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.

About AboutBail.com
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.

6 Reasons Bail Professionals Need to Market on the Web

The Internet has quickly gone from being a luxury to an essential. People turn to the internet for almost everything – including finding help for their bail needs. Here are six profitable reasons to market your bail business on the web:

1. Your customers are there
Studies show that 70 percent of the population has Internet access and 98 percent of lawyers use computers. People now use computers all day in their workplace, and turn to the Internet to find service providers. If your customers are in front of a computer, they are more likely to do a search online than get up and look for the phone book.

2. Most cost-effective form of advertising
Most bail professionals know how expensive it can be to compete. One advertisement in the phone book can cost thousands of dollars per month. The limitation of phone books is that you are only reaching the people in the city or county who receive that phone book. By advertising on the web, you are reaching more people at a much lower cost.

3. Grow your business by reaching new markets.
Not only are you getting more exposure on the web, but you are reaching customers that you probably wouldn't have acquired otherwise. Indemnitors who are not in the same city as the friend or loved one they need to bail out don't have access to a local phone book. Going to online bail directories such as AboutBail.com or doing a web search gives them the ability to find what they need quickly and easily.

4. Larger, more quality bonds
Bail professionals who advertise on the web notice that they receive better bonds, and they see more business-related charges. Those who use the web tend to be in a more affluent demographic. The indemnitors who find bail businesses online are more likely to be parents or loved ones who have collateral and money for the premium.

5. Most effective form of advertising, moving forward
If you haven’t done so already, you need to build your foundation on the web. The web is like real estate. Perhaps you wish you would have bought a property for $50,000 10 years ago because today it is worth $500,000. You want to start investing in your business’ future today; stake your claim now.

6. Your competition is there
Take a look at some of your most successful competitors. Chances are they established an online presence awhile ago. The web can be a great equalizer. It allows small or growing companies to compete with the largest businesses on an even playing field. If you embrace the web as a marketing channel for your bail agency, you can gain ground and increase your lead on the competition.

Marketing your bail business on the web is essential. Not only is advertising online cost-effective, but it is a great way to reach new demographics. The web can help you reach new customers, get high-quality bail bonds and stay competitive with similar bail businesses. Putting your bail business on the web is one of the best ways to position your company as a leader in the industry for years to come.