subject: If you deal in B2B, 'call answering services may be vital' [print this page] If companies operate in the business-to-business (B2B) sector, it is crucial they advertise their phone numbers.
This is according to Steve West, who suggested in an article for Simply Business Knowledge that this information has to be available on the websites of such companies and, for this reason, having a professional phone answering service may be necessary.
He said: "Even though buyers will use email or your website contact form to make their first enquiry, some people will want to call you."
"I can't imagine the chief executive officer of a publicly listed company lasting very long in their position if he or she felt it was acceptable to put barriers in the way of enquirers," he added.
Having call answering and phone answering services may also be beneficial for some businesses that sell to consumers, he added.
Mr West pointed out that if the likely profit that will come from conversations with customers is likely to be high, then taking calls is important.
However, "some business models just don't warrant the cost of call answering", he claimed.
Another point enterprises must consider, he noted, is how well-known their brands are. If businesses are not high-profile, there is a greater need to make themselves available by phone.
This is one way in which smaller firms can establish trust with potential customers, he noted.
Mr West went on to warn that e-commerce companies should beware of falling into the trap of thinking that everyone will order goods and services over the internet.
He stated: "Whereas lots of buyers are happy to tap in their credit card details, others will want to order over the telephone if they are not comfortable about who you are or what type of service you provide."
And making businesses contactable by phone could provide bosses with a competitive edge during these tough economic times.
If you deal in B2B, 'call answering services may be vital'
