Consultant or Wanna-Be?

I've always kind of wondered about consultants by definition. Let me preface this right now: any legitimate consultants reading this will not be offended because they are legitimate. It's the other ones, the "wanna-be's" that will be offended. And any legitimate consultant is a needed contribution to the business cycle and is a respected authority on an issue.

But I digress with all the face-saving prefacing.

This literally just happened:
A prospect of ours is purchasing a phone from Office Depot. In other words, they are not buying a true phone system such as ESI. They asked if they could still have custom messages on hold. We advised them what phone we recommend (based upon our 18 years of experience and knowledge) and assured them yes--our messages will play on the phone system with the addition of a particular (Skutch) player.

They were thrilled! They couldn't afford a big phone system and really didn't need one, but they understood and valued the importance of custom messages on hold.

But then something happened. They talked to a "consultant". They came back to us and said "You know....We're not so sure we want to sign your agreement. We talked with someone and they said there's no way that AT&T phone will play messages on hold."

We asked him, "Who are you talking to?" Remember, we've been doing this for 18 years and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that with the addition of this Skutch player our player will work.

"Oh, someone here local. They do what you do."

Wrong. They do not. They try to act like they do.

Word of caution here: In all endeavors, both professional and personal, it is unfortunate that we must exercise extreme caution in believing everything we hear or are told. Seek out trusted advisors, true consultants with experience and a track record to prove it. Ahem, such as your friends at America On Hold, who know what they are doing.

Oh and yeah, so any of you home-based business folks operating off a phone you bought at Office Depot (Staples, et al)....you CAN have messages on hold. We know how. Call us, we'll help you "sound as good as you look"!

Renaissance Times?

The time's they are a-changing.

The future aint what it used to be either.

Are you prepared for the new buying climate? Several articles of late are referring to this new future that lies ahead. One such article said by Spring/Summer 2010 we will definitely be seeing an upswing in the economy. I am not equipped to speak to that other than to say "I certainly hope they're right!!"

Presuming they are, lets think about the new, more cautious climate our buyers will be operating in. Your clients (and ours!) will be much more critical and careful when making a spend. According to the Harvard Business Review (as quoted in the Tulsa Metro Chamber newsletter), even the affluent will show "discretionary thrift". They don't have to (because, ahem, they're affluent) but the theory goes that as a result of what we've all been through, we will all embrace such romantic things as "green consumerism", "demand for simplicity", "discretionary thrift" and "ethical consumerism".

During this renaissance time, America On Hold wants to remind you that custom messages on hold are indeed thrifty (cost/touch is pennies!!!), green (no animals are tested nor rain forests destroyed), simple (we do all the work for you!) and ethical (all messages are PG rated!).

Custom messages on hold: makes sense in all economies and climates!