 60%.”

The new data highlights the need for vigilant renter screening in the future. With an increase in the number of renters, screening for landlords and property managers will become an even more valuable service to ensure that units are being rented to responsible tenants.

Vacancies on the Rise

Anecdotal evidence from around the country suggests that as the number of foreclosures rises, rent prices continue to drop to entice displaced families and other previous homeowners. Although the National Apartment Association predicts that the renting population will grow by 10 million renters in the next 10 years, many local news sources have reported current and short-term increases in apartment vacancies as would-be tenants elect to move in with family and friends to save money rather than rent their own apartments. A renter criminal check will be an important step for any landlord or property manager once vacancy levels begin to subside, but they shouldn’t be overlooked now, either. A renter eviction search and background check can provide crucial information about prospective tenants. When every unit counts, it pays to screen and make sure that the best possible applicants are selected.

As the economy slows down, businesses need every dime they earn. Many companies are calling on debt collectors to help them collect payment for products and services that remain unpaid. A debt collection agency is a business that actively collects debts that individuals or companies owe. Most collection agencies work on behalf of the party that is awaiting payment for a percentage of the total owed. The debtor is the person or business that owes money for products or services.

Types of Agencies

• A first-party collection agency is part of the creditor company, so these agencies tend to be invested in collecting on the balance owed.
• Third-party agencies are those that are not affiliated with the creditor, but are hired to collect debt on its behalf. Typically, creditors retain accounts for about six months with first-party agency, and then hand it over to a third-party agency.
• Some agencies specialize in commercial collections owed for business-related services, and others focus on consumer and retail collections owed for purchases related to personal and household use.

Often, successful collection calls can be attributed to the skill and understanding of the collector making the call. For this reason, most companies opt to contract with experienced collectors such as PSI Collect. This Los Angeles collection agency has been in business for several years and has an excellent staff retention rate, allowing employees to gain experience that some agents lack.

Summer’s just around the corner, and before you can say “barbeque,” it’ll be over. This summer, enjoy the longer days, balmy nights, and travel opportunities. Call Amaidzing, and we’ll keep your home spic and span so that you can enjoy the things that matter most. People are often surprised at the size of the area in which we offer our cleaning services: Glendale to Playa Del Ray to Highland Park to Malibu. If you’re located almost anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area, you’re eligible to contract with our maids. Los Angeles is the perfect city in which to have summer fun. Don’t spend all of your time cleaning. Instead, let Amaidzing do the work!

If you are staging an outdoor event such as a rock concert, theater show or comedy festival, the last thing you need is for inclement weather to become a problem. Wind, rain and snow can not only damage the electrical equipment on stage but can become a dangerous hazard. This is why it’s important to have a portable truss system which includes a quality temporary roof solution.

Milosgroup has temporary roofing solutions for large or small stages. These roof trusses are made from sturdy and dependable materials like aluminum and will stand up to heavy weight loads and external weather forces. Systems are available which include lighting truss, sound speaker and cabling systems that allow you to put on a professional show for a small price. Visit http://www.milosgroup.com to learn more about temporary roof options from Milosgroup.