Blog

Crisis call center resources, hotline operations, and product updates from Helpline Software.

Intelligent call routing: what it means (and what breaks)
5 min read

Intelligent call routing: what it means (and what breaks)

Intelligent routing is only smart if it stays observable under failure. This page explains safe signals, required fallbacks, and what makes routing fragile when reality gets messy.

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All-in-One On-Call Scheduling and Voice: How to Run On-Call Without Multiple Systems
12 min read

All-in-One On-Call Scheduling and Voice: How to Run On-Call Without Multiple Systems

Running on-call operations with separate scheduling and voice systems increases cost and operational risk. An all-in-one platform simplifies setup, reduces failures, and scales better for small teams.

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Call routing vs call forwarding: why forwarding fails under load
5 min read

Call routing vs call forwarding: why forwarding fails under load

Forwarding is a destination rule. Routing is a workflow with fallbacks and visibility. This page helps you decide when forwarding is enough, and when it becomes the reason you miss calls.

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What is call routing? A simple workflow explanation
7 min read

What is call routing? A simple workflow explanation

Call routing is the workflow logic that decides who gets an inbound call and what happens when they cannot answer. Here is a simple explanation with a real-world example you can apply.

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Call routing solutions: how they work and what to require
9 min read

Call routing solutions: how they work and what to require

If your calls cannot be missed, routing has to behave correctly when people are busy, unreachable, or schedules change. This guide shows what to require from a call routing solution so you can prove what happened and fix failures fast.

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Best Answering Service for Your Industry: Our Tips and Picks
17 min read

Best Answering Service for Your Industry: Our Tips and Picks

A practical guide to choosing an answering service by industry, with key evaluation criteria, pricing considerations, and recommended provider types.

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Direct to Advocate Calling
5 min read

Direct to Advocate Calling

Route calls directly to on-call advocates with real-time logic, language support, and mobile reception detection.

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Benefits of Using an After-Hours Answering Service
6 min read

Benefits of Using an After-Hours Answering Service

Enhance communication and stay available 24/7 with an after-hours answering service. Improve response times and ensure no important call goes unanswered.

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Best Call Forwarding Services to Look For in 2025
6 min read

Best Call Forwarding Services to Look For in 2025

Find the best call forwarding services for 2025. Compare top options for businesses and crisis centers, plus key features to ensure reliable call routing.

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How to Set Up a Hotline: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Crisis Call Center
9 min read

How to Set Up a Hotline: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Crisis Call Center

A practical guide to set up a hotline, covering planning, staffing, technology, and training for organizations ready to launch a crisis call center.

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Call Center Background Noise Cancellation
3 min read

Call Center Background Noise Cancellation

Improve call clarity with Helpline Software’s built-in noise cancellation. No apps needed—just clear, seamless conversations for hotlines and helplines.

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The Benefits of Shift Swap: Simplifying the Scheduling Process
6 min read

The Benefits of Shift Swap: Simplifying the Scheduling Process

Find out how an automated tool can revolutionize shift swaps and scheduling. Simplify processes, improve efficiency, and empower your team.

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We're Speaking At 2024 National Sexual Assault Conference
1 min read

We're Speaking At 2024 National Sexual Assault Conference

Interested in crisis line management? Attend our talk tomorrow for insights into the most innovative techniques.

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New Hotline Phone
3 min read

New Hotline Phone

Starting a new hotline? Discover how HelplineSoftware.com can help you find and configure the perfect phone number for your needs.

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Helpline Software unaffected by global CrowdStrike outage
1 min read

Helpline Software unaffected by global CrowdStrike outage

An update on the global CrowdStrike outage and why Helpline Software customers were not impacted, with links to learn more about our reliability.

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2024 MNADV Conference
1 min read

2024 MNADV Conference

Learn how our call forwarding system can support MNADV member agencies in crisis advocacy. Join us at the 2024 Biennial Conference!

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Automating line transfer
3 min read

Automating line transfer

Helpline Software has perfected a system to automatically transfer the line according to your custom schedules.

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EVAWI - End Violence Against Women Internation 2024
1 min read

EVAWI - End Violence Against Women Internation 2024

We're excited to be here at the 2024 EVAWI / End Violence Against Women International conference in San Diego, CA.

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Strategies for How To Prevent Burnout in Nonprofit Organizations
7 min read

Strategies for How To Prevent Burnout in Nonprofit Organizations

Strategic suggestions on how to prevent burnout that you can incorporate into your non-profit.

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Running a Hotline During Cellular Outage
3 min read

Running a Hotline During Cellular Outage

A national cellular outage could happen. Our helpline software allows you to monitor and resolve these issues automatically!

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How can we use IVR (Interactive Voice Response) for our hotline?
4 min read

How can we use IVR (Interactive Voice Response) for our hotline?

A well designed interactive voice response system can connect callers with your personnel quickly while saving you time.

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Hotline burnout solved with software
3 min read

Hotline burnout solved with software

Good crisis management software provides you with a burnout protection system that can tell you at a glance who is most at risk of burnout.

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Collaboration with the Florida Domestic Violence Collaborative
1 min read

Collaboration with the Florida Domestic Violence Collaborative

Collaboration with the Florida Domestic Violence Collaborative to understand and help resolve the most pressing hotline issues.

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Support Chat: learnings from launching a text and chat helpline
2 min read

Support Chat: learnings from launching a text and chat helpline

Providing support over chat is pretty different from providing support with voice, and technology such as read receipts can save a lot time.

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Number of rings - how NOT to optimize your hotline
3 min read

Number of rings - how NOT to optimize your hotline

In this article, one former crisis coordinator explains what they've learned from using number of rings to forward hotline calls to backups.

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2024 Helpline Innovations Virtual Summit
1 min read

2024 Helpline Innovations Virtual Summit

We'll be talking about new innovations to help ensure no crisis calls, chats, or texts are ever missed, and that burnout and caller/chatter hold times are minimized.

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RCC Crisis Coordinator Testimonial
2 min read

RCC Crisis Coordinator Testimonial

A former crisis coordinator shares how Helpline Software reduced missed contacts, improved routing visibility, and eased the daily operational burden.

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How to reduce hold times for survivors
3 min read

How to reduce hold times for survivors

Helpline Software helps agencies minimize hold times for survivors by utilizing technology to patch survivor calls to advocates quickly.

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National Sexual Assault Conference 2023
1 min read

National Sexual Assault Conference 2023

We’re at the National Sexual Assault Conference in San Francisco—stop by to say hello and learn about Helpline Software for crisis line teams.

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Bilingual answering service for crisis lines
5 min read

Bilingual answering service for crisis lines

Don't let language be a barrier to supporting someone in crisis. Choose the leading bilingual answering service for crisis lines.

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How To Choose The Perfect 24-Hour Answering Service
9 min read

How To Choose The Perfect 24-Hour Answering Service

HelplineSoftware.com provides the leading 24 Hour Answering Service for crisis lines like those operated by YWCA Greater LA and more.

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How To Solve Some Chronic 24/7 Hotline System Problems
10 min read

How To Solve Some Chronic 24/7 Hotline System Problems

Best practices to help hotline leaders solve common hotline system issues with phone, scheduling, text & chat, or burnout.

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Do You Really Know What Your 3rd Party Hotline Operator Says?
4 min read

Do You Really Know What Your 3rd Party Hotline Operator Says?

Your 3rd party hotline operator might be deterring callers and causing a lot of harm. Learn to identify and permanently fix these problems.

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Introducing The Hotline Inbox
2 min read

Introducing The Hotline Inbox

Save time and scale your volunteer program by consolidating voicemails, callback requests, and SARTs / Hospital Accompaniment requests.

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Tips to Keep Your Hotline From Going Down
4 min read

Tips to Keep Your Hotline From Going Down

Having your state, local, or national hotline going down temporarily can be very scary. Here's what you need to know.

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Burnout Protection: A Real Life Case Study
2 min read

Burnout Protection: A Real Life Case Study

Hotline burnout protection is tricky in real life, but our hotline management system can help. Here's a real live example.

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Reduce Burnout This Holiday Season With Inappropriate Caller Protection
2 min read

Reduce Burnout This Holiday Season With Inappropriate Caller Protection

Ways to reduce advocate burnout during high-volume seasons by handling prank and inappropriate callers, including blocking strategies and system support.

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Real Experiences with Helpline Software
1 min read

Real Experiences with Helpline Software

Watch real customer testimonials from crisis leaders at WestCOP and Monterey County Rape Crisis Center. See how Helpline Software transforms hotline support.

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