24*7 Telephone Answering Services for Small Business

Whether you’re a huge enterprise or an entrepreneurial startup, having an answering service when all the phones lines are lit up or you’re out of the office is essential. This is where outsourced call representatives come in. The fact is that when customers call your office, whether that means patients, consumers, or clients, they expect a prompt response. Anything else will lose your business. Here are a few reasons why having 24/7 telephone representation is a necessary investment.

1. Peak season requirements
Regardless of your industry, there are certain times of year when demand increases dramatically. Some point out that outsourcing your call center can help deal with spikes in sales, such as the holiday season for retailers, ensuring that your customer service standards stay intact. Another example is medical offices at the end of the year as patients try to take advantage of deductibles met or attempts to use up remaining FSA dollars. Having an answering service both to man busy phone lines or to take calls after hours means that you never miss an appointment request.

2. Word of Mouth Is Where the Money is for SMBs

The truth about being a small business is that many of your customers, clients, or patients will end up on your doorstep via recommendations or reviews. This can be either through a personal connection or online. It also states that one of the most important aspects of gaining business through referrals is by staying on top of customer support needs, which means not letting questions hang in limbo for too long. This is where  a business answering service supports not only the quality of your customer service, but can also even increase your profits. Making use of a call answering service is important if you want to stay on top of any potential new lead. The biggest turn-off for a customer weighing their options is the inability to get in touch with a human being at an office or company.

3. The Importance of Standard Compliance
Combining your in-office staff with an outsourced answering service can ensure maximum efficiency when dealing with customer needs. However, you need to deal with a company that knows what they’re doing. For example, when it comes to the medical industry, HIPAA regulations mean that your call center representatives must be intimately familiar with what constitute protected healthcare information. Check out a company’s track record and other clients to ensure that they’re able to deal with the needs and regulations of your particular industry.

When it comes to small business needs, having phone lines ringing off the hook is a blessing, but also requires finesse. You can’t always pick up the phone, so ensuring that someone else will is essential to acquiring new clients and retaining the ones you have. These are the building blocks of a successful small business which can help be achieved through a call answering service.