| Ever hit a brick wall when trying to contact | | | | uncommon |
| someone you interested in their services? Signing | | | | - Get your calls answered when you are travelling |
| up to a phone answering service can avoid | | | | or in a meeting |
| missing potential customers and help your | | | | - A tailored service |
| business portray a professionalism from the start. | | | | - Is a virtual receptionist service given |
| First impressions are important in all walks of life. | | | | These are some of the things to take into |
| Even if you have an answer machine and you | | | | consideration:- |
| work from home, a recorded message is not | | | | - Do you get a dedicated telephone number? |
| what a potential customer wants to hear; a | | | | - How are messages relayed on to me? |
| human on the end of the telephone is a better | | | | - Can the options and redirection be controlled |
| option instead of a plain answer message or a | | | | over the internet not remotely? |
| music interlude from the top ten playlist from the | | | | - Does the answering service company specialise |
| 'Now that's what I call Lift Music 2009' CD | | | | in 24 hour emergency and can they be briefed on |
| collection. | | | | company products and services for a more |
| Recent surveys have indicated that approx 65% | | | | integrated approach? |
| of people do not leave a message on voicemail | | | | Some outsourcing call handling companies offer |
| and would prefer to talk to a person on the other | | | | extra services like online Diary Management, |
| end of the line. If your calls are answered by a | | | | Appointment management, Inquiry and Order |
| trained telephone operator or PA, they can handle | | | | Processing, Doctors answering services, Risk |
| them with aplumb, efficiency and it appears to | | | | management, Engineer call out services, media |
| the customer that there is some sort of | | | | response, brochure requests, call overflow, fault |
| customer services. this can bode well for the | | | | helpdesk management. |
| future if they are trying to call for an update on | | | | It is important to take into account what is right |
| your services once they become clients. | | | | for your business, but one thing is for sure a |
| Telephone Services Feature Requirements. | | | | business however small or large cannot afford to |
| If you were to itemise all the attributes you | | | | miss out on telephone calls. |
| would require from a telephone answering service, | | | | Try out the service before hand. Most phone |
| what would they be? | | | | answering companies offer a months trial. Ask for |
| - Never to miss a call again | | | | recordings from the test period so you can be |
| - Pay for the number of calls you receive | | | | assured that the service is what you want. |
| - A Return on Investment - 60% is not | | | | |