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    <fireside:genDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:34:32 +0000</fireside:genDate>
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    <title>CX without the BS - Episodes Tagged with “Tech Advisor Tips”</title>
    <link>https://cswithoutthebs.fireside.fm/tags/tech%20advisor%20tips</link>
    <pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
    <description>Most CX podcasts are built for Fortune 500 buyers with seven-figure budgets and dedicated transformation teams... This one isn't. CX Without the BS is for the technology advisors, IT leaders, and business owners working in the trenches of SMB and mid-market companies - the "forgotten 5000" who get pitched enterprise solutions they can't afford and ignored by vendors who don't think they're worth the support call. Host Brian Nichols brings real practitioner perspective from the unified communications and contact center space. No guru theater. No vendor hype. No recycled LinkedIn thought leadership dressed up as expertise. Just the actual conversations advisors and buyers need to be having... about why CX deployments fail, where vendors quietly cut corners, which product categories are oversold, and what questions you should be asking before you sign a three-year contract. Each episode pulls from real customer scenarios, market situations, and the framework laid out in Brian's book, The CX Compass. Some episodes are solo deep dives. Others bring in practitioners, advisors, and operators who can break down the mechanics of what actually works - and what's quietly broken behind the demo. If you're tired of buzzword bingo and ready for the version of CX nobody's willing to say out loud... you're in the right place. Subscribe, share it with an advisor or buyer who needs it, and let's cut through the noise together.</description>
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    <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
    <itunes:subtitle>Honest takes on customer experience and UCaaS for the SMB and mid-market buyers enterprise vendors forgot... hosted by Brian Nichols.</itunes:subtitle>
    <itunes:author>Brian Nichols</itunes:author>
    <itunes:summary>Most CX podcasts are built for Fortune 500 buyers with seven-figure budgets and dedicated transformation teams... This one isn't. CX Without the BS is for the technology advisors, IT leaders, and business owners working in the trenches of SMB and mid-market companies - the "forgotten 5000" who get pitched enterprise solutions they can't afford and ignored by vendors who don't think they're worth the support call. Host Brian Nichols brings real practitioner perspective from the unified communications and contact center space. No guru theater. No vendor hype. No recycled LinkedIn thought leadership dressed up as expertise. Just the actual conversations advisors and buyers need to be having... about why CX deployments fail, where vendors quietly cut corners, which product categories are oversold, and what questions you should be asking before you sign a three-year contract. Each episode pulls from real customer scenarios, market situations, and the framework laid out in Brian's book, The CX Compass. Some episodes are solo deep dives. Others bring in practitioners, advisors, and operators who can break down the mechanics of what actually works - and what's quietly broken behind the demo. If you're tired of buzzword bingo and ready for the version of CX nobody's willing to say out loud... you're in the right place. Subscribe, share it with an advisor or buyer who needs it, and let's cut through the noise together.</itunes:summary>
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    <itunes:keywords>CX podcast, customer experience, UCaaS, CCaaS, contact center, unified communications, technology advisors, channel partners, TSD, SMB technology, mid-market IT, vendor evaluation, CX strategy, customer service technology, Brian Nichols, CX Compass, business communications, cloud communications, customer engagement, sales enablement, B2B technology buying, IT decision makers, Telarus, agent experience, omnichannel</itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:owner>
      <itunes:name>Brian Nichols</itunes:name>
      <itunes:email>brian@briannicholsconsulting.com</itunes:email>
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  <title>5 Warning Signs Your Support Is Failing</title>
  <link>https://cswithoutthebs.fireside.fm/5-warning-signs-your-support-is-failing</link>
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  <pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Brian Nichols</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/b6ecde51-9751-4bc2-8830-d814180321a2/a9d7f0cf-8e45-452a-aa98-79097b5369dc.mp3" length="11419616" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Brian Nichols</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>Your support system might be quietly chasing away your best customers. In this episode of CX Without the BS, I break down 5 sneaky signs your CX is failing — and how to fix it fast.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>11:53</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>yes</itunes:explicit>
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  <description>&lt;p&gt;Is your customer support system quietly driving people away? &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;You might think things are fine, but if your repeat customers are disappearing, your team is burning out, or your reviews are getting passive-aggressive... you’ve got a problem. And the kicker? Most businesses have no idea it's happening. In this episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into five sneaky red flags that show your support system is broken — and what to do about it before your customers bounce for good.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We’re not just talking about support agents here. We're talking to you — business owners, IT leads, and especially technology advisors who are out there selling UCaaS and contact center solutions. If your clients don’t know what their hold times are or how many support calls go to voicemail, there’s opportunity on the table. We’ll show you how to spot failing systems and how to turn them into competitive advantages.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;From low-key customer ghosting to review sections filled with “love the product, hate the service,” these warning signs are everywhere — and we break each one down with real talk, not theory. You’ll hear exactly what to look for, how to bring it up in a conversation, and why “It’s fine” is the most dangerous feedback your customer can give.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We’ll talk about why most support reps aren't the problem — their broken tools are. And we'll call out why ticket ping-pong is killing resolution time and frustrating your customers. Whether you're an advisor looking to land new deals or a business owner who wants fewer fires, the solutions we outline here are tactical, practical, and immediately usable.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Bottom line: good support isn’t just a retention tool — it's a revenue driver. And if you're not actively fixing the cracks in your support process, you're leaking money and trust every single day. Listen now and learn how to plug the holes, rebuild trust, and make your business — or your client’s — the kind people rave about instead of run from. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>customer support mistakes, bad support signs, fix support issues, tech advisor tips, UCaaS sales, customer retention, CX without the BS, small business churn, customer service problems, support burnout, call center issues, how to improve customer service, customer ghosting, contact center help, CX strategy, business support system, support red flags, ticket escalation problems, SMB support tips, business growth tools</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>Is your customer support system quietly driving people away? </p>

<p>You might think things are fine, but if your repeat customers are disappearing, your team is burning out, or your reviews are getting passive-aggressive... you’ve got a problem. And the kicker? Most businesses have no idea it's happening. In this episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into five sneaky red flags that show your support system is broken — and what to do about it before your customers bounce for good.</p>

<p>We’re not just talking about support agents here. We're talking to you — business owners, IT leads, and especially technology advisors who are out there selling UCaaS and contact center solutions. If your clients don’t know what their hold times are or how many support calls go to voicemail, there’s opportunity on the table. We’ll show you how to spot failing systems and how to turn them into competitive advantages.</p>

<p>From low-key customer ghosting to review sections filled with “love the product, hate the service,” these warning signs are everywhere — and we break each one down with real talk, not theory. You’ll hear exactly what to look for, how to bring it up in a conversation, and why “It’s fine” is the most dangerous feedback your customer can give.</p>

<p>We’ll talk about why most support reps aren't the problem — their broken tools are. And we'll call out why ticket ping-pong is killing resolution time and frustrating your customers. Whether you're an advisor looking to land new deals or a business owner who wants fewer fires, the solutions we outline here are tactical, practical, and immediately usable.</p>

<p>Bottom line: good support isn’t just a retention tool — it's a revenue driver. And if you're not actively fixing the cracks in your support process, you're leaking money and trust every single day. Listen now and learn how to plug the holes, rebuild trust, and make your business — or your client’s — the kind people rave about instead of run from.</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>Is your customer support system quietly driving people away? </p>

<p>You might think things are fine, but if your repeat customers are disappearing, your team is burning out, or your reviews are getting passive-aggressive... you’ve got a problem. And the kicker? Most businesses have no idea it's happening. In this episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into five sneaky red flags that show your support system is broken — and what to do about it before your customers bounce for good.</p>

<p>We’re not just talking about support agents here. We're talking to you — business owners, IT leads, and especially technology advisors who are out there selling UCaaS and contact center solutions. If your clients don’t know what their hold times are or how many support calls go to voicemail, there’s opportunity on the table. We’ll show you how to spot failing systems and how to turn them into competitive advantages.</p>

<p>From low-key customer ghosting to review sections filled with “love the product, hate the service,” these warning signs are everywhere — and we break each one down with real talk, not theory. You’ll hear exactly what to look for, how to bring it up in a conversation, and why “It’s fine” is the most dangerous feedback your customer can give.</p>

<p>We’ll talk about why most support reps aren't the problem — their broken tools are. And we'll call out why ticket ping-pong is killing resolution time and frustrating your customers. Whether you're an advisor looking to land new deals or a business owner who wants fewer fires, the solutions we outline here are tactical, practical, and immediately usable.</p>

<p>Bottom line: good support isn’t just a retention tool — it's a revenue driver. And if you're not actively fixing the cracks in your support process, you're leaking money and trust every single day. Listen now and learn how to plug the holes, rebuild trust, and make your business — or your client’s — the kind people rave about instead of run from.</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
</item>
<item>
  <title>5 Mistakes SMBs Make When Choosing UCaaS (and How to Avoid Them)</title>
  <link>https://cswithoutthebs.fireside.fm/5-mistakes-smbs-make-when-choosing-ucaas-and-how-to-avoid-them</link>
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  <pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
  <author>Brian Nichols</author>
  <enclosure url="https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/b6ecde51-9751-4bc2-8830-d814180321a2/1a1fffc5-bc4d-44a5-9c65-d0ffad224cdf.mp3" length="7469656" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
  <itunes:author>Brian Nichols</itunes:author>
  <itunes:subtitle>In this episode, we uncover the five critical mistakes SMBs make when choosing a UCaaS provider – and how you can avoid them to save time, money, and stress.</itunes:subtitle>
  <itunes:duration>7:46</itunes:duration>
  <itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
  <itunes:image href="https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/b/b6ecde51-9751-4bc2-8830-d814180321a2/cover.jpg?v=1"/>
  <description>&lt;p&gt;Are You Making These 5 Mistakes When Choosing Your UC Provider?&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In today's episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into one of the most critical decisions SMBs make – choosing the right UCaaS provider. This choice can make or break your business, but so many small and mid-sized businesses end up in costly, regret-filled contracts because they overlooked these simple, yet critical factors. Whether you're a technology advisor or an internal IT leader, don't miss these crucial insights that could save you from years of headaches and frustration. Ready to avoid the pitfalls? Keep watching.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Choosing the cheapest UCaaS option can sound tempting, but often, it’s a recipe for disaster. We break down how prioritizing price over value can leave your business scrambling for costly repairs and upgrades. But it’s not just about cheap options – it's about ensuring that the UC system you choose works with your business, not against it. We’ll give you a better way to think about value – so your system actually works for you.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Next, we tackle one of the biggest traps – long-term contracts. How many SMBs get locked into 3+ year agreements with providers they’ve only just met? It's a nightmare waiting to happen. We're here to show you why flexibility isn’t just nice – it’s necessary. Don't let a vendor lock you into a bad deal. We've got the insights on how to avoid being stuck in contracts that don't serve you.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Support can make or break your UC experience. In this episode, we discuss how many SMBs assume 24/7 support is a given, but more often than not, they get stuck with chatbots and slow responses. If your phones go down during rush hour, do you want to talk to a bot, or do you want someone who knows your system inside and out? Tune in to learn what truly good support looks like and how to get it.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Many SMBs miss out on key reporting and visibility tools that are crucial for tracking call data, performance, and customer experience. Flying blind in your business is not an option anymore. We’re showing you how visibility can give you the power to improve, optimize, and grow, so your system can actually help you make better decisions.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Finally, don't overlook the importance of integrations. We dive into how UCaaS systems should work seamlessly with your CRM, calendar, and other tools. A disconnected system is a fragmented system, and we’ll show you how to ensure your provider can integrate and enhance your existing tools – without costing you extra.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you’re ready to make smarter, more informed decisions about your UCaaS provider, this episode is for you. Stay tuned for a quick wrap-up, and hear how Level365 offers SMBs month-to-month contracts, real support, and integrations that actually work. &lt;/p&gt;
</description>
  <itunes:keywords>UCaaS, SMB mistakes, customer experience, unified communications, support issues, long-term contracts, UCaaS integrations, small business tech, phone system mistakes, SMB tech advice, UCaaS providers, best UCaaS for SMBs, flexible contracts, reporting tools, phone support, SMB UCaaS mistakes, cheap UCaaS problems, tech advisor tips, business communications, call data, UCaaS pitfalls</itunes:keywords>
  <content:encoded>
    <![CDATA[<p>Are You Making These 5 Mistakes When Choosing Your UC Provider?</p>

<p>In today's episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into one of the most critical decisions SMBs make – choosing the right UCaaS provider. This choice can make or break your business, but so many small and mid-sized businesses end up in costly, regret-filled contracts because they overlooked these simple, yet critical factors. Whether you're a technology advisor or an internal IT leader, don't miss these crucial insights that could save you from years of headaches and frustration. Ready to avoid the pitfalls? Keep watching.</p>

<p>Choosing the cheapest UCaaS option can sound tempting, but often, it’s a recipe for disaster. We break down how prioritizing price over value can leave your business scrambling for costly repairs and upgrades. But it’s not just about cheap options – it's about ensuring that the UC system you choose works with your business, not against it. We’ll give you a better way to think about value – so your system actually works for you.</p>

<p>Next, we tackle one of the biggest traps – long-term contracts. How many SMBs get locked into 3+ year agreements with providers they’ve only just met? It's a nightmare waiting to happen. We're here to show you why flexibility isn’t just nice – it’s necessary. Don't let a vendor lock you into a bad deal. We've got the insights on how to avoid being stuck in contracts that don't serve you.</p>

<p>Support can make or break your UC experience. In this episode, we discuss how many SMBs assume 24/7 support is a given, but more often than not, they get stuck with chatbots and slow responses. If your phones go down during rush hour, do you want to talk to a bot, or do you want someone who knows your system inside and out? Tune in to learn what truly good support looks like and how to get it.</p>

<p>Many SMBs miss out on key reporting and visibility tools that are crucial for tracking call data, performance, and customer experience. Flying blind in your business is not an option anymore. We’re showing you how visibility can give you the power to improve, optimize, and grow, so your system can actually help you make better decisions.</p>

<p>Finally, don't overlook the importance of integrations. We dive into how UCaaS systems should work seamlessly with your CRM, calendar, and other tools. A disconnected system is a fragmented system, and we’ll show you how to ensure your provider can integrate and enhance your existing tools – without costing you extra.</p>

<p>If you’re ready to make smarter, more informed decisions about your UCaaS provider, this episode is for you. Stay tuned for a quick wrap-up, and hear how Level365 offers SMBs month-to-month contracts, real support, and integrations that actually work.</p>]]>
  </content:encoded>
  <itunes:summary>
    <![CDATA[<p>Are You Making These 5 Mistakes When Choosing Your UC Provider?</p>

<p>In today's episode of CX Without the BS, we're diving into one of the most critical decisions SMBs make – choosing the right UCaaS provider. This choice can make or break your business, but so many small and mid-sized businesses end up in costly, regret-filled contracts because they overlooked these simple, yet critical factors. Whether you're a technology advisor or an internal IT leader, don't miss these crucial insights that could save you from years of headaches and frustration. Ready to avoid the pitfalls? Keep watching.</p>

<p>Choosing the cheapest UCaaS option can sound tempting, but often, it’s a recipe for disaster. We break down how prioritizing price over value can leave your business scrambling for costly repairs and upgrades. But it’s not just about cheap options – it's about ensuring that the UC system you choose works with your business, not against it. We’ll give you a better way to think about value – so your system actually works for you.</p>

<p>Next, we tackle one of the biggest traps – long-term contracts. How many SMBs get locked into 3+ year agreements with providers they’ve only just met? It's a nightmare waiting to happen. We're here to show you why flexibility isn’t just nice – it’s necessary. Don't let a vendor lock you into a bad deal. We've got the insights on how to avoid being stuck in contracts that don't serve you.</p>

<p>Support can make or break your UC experience. In this episode, we discuss how many SMBs assume 24/7 support is a given, but more often than not, they get stuck with chatbots and slow responses. If your phones go down during rush hour, do you want to talk to a bot, or do you want someone who knows your system inside and out? Tune in to learn what truly good support looks like and how to get it.</p>

<p>Many SMBs miss out on key reporting and visibility tools that are crucial for tracking call data, performance, and customer experience. Flying blind in your business is not an option anymore. We’re showing you how visibility can give you the power to improve, optimize, and grow, so your system can actually help you make better decisions.</p>

<p>Finally, don't overlook the importance of integrations. We dive into how UCaaS systems should work seamlessly with your CRM, calendar, and other tools. A disconnected system is a fragmented system, and we’ll show you how to ensure your provider can integrate and enhance your existing tools – without costing you extra.</p>

<p>If you’re ready to make smarter, more informed decisions about your UCaaS provider, this episode is for you. Stay tuned for a quick wrap-up, and hear how Level365 offers SMBs month-to-month contracts, real support, and integrations that actually work.</p>]]>
  </itunes:summary>
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