Five Resolutions for Your Bail Business

The new year holds many possibilities. It is a time to renew old goals and set new ones. Now is the perfect time to reevaluate your goals for your bail business. Be sure to set measurable goals so you can go back and evaluate your progress. These are the top five resolutions we would suggest in 2008:

1. Work With Your Employees on Client Communication. Be confident that your team of bail professionals is just that – professional. Now is a great time to sit down and refresh your team on the basics of good customer service. You should consistently communicate to your clients and potential customers in a calm, polite manner that puts the client at ease. Put yourself in the client’s position. They are already nervous and unsure of how the bail process works. Remember, it’s your responsibility to make this process as smooth as possible. This starts with the little details. Answering your phone, “Good Afternoon, Bill’s Bail Bonds” leaves a much different first impression than shouting “Bail Bonds” into the receiver. There is more competition in the bail business than ever before and you need to do everything you can to stay on top. 2. Accept Credit Cards. If you don’t already accept credit cards, now is the time to start. The benefits significantly outweigh not accepting them. First, you can get paid quicker. You don’t have to worry about checks bouncing, and the bank fees that come along with them. Credit card companies handle collections so you don’t have to. When you are not concerned with collections you can devote more time to your bail business. Secondly, you will attract more customers, which in turn expands your business. Credit cards are more readily available than cash - especially for people who are bailing out a loved one from out of state. People using your services often are upset and nervous; by simplifying the payment process you will make this experience much easier on them. 3. Utilize Technology to Save Time. If you’re not currently using a software program to assist with daily business operations, look into it in 2008. Many software packages are tailored exclusively for bail agents. They can help you manage daily tasks such as bonds, automate your accounting, and communicate with clients and surety companies. The time software saves you will quickly offset the cost. For bail agents who are always on the go, the ability to keep in touch with the office is of the utmost importance. The capabilities of mobile technology are rapidly growing, and you should be benefiting from this. With wireless cards from Sprint and Verizon, some bail agents have mobile offices in their vehicles equipped with printers and everything needed to complete the bail process while at the jail. Take advantage of wireless technology so wherever you are, you are always being as efficient as possible. 4. Create, Review, Update and Optimize Your Website. If you don't already have a website you need to build one in 2008. Having an online presence is essential in a world where more and more people are using the Internet to find services they need. It's critical that your website can be easily found (read our new series on Search Engine Marketing for more details), contains current contact information on every page and properly represents your company. Review your website on a quarterly basis to be positive that the image you’re portraying to potential customers is an accurate depiction of your company. 5. Evaluate Your Surety Relationships. Is your surety company helping to make you successful? Your surety company has many responsibilities, among them are to provide excellent agent service and offer knowledge and experience to help you. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to evaluate your contract and relationship with your surety company. You should make sure that you’re getting the best value for your money. There is a trend in the industry of value added surety. Is your company passive or active in this? Your surety company should be a leader in agent service and place your needs first. If you need help executing any of these resolutions, contact Terrence Joyce, AboutBail.com Brand Manger, at (866) 411-2245 x89 or contact us online.

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Since 2001 AboutBail.com has been a resource for locating bail bond agents, criminal lawyers and bail recovery agents anywhere in the United States. The goal of AboutBail.com is to help our users and their loved ones in their time of need.