Running a small business can be difficult, especially when it comes to answering the phone. You may not have the time or resources to staff a full-time receptionist, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on potential customers. A live phone answering service can help take care of your calls while you’re busy with other tasks. In this article, we will discuss five quick tips about live phone answering services for small businesses.
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What Should You Look For When Choosing A Live Phone Answering Service For Small Businesses?
When you are running a small business, it is important to have a live phone answering service that can take care of your calls. This can be a great way to ensure that your customers can reach you when they need to and that you are not missing out on any important calls. Here are five tips to help you find a live phone answering service for your small business:
1. When you need it, their expert service will be there for you.
A reliable live answering service will be available whenever you need it. This means that they should have 24-hour coverage, so you can rest assured knowing that your calls will always be answered. You never know when a customer is going to call, so it’s important to have a service that can handle your calls at any time of the day or night. Make sure to ask about the coverage of the live answering service before you commit to using their services. 24-hour coverage is important, but you also want to make sure that they have someone who is knowledgeable about your business and can answer any questions that your customers may have. The last thing you want is for your customers to reach a voicemail or be greeted by an automated message.
2. Make sure the live phone answering service operator answers calls in the manner you desire.
One of the most common misconceptions about live phone answering services is that they are expensive. In reality, however, the cost of a live phone answering service is often very reasonable, especially when compared to the cost of hiring a full-time receptionist. Additionally, many live phone answering services offer discounts for small businesses. So, if you’re worried about the cost of a live phone answering service, be sure to ask about discounts and special rates for small businesses. Do your research and you will see that a live phone answering service is well worth the investment.
3. Reasonable rates.
Small business owners are often on a budget, so it is important to find a live phone answering service that offers reasonable rates. You should be able to find a service that charges by the minute or by the call. Some services will charge a monthly fee, which can be higher than the per-minute or per-call rates. However, these monthly fees usually include unlimited calling, so you may want to consider this option if your business makes a lot of outgoing calls. You should also ask about any discounts that may be available. Many live phone answering services offer discounts for prepaying for minutes or for signing up for a longer-term contract.
4. Check to see whether they have qualified personnel available to take your calls.
It is important to find a live phone answering service that has qualified personnel available to take your calls. This means that they should have operators who are friendly and professional. They should also be able to answer any questions that your customers may have. You don’t want your customers to feel like they are talking to an automated system or an operator who is not knowledgeable about your business. Make sure to ask the live answering service about their operators before you commit to using their services.
5. Make sure the service is available in your area.
If you have a small business, it is important to find a live phone answering service that is available in your area. This way, you can be sure that the service will be able to answer your calls. You don’t want to have to worry about long-distance charges when you are trying to reach your customers. Make sure to ask the live answering service about their coverage area before you commit to using their services.
Small businesses need to be smart about their time and money, so it is important to do your research before choosing a live phone answering service. Hopefully, this article has helped provide some key points to consider when making your decision. If you are still unsure which service is right for you, feel free to give us a call. Our team would be more than happy to answer any of your questions and help get you started on the right path.
Does Your Business Need a Reliable Live Receptionist?
Reliable Receptionist helps small to mid-sized businesses enhance their professional image, improve customer service, manage workload and convert callers to become loyal clients. At Reliable Receptionist, we not only provide simple answering services but you can be confident your company’s incoming calls will be immediately answered by one of up to five trained representatives assigned to your account. Our off-site receptionists are professionally ready to answer questions about your business, provide directions, capture critical lead information, schedule appointments, and forward calls to the appropriate department depending on your set guidelines. One of the many advantages of using an off-site receptionist with advanced call handling technology is that your calls can be privately announced and seamlessly connected to you in real-time on any phone number. Many of our clients provide multiple connecting numbers for us so we always have the best way to reach you. Let’s Work Together! For more information or to request a quote and free demonstration, send us a message or call us today at (925) 627-4200.
