Friday, September 10, 2010

How to Get the Most Out of Your Answering Service Company

Getting an extra pair of hands to boost development is an attractive option for many companies right now. Answering service companies and live answering service are the two most practical options managers may consider. The most challenging question lies on whether and how you get the best out of the services. Getting the best option available in the market is a challenge, yet it is most rewarding when you finally get one you’re comfortable and satisfied with.

Saving cost is one of the most effective means to achieve success. The question however lies on the benefits that you can get out of hiring a company who can provide you a better service. So, how do you get the best services for the growth of your company? How do you ensure that your investment is well paved for?

Companies such as these can provide you with the live answering service most customers highly covet. Hiring new phone operators just to take care of calls wouldn't be a hassle for your company anymore. Training new employees, providing benefits for them, giving space for them is actually more expensive when you look at it closely.

Outsourcing the service provides an alternative that will have greater effect on your revenue. Customer's concerns are well taken care of; services are open around the clock. Your business can utilize the services since calls are being handled throughout the day. Some small and medium companies consider an answering service more cost effective compared to hiring a receptionist.

Some disadvantages on the other hand will cause frustration in your customer especially if you are working with an inefficient answering service company. When trying to get the most out of your answering service here are the things that you might want to consider:

Short hold time for your customers- make sure there is short hold time for your customers. There is nothing more frustrating than to spend long time over the phone. If you have plans to hire a service make sure that you don't miss out the calls of potential customers.


Communicate clearly- There are different methods on how answering service are being done, explain to the company how you want your calls to be answered, also inform them who are your favorite clients so they can prioritize these people.

Keep them up-to-date- always inform the company of the new products, or changes on your existing product. Changes on existing services and even developments as to how your messages should be sent.


Aside from the key points mentioned above you can also instruct the service providers how to best answer the phone, address complaints or schedule appointments suited to your preferences. Aside from the fact that there is a live interaction between your customer and the operators, this also creates a more personal approach in call handling.

Other companies can also consider voice mail to take care of their reception desk but it is not an effective method to capture messages. It is common knowledge that 70 % of callers hang up the moment they hear a voice mail. It is also considered cold and impersonal; they can invest in live phone answering service to gain more extra conveniences.

There are many answering service companies available in the market today. It is essential to take into account the options available and decide on the types of services that you think are right for your business. If you want to get the most out of your investment while getting a more personalize approach in handling calls, try outsourcing for the services that will take care of your reception desk.

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