Rather than investing in hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of equipment and hiring a full-time receptionist, you can hire a professional answering service for small business. That can get rather expensive compared to an answering service provider that gives you all of the help you need to provide your customers with an amazing experience at a fraction of the cost. Fortunately, setting up an answering service is probably easier than you think. But how does a telephone answering service work? In this blog, we’ll explain what answering services do and how to set up an answering service.
What Does a Live Answering Service Do?
In addition to taking inbound calls, modern answering services now handle emails and text messages—and sometimes live chats—which are features many businesses need to effectively help their customers. Many business owners prefer live answering services because they enable customers to interact with a real person and receive responses more quickly. These providers can help small and medium-sized businesses that do not have the resources to hire an in-house team to manage their high call volume. That means when you are too busy to take calls yourself, a professional answering service can handle it for you.
But answering services have a few advantages beyond simply picking up calls. To improve client satisfaction, a remote customer service representative can be available outside of regular business hours. With support available around the clock, your customers can get their problems answered more quickly. This also enables you to welcome additional clients to your business and provide—or receive— rewarding connections.
So how do you get started with an answering service for your business?
How Do I Setup My Answering Service on My Phone at My Business?
With many answering services, you start by finding the right service for your business. Whether you compare features on the website, schedule a meeting, or call a representative, you need to do your due diligence before deciding on a service. But what should you look for in an answering service and what steps should you take until your calls are being taken?
Step One: Find a Service
Before your phone calls are being answered by a representative, you need to find a service provider that meets your needs. For example, you need to choose a provider that can handle your call traffic and make sure they have enough personnel to do so effectively. Here are a few offerings you should consider:
- Live Answering Service: A 24/7 live agent answers your calls while offering appointment scheduling, call recording, payment Interactive Voice Response (IVR), email monitoring, and more.
- Live Chat: A 24/7 live agent answers your chats with a quick response time, driving your lead capture and increasing conversions—as well as meeting HIPAA compliance requirements.
- Automated Answering Service: A customizable and comprehensive 24/7 answering service that uses IVR, offers voicemail, and “follow me” call routing.
Answering Service Care (ASC) offers all of these services with the added benefit of experienced representatives that help drive customer satisfaction.
Step Two: Pick Your Package and Get Started!
Once you’ve found a provider that can meet your needs, your next step is to determine what kind of plan or package will offer the best value. Some providers offer their answering services with a monthly payment, which includes a set number of minutes. However, the answering service cost per month varies. For example, Answering Service Care offers a small business plan that includes 100 minutes of call time—along with 24/7 availability, call transfers, a local number, bilingual representatives, and so much more.
It’s quick and easy to get started with an experienced answering service provider like Answering Service Care. Sign up through an easy self guided process and our team will follow up within one business day to finalize with you. If you have any questions, you can visit our website or call our team directly at (800) 430-6511 for more information. We’re here to help guide you through your offerings and get you the best plan for your business!
Is There Any Equipment Needed to Start an Answering Service for My Business Phone?
No, as a client of an answering service, you do not need special equipment before you can start. The service providers must invest in hardware like computers, phones, and software, but you only need to pay for the service itself.
Who Needs an Answering Service?
Businesses of all sizes can benefit from an answering service! We understand that you have high expectations regarding the quality of your service without spending more than necessary. This is crucial for small businesses, especially startups, as they might not have the resources to employ a full-time receptionist. Answering services are a cost-effective way of providing excellent customer service, while remaining in the budget. That’s where providers like Answering Service Care can help. With ASC, you get a dedicated, professional team with several years of experience. In fact, we’ve been in operation since 1974 and have been serving our customers and their callers with flexible and friendly answering solutions.
Get started today for as little as $25 per-month and start experiencing the difference that professional agents can make!
