People want to see results today – immediate results. Waiting for calls from a voice mail is not an acceptable solution. Playing telephone tag will not get you anywhere in business today. It is essential that you rely on a professional answering service, especially if you are an entrepreneur or start-up that is building a name in the business community.
You also need an answering service if you are a large company that needs backup assistance with respect to temporary cover, message taking, and overflow call handling. Businesses and companies that utilize these professional answering services include catering and leisure establishments, scientific companies, health and beauty businesses, and contractors in the building trades.
A Way to Save and Make Money at the Same Time
Regardless of the size of your business, using a professional answering service can also save and make you money. When you have a professional operator answering your calls and are not directing them to voice mail, the operator can answer any basic questions that cannot be answered by a machine. Also, you can set up service so you only pay for the calls that are answered and directed to your business. As a result, accounting is made much easier when you opt for this form of communication.
Redirecting Calls
To divert calls to an answering service provider, you can easily set up your phone line to instantly direct the calls to a professional operator. You typically can choose from one of three diversion packages. The most popular way to divert calls is to re-direct them when your phone line is engaged or when there is not reply after approximately 15 seconds. So, even if you are on another call, you need not worry. The answering service can pick up any important calls that you may happen to miss.
Another way to re-direct calls is to only divert the calls when your phone line is busy. When this happens, the call will be transferred, without delay, to a receptionist.
The third re-direct that is used by answering service customers is to divert all the calls to a professional receptionist. Using this method ensures that you will not miss any of the calls that your business receives – they will all be diverted to experienced operators. This particular service is especially helpful if your office is not staffed or you are on holiday.
Remember, regardless of how you choose to re-direct your calls, you are in total control of how the calls are handled. This means you know who has contacted you and that you have full latitude when it comes to communicating with clients, peers, and customers.
Every company and organization, no matter what its size, will miss telephone calls. Usually calls are missed because a receptionist or operator is already engaged on a phone call. When this happens, the calls are normally held in a queue. As a result, callers become impatient and hang up. Re-directing the calls to a professional phone answering service lessens any ill feelings that may ultimately result.
Total Reassurance
Whenever a call is re-directed to a professional phone answering service, you can be assured that the message will be taken so you can return the call without difficulty. When this approach is used, callers believe they are still speaking to your company and feel reassured that their calls will be returned without problems for delays.
When choosing a professional telephone answering service, make sure you choose a company that is UK-based and handles a variety of business-type calls. Answering services should be set up to manage any calls that call for temporary cover, message taking, and overflow call handling. When you align your business with a phone answering company, you are better able to control your communications inside and outside of your company.
You also want to work with a service provider that can update the phone package you choose without any kind of penalty. Business needs change and so does the call volume. Therefore, make sure you choose a provider who can adjust your package of services to one that meets your current call requirements if necessary.
When it comes to providing receptionists with information, companies normally provide their fax number, e-mail address, postal address, and website information. Customers do not call in expecting a receptionist to know all there is about a company. They will be happy if they reach a live operator and receive a return call from the party they are trying to reach. After all, the best person to talk to about a company’s products and services is the owner or one of the owner’s associates.
If you find a phone answering service that offers all-inclusive services, the first step is to call the business and discuss your company’s telephone communications needs. That way, you can get a better idea of the total cost and how you can use the service in the most opportune way. Think about what you need from a receptionist service. Do you simply need calls to be redirected, or do you need a phone answering service for temporary cover as well?
You don’t have to confine your service needs to merely message taking today. A phone answering service can be a great aid to anyone who also needs overflow call needs met and temporary cover too. Regardless of your area of expertise, telephone communications are the key component to increased revenue and a healthy customer base.
Once you sit down with a phone answering service provider, you can develop a customised plan for your telephone communication needs. Focusing on expanding your business operations cannot be done if you don’t have your communication requirements covered. While advancements in technology make it possible for us to forego many traditional vehicles of communication, they still cannot replace a human being when it comes to customer service. To prevent any issues in communication, turn to a reliable service provider – talk to a phone answering company that knows why human communications are important to a business’s survival.
