Answering services offer a lot to any business. They increase sales, reduce distractions, and they give business owners extra time to focus on the vital stuff of their business. But some companies do not expect much from these services because they have had a bad experience with an answering service.
Choosing the right answering service is hard. The right service meets your current needs, and it helps grow your business.
The following are the best tips on how to choose answering services.
1. 24/7 Support
The best answering services answer phone calls on moment’s notice, especially if you have to leave your office for an emergency. They have staff who work throughout the day. And they charge the same rate for both regular business hours, after hours, and holiday support.
2. Industry Experience
Choose an answering service that has worked in your industry because it is familiar with best practices for your industry. And it knows how your business operates. Ask for references when talking to their sales team. Make sure they have recommendations from within your industry.
3. Provides Documentation of Each Call
The best answering services provide documentation of each call. And they offer it in a recorded format. Business partners and customers call when they want to know about the promise you made them.
Answering service answers some of these calls. You must know what was said by both parties. So, they provide recorded phone calls. Do not rely on what the answering service tells you. You are paying the answering service to make things easier for you.
4. Talk to Their Operators
Answering services pride themselves in their operators. Talk to these operators. Are they friendly and professional? Callers want to talk to friendly and professional operators. The best answering services train their operators this way. Choose an answering service that has friendly and professional operators.
5. Check Into Their Technology
Most answering services technology gives their operators all the information they need to handle any call. Excellent answering services have proper technology that handles downtime with utilities. Check this because a power outage may shut down your answering service. Ask the answering service if it has a backup solution. And find out more about their experience with this solution.
6. Talk to Actual Account Manager
Reputable answering service offers you a direct line to the account manager who heads up your account. If you cannot talk to the actual manager, avoid that answering service.
Why is it important to talk to the account manager? The manager helps write call scripts. And you can discuss the call logs and messages you are given with your account manager. It is hard to accomplish this with a random rep who is available when you call.
These are the tips on how to choose answering services. Choose a service that provides 24/7 support and documentation of each call, has the right technology, has friendly and professional operators, and has enough experience in your industry. Make sure that you can talk to an actual manager before selecting an answering service.