Are answering machines really a thing of the past? Answering machines have been around for decades, but nowadays they’re not as practical as they used to be. They slow down your business and can even cost you money in the long run. This article will go into detail about what answering machines are overrated and why businesses need an online receptionist instead!
Table of Contents
Voicemail Advantages
- Get the right message
The best way to guarantee you get the right message when answering a phone is with an automatic voicemail system. When there’s nobody on hand, their messages will playback and they’ll hear themselves speaking!
- A free feature mostly in your phone plans
Voicemail used to be something that you could pay for, but now it’s a standard feature and comes free with most phone plans. Whether they are a business or personal use VoIP will save the day!
- It’s automated
No matter where you are or what else is going on, your voicemail will always be there for the callers who need help.
Voicemail Disadvantages
- Listening to a voicemail is not personal
Many people find it easier to communicate with a real person, rather than listen to a voicemail.
- Has the risk of decreasing sales to your business
You may think that a voicemail system is enough, but you’re missing out on potential new business if it’s not set up properly. A lot of people will eventually call your company back and leave messages when their first attempt was unsuccessful so having someone answer live makes the most sense from both customer service as well as good old-fashioned human interaction!
- You might be losing time just by listening to messages and returning calls
The first thing many employees do when they come in the morning is go through their new emails and listen to any messages that were sent overnight, but after a while, it can become tedious. You might as well just ignore them or delete those unimportant ones because you’ve already heard what was said! Most people spend at least 30 minutes on this task which leaves less than two hours for actual work once all has been done with notifications from yesterday evening included too–not including today’s phone calls back home either.
Answering Service Advantages
- Answering calls immediately makes issues more urgent
The best customer service is the one that ensures customers get what they need when it matters. With a voicemail system, people may be left frustrated and angry if their needs aren’t met in a reasonable time frame—and this can lead to upset customers venting online about how awful your company’s service was on social media platforms.
If you want to maintain customer loyalty and positive reviews, it’s important that your business has an engaging output tone of voice. A human agent on the other end will always do more than a machine could in terms of reassuring callers who need help right away or calming frustrated customers down from waiting by holding phones until they get put through one-by-one.
- A real person creates a personal touch than a voicemail
Your tone of voice helps you make a lasting impression on the other person. They can tell from your words whether or not they should trust what’s being said, and how eager to help out this will be for them in return.
The fact that voicemail messages don’t allow interactive communication like live answering does means less engagement between parties involved.
- Protects confidentiality and puts customers at ease
A live person can better keep your sensitive information confidential than a machine. Many callers would feel uncomfortable giving out this type of data to an automated system, so it’s best that you speak with someone in person instead if possible!
- Having an answering service means a better business growth
Who doesn’t love a good conversation? This is why live answering services are so popular these days because they offer the convenience of an automated system without having to leave your desk. You’ll make customers feel valued and important by taking their call in this modern-day society where everyone needs something done fast but still wants it done well!
Answering Service Disadvantages
- It can be costly
The cost of your answering service can really add up, so it’s important to evaluate how often you use the services and what type of volume they receive.
Your call-taking duties may be limited by budget constraints or a lack thereof–depending on whether there are other financial priorities for which this money has been earmarked in advance.
- They might not address everything that your staff can do
Just as with in-house employees, answering services are great for certain tasks that you don’t want to take on yourself. This means some jobs would be better left up to your staff.
Does Your Business Need a Reliable Virtual 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.
