{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Nathan Strum on Why First Impressions Drive Business Growth","description":"  When a client calls your business\u2026 what does your voice communicate? Confidence? Clarity? Chaos? Enjoyed talking with Nathan Strum, CEO of Abby Connect, about why the first 7 seconds of a call can shape lifetime value. Here are 3 takeaways: 1 - Culture Beats Training You can\u2019t script care. If the internal culture is strong, callers feel it immediately. 2 - AI Done Right Feels Human In a 500,000-call study, escalation rates were nearly identical between AI and live receptionists. When built around human experience, technology supports connection \u2014 it doesn\u2019t replace it. 3 - Your Phone Is a Revenue LeverEvery incoming call is a decision point. Handled well, it builds trust. Handled poorly, it sends them somewhere else. Most companies obsess over marketing. Few obsess over the moment someone actually reaches out. That moment? That\u2019s where growth compounds\u2026 or disappears. First impressions aren\u2019t small details. They\u2019re the foundation. &amp;nbsp; --- Nathan Strum is the CEO and co-founder of Abby Connect, where for the past 20 years, they've been helping small businesses make exceptional first impressions with professional, friendly receptionists who feel like part of their team. Now, they're taking that experience and expertise into the next chapter \u2014 combining human connection with the efficiency of AI through their new AI Receptionist. What\u2019s driving this shift? Small businesses need to be responsive 24\/7, but they also want personal service that doesn\u2019t feel robotic. After 18 months of development and two months of real-world beta testing, we\u2019re excited to bring this hybrid approach to market \u2014 giving businesses the best of both worlds. As a founder who\u2019s spent two decades focused on customer experience, Nathan is passionate about technology that enhances service, not replaces it. I\u2019m also learning that after 20 years behind the scenes, there\u2019s value in stepping out and sharing what they've learned along the way \u2014 especially at a time when AI is rewriting the rules of customer communication. -- Abby Connect is U.S.-based answering service that embodies the warmth and professionalism of a dedicated member of your team, always ready to help. Abby has been serving the communication needs of businesses like yours for 20 years.     Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter:&amp;nbsp;@jdwoskin Facebook:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/jonathan.dwoskin  Instagram:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thejondwoskinexperience\/  Website:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/jondwoskin.com\/LinkedIn:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jondwoskin\/  Email:&amp;nbsp;jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book:&amp;nbsp;The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big! Connect with Jordan B. Segal:Website:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/maddinhauser.com\/people\/jordan-b-segal  LinkedIn:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jordan-segal-b0b7047  Facebook:&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/jordan.segal.2025     *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast.   ","author_name":"Coffee with Jon - Think Big. Get Unstuck. Grow Your Business","author_url":"https:\/\/jondwoskin.com\/jons-think-business-podcast\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41835615\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/203430610"}