Having an answering service contracted to help your business with phone communication needs is something most business owners will consider at some point. However, there are certain misconceptions that can get in the way of making the decision to bring in this valuable service. Take a look at those misconceptions and the real truths you should know.
Misconception: Hiring an answering service is just too expensive for most small or medium business owners.
Even though answering services may get hired most often by larger companies, these services are just as accessible to smaller business owners. Most service providers charge according to the number of man-hours required to handle your call needs, and for most small or medium business owners, these needs are not anything drastic that would require a lot of employee time. Therefore, in essence, the service is scalable to meet the needs of a business of any size.
Misconception: You have to enter into a lengthy contract with an answering service.
It is true that a lot of answering service providers will ask that you enter into a service agreement with them. However, when you are just getting a feel for what the service is like and how it could help your operation, you will not be expected to agree to a lengthy contract. Your initial contract will likely be short-term.
Misconception: You never know if the answering service employees will properly represent your company.
You will have a major role to play in helping the answering service employees understand your business, your business persona, and your customers or clients before they will be representing your company. Of course, call center representatives are well-trained and screened already for general professionalism on the phone. However, with your guidance on how customers should be treated, they can easily coincide with your ideas on what representatives should be like on the phone.
Misconception: Answering services do not really make that much of a difference.
On the contrary, having a good answering service helps your operation and can make all the difference. Your customers and clients can get a real live person when they need help, no matter what time of day that may be. Your customers will get timely help instead of spending time on the phone waiting on hold. When a business seems accessible by phone, and requests are handled in a timely matter, it can build your reputation as a company.
