A Tip From the 2010 Census: Boost Your Business With a Bilingual Answering Service - By: Robin H.

If one in ten calls to your voice mail results in a hang-up, there may be a good reason: No habla Espanol.


The US Census is releasing the results from the 2010 census and has revealed a vital demographic fact that affects all businesses: the estimated Hispanic population in the US is now above 48 million people. What does that mean for your business? Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Hispanics comprise 16 percent of the population, the largest ethnic demographic.


• Of the 48 million Hispanics, two-thirds are of Mexican origin: the largest Hispanic sub-group.


• Spanish is spoken at home by 35 million people in the US: 12 percent of the population.


• Over two million businesses in the US are owned by Hispanics.


• Of all Hispanic-owned firms, over 45 percent are owned by people of Mexican origin, an increase of over 47 percent in five years.


• Hispanic-owned businesses generated over 345 billion dollars in 2007; $155.5 billion alone by businesses owned by persons of Mexican origin.


• Over 70 percent of all Mexican origin-owned businesses in the US are in either California (36.1 percent) or Texas (34.4 percent): 16.5 percent of all businesses in Texas.


• The projected Hispanic population by the year 2050 is 132.8 million: 30 percent of the total US population.

What does this mean for your business, and how can you tap in to this vast potential customer base? The first and biggest step is to break the language barrier, and the fastest way to do that is to utilize a bilingual answering service. Since 12 percent of the population speaks Spanish that may sound simple, but for optimum business growth you need more than a sunny “Buenos Dias” or an automated voice mail system with a Spanish option to handle your business answering services. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing a bilingual answering service:

• Experience: while offshore services may be more economical, keep in mind that you often get only what you pay for. Look for a company with years of experience in the call center business.


• References: make sure the company you choose can provide references and customer testimonials, and look for a business that has garnered industry awards.


• Availability: choose a business answering service that offers 24/7 accessibility 365 days a year, with backup available during power outages and other emergency situations.


• Options: look for business answering companies that offer a variety of service time options, such as evenings and weekends, while you’re at meetings or out of the office, or all day, every day.


• Services: while many companies offer bilingual operators, look for a company that can do more. A top of the line business answering service should work with you to understand your company needs and be able to gather specific lead information from the potential client.

With a reputable, full-spectrum bilingual answering service you can rest assured that you’ve taken a big step in tapping in to the biggest and fastest growing demographic in the US today—a savvy move that will boost your business for decades.

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