Call recording equipment has long been used in a variety of industries, to provide the best customer service and also to avoid many legal issues that can arise from dissatisfied customers. Most businesses, however, only need their phone call recording equipment to retrieve phone numbers, addresses, and other information to better address the customer's needs.

Phone recorders come in a variety of styles and often have different functions, so using phone recorders in your business comes down to choosing the right telephone recorders for your phone system. The most common types of telephone recording equipment are:

1. Call capture systems that can replay telephone conversations.

2. Digital voice capture solutions that provide clear quality.

3. VOIP phone recorders that allow you to record calls over the Internet.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Stick with the phone recorders basics and choose a tape system

Cassette tape phone call recorders are the simplest way to get a phone call on record. This technology is standard for many call centers around the world and allows telephone operators to review calls as soon as they are completed.

I recommend: TelephoneCallRecorder.com offers many models of cassette tape phone call recorders, including models that have extra features. Some models can record the conversation plus the time and date that it took place. To find the right model for your business, check out "7 Features to Look for in Phone Recorders" from the Cyber Shopping Blog.

Choose digital phone recording solutions for better sound quality

Digital phone recorders not only provide you with a better way to play back the phone conversations, but digital recordings also have better sound quality than any analog option you can use. This can enhance customer service when you need to pull information from a call.

I recommend: BrickHouseSecurity.com offers many digital phone recorders. To choose the right digital phone recorder for your business, check out the many product reviews of digital phone recorders from CNET.

Consider VOIP phone recorders for your business

Many individuals and companies are switching from traditional phone services to Internet phone services, also known as voice over internet protocol (VOIP). The best way to record calls with VOIP system is to invest in VOIP phone recorders. These are computer programs that run while you are on the phone with customers, and allow you to replay the call afterward.

I recommend: VOIP offers many articles related to the workings of VOIP systems and VOIP recorders. Rifco Mobile offers information about how VOIP recording cuts recording system costs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  No matter what call capture system your business is using, make sure you properly train your employees on the system to provide the best customer service possible.

Phone call recording equipment is useful in many businesses. Check a customer’s phone order firsthand by playing back the original call. Save all your phone calls inbound and out, to provide fail-safe records. Telephone recorders provide firsthand feedback about your employees calls. Do your customers hear cheerful, helpful workers anxious to give them the best customer service? Find out with telephone recording equipment.

Call recording equipment does not have to be expensive to be functional, and you can choose the appropriate hardware or software business phone recorders that are right for your business. Look for:

1. Equipment to record phone calls.

2. Internet based phone-recording equipment.

3. Know the telephone recording equipment laws.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase cassette based telephone recorders

Record all of your phone calls inbound and out using cassette based hardware. There is no limit on how many calls you can record; just buy more cassettes as they fill up. Label each cassette by date or other criteria of your choice.

I recommend: Ahern offers phone call recording equipment that is cassette based and loaded with features. P5090 - P3 Deluxe Phone Information Recorder w/Caller ID comes with time/date stamp,inbound/outbound recording, AC adaptor or optional battery pack and more. If you are on the road and you need to record your phone calls, Radio Shack has the Mini Recorder Control that connects to any phone and any cassette player to provide 2-way phone recording anywhere, anytime.

Choose computer software phone recorders

Software phone recorders provide solutions to your phone recorder needs for your business. Most are plug and play, which makes for ease in installation and use. The only limit on how many calls you can record is the size of your hard drive. Many systems will continue to record new calls for you when you reach your limit, by overwriting the oldest calls.

I recommend: NCH offers phone recording software so you can record your phone calls using your computer. They also provide a free demo, so try before you buy. They provide step-by-step installation guides--pick your system and follow the steps. The system records inbound and outbound calls and acts as a caller ID.

Know the laws for using call recording equipment

Before you begin using your phone recording equipment, check the law in your state. Many states have a law that only requires one party to agree to the recording, but some states have laws that state all parties must agree.

I recommend: Find the law in your state for recording telephone calls. Just click your state on the map provided, and acquaint yourself with the laws you must follow. General information about taping phone calls is also available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Your phone recorder can make an announcement that it is recording the call. If your business makes calls to all 50 states, using such a recording ensures that you are following the particular state law even when you are in one state and your caller is in another.

Obtaining phone recorders education and training can help you ensure that you maximize the benefits of using phone recording equipment as a coaching and training tool in your office. Another benefit of using phone call recording equipment is that it can be useful in resolving customer disputes.

There are a range of benefits to using phone recorders including helping businesses monitor customer service quality. Phone recording equipment also allows businesses to verify data order details and other business conversations. Companies also regularly use professional phone recording equipment to collect valuable marketing and sales data. Phone recorders training enables businesses to properly install phone recording equipment and ensures that businesses are compliant with all state and federal laws when using their call capture system. Obtaining the necessary phone recorders education and training can help you:

1. Learn more about the laws governing telephone recorders.

2. Obtain instructions on how to properly and legally use phone recorders.

3. Research best practices for using phone call recording equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Educate yourself on the legal aspects of using call recording equipment

While phone recorders can be useful for coaching and training staff on proper business call etiquette, it's important that businesses read up on all laws pertaining to recording calls. To avoid possible lawsuits, businesses should educate their staff on all applicable state and federal laws.

I recommend: Read more about professional phone recording laws by visiting The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. You may also read more about federal laws governing business phone recorders by visiting Lawyers.com.

Seek technical training on setting up phone recorder equipment

After you have decided to use phone recorders in your business, it's important to learn how to record customer calls. There are four recording options: trunk, extension, VoIP network or handset. Each option has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

I recommend: Check out Versadial to obtain instruction on how to record calls. You may also consider obtaining training from VPI University Training Services for recording and retrieving and playing back calls recorded with call capture equipment.

Consult with telephone recording equipment professionals

Implementing a call capture system can help you create benchmarks and implement practical and measurable coaching for your customer service staff. Consulting with a call center coach can help you enhance the service your business provides to its customers.

I recommend: Consider contacting BPA Worldwide for professional coaching on using phone recorders. You may also contact CallCoach for professional advice on call capture systems.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Another way to obtain phone recorder education and training is by enrolling in a business coach certification program. The coursework of business coaching schools helps companies learn how to maximize sales and marketing opportunities and use phone recording systems to coach staff and drive sales.

Phone recorders are necessary in your business to record information that is exchanged between you and another party over the phone. This information is binding, and you can use information recorded through your phone recorder to prove the conversation occurred and what was said in that conversation. Phone recorders come in different types and styles, and there are certain features you should consider when you shop. Examine these phone recorders key terms to help you understand your options.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cassette tape phone call recorders

Cassette tape phone call recorders are the basic type of phone recorder, and they're one of the easiest for you to operate. You can purchase affordable cassette tapes, used to record the information, at local retailers, so they're easy to find.

I recommend: You can read about cassette tape phone call recorders, and see a selection that includes available features, at TelephoneCallRecorder.com.

Digital voice recorders

Digital voice recorders are the next generation of phone recorders. The audio file is stored on digital files inside the device, meaning you don't need a cassette to record your conversations.

I recommend: Covert Systems Group explains the benefits of digital voice recorders.

Mini recorder control

Mini recorder controls attach to your phone's handset to record the conversation. To make it work, you'll need to connect it to a cassette recorder with the appropriate size of microphone jack.

I recommend: RadioShack provides details about their mini recorder control on its website.

Phone recording software

Phone recording software allows you to download software designed to record your telephone calls. Depending on your set up, you can have phone recording software record your telephone calls through a server or your phone line connected to a modem.

I recommend: NCH Software explains the goal of phone recording software and offers information about different types of phone recording software available for download.

Call recording

Call recording occurs when you attach a recording device, like a phone recorder, to a telephone for the purpose of recording the conversation. Other terms used in place of call recording include telephone recording, voice logging and agent monitoring.

I recommend: BrickHouseSecurity.com defines call recording and its use in the business setting.

Clarity

Clarity is the quality of the sound captured by your phone recorder. A phone recorder with a good clarity allows you to listen to the recording and clearly understand all of the voices involved, without annoying background noise.

I recommend: The Cyber Shopping Blog defines clarity and other features you should consider when you purchase a phone recorder.