AnswerNow's Call Center Blog

Let's face it, good communication is an absolute must in today's modern business environment. This is because effective communication helps all involved maintain productivity and fosters a fluid working environment for everyone participating. No matter whether you are an employer or employee, the more time and effort you spend trying to build clear and concise communication with other co-workers and associates will only serve to improve your organization's output, overall morale, and promote an environment of openness and trust.

A 2014 Forbes study revealed that 80% of callers hang up when confronted with voicemail, and that number has probably gone up in the intervening years. Why is this the case? It could have something to do with the fact that actually reaching voicemail is so unlikely these days.

Technology has changed the way many businesses operate, providing new opportunities to connect with and serve customers that weren't available even twenty years ago. The vast majority of businesses now operate at least some kind of online arm, for example. Even if you don't necessarily have an online store to sell goods or book service appointments, you at least have a website where prospective customers can learn about your business.

There are several types of businesses that cannot afford to leave their clients hanging. Medical practices are a good example. If patients cannot reach a medical professional with pressing concerns, the result could be disastrous, so medical practices commonly use round-the-clock answering services to ensure that patients in dire need get through, while those that can wait are scheduled for call-back.

Every organization is only as strong as its communication skills. If you can't effectively communicate with your customer base they are going to go down the street and work with your competition instead. When clients are unable to contact you or your business, they can get frustrated and seek out better customer assistance elsewhere. It doesn't matter if your product or service is the best one on the market, if the client can't get satisfaction trying to communicate with your business, you're less likely to keep that client.

Many businesses turn to live receptionist services to improve their business practices and increase revenue. They offer high-quality communication with the customer 24 hours a day, while keeping costs lower than hiring on a full-time reception staff. When you hire a live receptionist service to handle your volume of calls, your customers are treated to a professional and thorough experience that will keep them coming back time and again.

To decide if this service is right for your business, big or small, consider all of the benefits that you can enjoy instantly.

We live in an age of instant meals, on-demand entertainment and same day delivery. People and their expectations have evolved to come to expect this. They have become accustomed to expect fast results, available customer service and are increasingly impatient.

Have you ever realized that an untold number of your clients will only ever have contact with your company through your answering service?

A virtual receptionist is a person who can answer your company's main telephone from a call center or other facility. He or she can respond to questions about your business, redirect calls as necessary, schedule appointments and much more. 

Because these professionals are readily available and completely reliable, this decade has seen more and more companies with empty desks or empty spaces where receptionists once were stationed. Indeed, many clients and investors now prefer offices that lack receptionists. They believe that full-time receptionists are unnecessary luxuries. Thus, a business that doesn't hire one seems shrewd and careful with its funds.

When you utilize the services of virtual receptionists, you can take the money you'd use for a traditional receptionist's salary and invest it in other ways. Or, if you choose, remote receptionists can supplement your full-time receptionist, taking calls whenever he or she is away from the office or on the line with someone else.

Do You Often Miss Calls?

Personal contact matters, especially in business. Consider for a minute that roughly 80 percent of business communications are done by phone, and without someone available to keep up with call volume you are missing out on potential clients. In fact, over 75 percent of callers will hang up if their call goes to voicemail. That's a lot of lost leads! 

You could hire a few representatives to take care of your phone lines, but even then calls may have to be transferred to voicemail from time to time. Not to mention, the cost of paying those employees’ salaries and benefits could be prohibitive, especially for a small business. Instead, you should consider outsourcing this part of your business.

You can partner with an answering service to handle your company’s entire phone needs and get the best of both worlds – prompt service, 24/7 answering support and a budget you can afford. Answering services make sure that there is always someone available to take your customers’ calls any hour of the day. The right answering service can do more than provide customer service to your callers; they can schedule appointments, help troubleshoot, take payments, and much more!

Are You Struggling to Field All Your Calls?