subject: Reduce Overhead And Save Money Using A Business Answering Service [print this page] If you are still looking for ways to reduce business overhead yet provide the same -- or an even better -- level of service to your customers, a business answering service can fulfill the role of a full-time receptionist for a fraction of the cost. In fact, a business answering service can even manage your calls around the clock for less than what you would pay a 40-hour-a-week employee. Making the decision to reduce costs and save money does not have to have a negative impact on your business.
A business answering service offers many benefits including lower cost, less training time and often better service for your callers and clients. A company that specializes in business answering services should have highly trained agents who can demonstrate a variety of important skills such as "Quality tone: pace, pitch, power," "Pleasant and helpful attitude" and "Good manners: saying please and thank you at least once during a call." These attributes are ones that win awards for business answering service providers, so ask the service you are considering if its agents have won any industry awards. These award-winning skills go a long way in maintaining and improving the professional image of your business.
In addition to the people, it is also important that the technology the business answering service uses is state of the art. Today, a business answering service can do much more than just take a message. The agents can manage a variety of different types of callers and protocols assuming the business answering service has invested in technology that allows "scripting." This feature guides the agents to ask the right questions and follow the exact protocol you establish based on the answers the caller gives. Scripting can be very helpful when providing customer service and determining if the call is a potential client. Agents can also capture leads, connect calls or take messages.
If you do not want the responsibility of scheduling appointments, ask if the business answering service offers an appointment-scheduling feature. Be sure the online calendar is customizable, though, since this ensures agents handle calls consistently and can even help keep your costs down.
When looking for a business answering service, be sure to find one that offers 24/7 service so all your after-hour and weekend calls are answered. With the money you save using a business answering service, you might want to look at doing more marketing. After all, you know your business answering service will never miss a call.
