Blog Archives

Why you need an Answering Service

Published on January 29, 2012 by admin No comments

The integral role played by the telephone as a business communication tool accounts for the growing importance of answering service businesses. All businesses, whether a physician’s private practice, a small construction company, or a conglomerate, rely on the telephone as one of the fastest and most reliable communication tool in their businesses.

Anyone with a busy schedule and a telephone needs an answering service! Answering service can be a real lifesaver to a small business. Many small businesses have neither the time nor the means to take incoming calls during business hours when they are out on jobs — yet those calls represent the very lifeblood of their business! They cannot afford an office; much less a secretary, but they certainly need those phone calls. Unless they can find a reliable and affordable answering service, they will probably have to do without (or ask people to call them only after 7 PM) or use an answering machine (which has a whole set of disadvantages).

Yes, you indeed can use an answering machine but the fact is that people really do not like to talk to machines, if they are unable to reach a human voice easily, they will go somewhere else – it’s a lost business opportunity.

Fortunately, employers are recognizing this problem and solving it by contracting people to answer the phones when they cannot do it themselves. That personal touch you can offer can mean the difference in obtaining or keeping a client. Hiring a professional answering service business assures that you can take messages, deliver specific messages to callers, provide basic information, clarify the intent of calls and even arrange meetings with customers.

It’s always in the best interest of small companies to hire an answering service provider to work for the company during the extended business workday, say from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM or may be even for the rest of the day if your business needs it. Now it doesn’t costs an arm or a leg to hire an answering service. Generally, in a competitive market you can get it for as cheap as $30-$50 per month on the lowest slab! So go and hire an answering service provider so that you never lose that customer again.

Posted in: Advertising & Marketing, Business Area
Tagged: , , , , , ,

Live Answering Service

Published on January 27, 2012 by admin No comments

With so many automated answering services for businesses out there, customers often find themselves extremely frustrated, wishing they could talk to a live answering service instead. Answering services have gone the route of letter writing – it’s all gone to computers in an attempt to make life simpler. However, most customers prefer to talk to an actual person when it comes to their concerns, rather than a cold, unfeeling machine.

From the moment that an actual person answers a call made or transferred to a live answering service, a bond begins to form. Personal interaction begins from the very first greeting, and the feeling that your customer is not just a commodity to be transferred over to an automated recording can be overwhelmingly touching. Of course, with today’s busy communications demands, your customers may only receive a friendly sounding voice and an upbeat manner, but that’s really all that’s necessary to maintain a positive outlook regarding your business.

With the personalized attention and interaction that goes into a live answering service, the needs of the caller are professionally met, but with a personal touch that makes the customer feel as though their concerns, complaints, and questions are truly important to the business.

This should be kept in mind when looking for a service for your business. A live answering service will be received by your customers with open arms, as they will be able to voice their concerns to someone who might actually be able to sympathize and care about what problems they may have. Such a benefit will make your customers feel important and cared for, which is exactly what you want for them. When a customer feels cared for, their opinion of your business is much higher than if your customer was transferred to a cold, unfeeling automated service.

Posted in: Advertising & Marketing, Business Area
Tagged: , , , , , ,

IT Helps Small Businesses Enact Big Ideas

Published on January 23, 2012 by admin No comments

Good customer service is crucial to success in business; there’s nothing high-tech about helping customers get exactly what they need. But technology can make the process easier and more efficient.

For most small businesses, investing in information technology (IT) can pay dividends in more ways than one. Not only can technology help companies establish a corporate identity and lower the cost of doing business, it can also help level the playing field.

The Dell/National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Excellence Award, established in 2004, honors small businesses that instill the spirit of innovation and apply IT to improve the customer experience.

Think big, win big

The winner will receive $30,000 in technology and professional services from Dell; a Day with Dell program with Dell executives, including Michael Dell, to share best business practices; a lifetime membership to NFIB; and other prizes. Nine other companies will receive a Dell Latitude notebook and a one-year membership to NFIB. The finalists for the 2006 award are:

• AMAD Logistics, an international freight forwarder and logistics company.

• DataCert Inc., a fast-growing supplier of electronic invoicing and corporate legal spend-management solutions.

• Errand Solutions, which provides customized errand-running and concierge services as an employee benefit and customer relationship enhancement to health care, hospitality, residential property and corporate organizations.

• Harrison’s Roof Truss, L.L.C., a manufacturer of engineered wooden roof and floor trusses.

• Micro Technology Services Inc., which develops and manufactures electronic products.

• National Association of System Administrators Inc., provides a 24-hour, Web-based customer portal through which clients can track service calls and on-site parts storage.

• Ntelicor L.P., an information-technology consulting and staffing firm.

• Pipal Research Corp., a team of strategists and investment bankers who provide research and analytical services.

• Sew What? Inc., a theatrical drapery manufacturer and custom sewing service.

• TRS Consultants Inc., a multidisciplinary engineering and construction management firm.

Posted in: Advertising & Marketing, Business Area
Tagged: , , , , , ,