5 Criteria to Find the Right Answering Service for Your Photography Business

As a busy photographer, you have a lot of things on your plate, and you spend most of your days out on photo shoots, at events, or traveling to and from those sessions. That can make it challenging to field all the phone calls coming into your business. And if you’re missing calls, you’re missing opportunities. That’s not going to be good for business, but you’re only one person—what can you do?

Today, you can do a lot more than you think, starting with hiring an answering service that will be available to field every call and inquiry that comes in while you’re busy taking care of clients and taking all those stunning photos that people love. After all, if people can’t get you on the phone, you’re going to lose a lot of potential business and a lot of valuable reputation points. 

Your competitors have already started making the change, or they’ve already got a full partnership in place with an answering service. What are you waiting for?

Why you need an answering service 

Aside from the obvious, which we’ve already covered, there are several reasons that photographers could benefit from investing in an answering service. For starters, you will no longer have to worry about your attention being divided between client meetings and all those missed calls stacking up. You’ll be able to focus on your clients and know that the calls are getting the attention they deserve, too. 

This will ensure that you don’t miss out on potential business, and it will also bolster your business reputation. When you have a team at the ready to field any calls that come in, callers feel appreciated and valued. They see you as a reputable source of information and a business that is ready to help them, no matter what kind of photography needs they might have. 

When you have an answering service, you can also plan your time better and give clients that dedicated focus they deserve without any lingering concerns. You’ll know the calls and admin services are taken care of, giving you peace of mind to keep building your business, one photo shoot or event at a time. 

Of course, that all depends on finding the right answering service. Here are five criteria that should be on your list. 

1. 24/7 availability 

Whether it’s a last-minute wedding worry at 9 PM on Friday night or a question about photography services from someone who is only available on the weekends, having someone there to answer every call can significantly impact your business and your reputation. You might not think you need to have 24/7 phone service for your clients, but you would be surprised at how much it can improve things. The Internet has created an expectation of instant answers, and if you can’t deliver, people will find someone that can. 

2. Professional experience 

How long has the answering service been in business? What is their professional experience like? Have they worked with photographers and other small businesses in the past? Take a minute to get to know the answering services that you consider and see what they’re capable of, as well as what they’ve done in the past. You should also check out reviews and testimonials to get more insight into how reputable different providers are and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. 

3. Customization and scalability

Every business has different needs when it comes to hiring an answering service. As such, it makes sense to choose a provider that offers customization and scalable plans that can suit your unique needs. Most providers have at least partially customized options, but the best providers will help you create a totally custom answering service solution that is designed to grow with your business over time. This also means that you won’t have to change providers when you get bigger because you’ve chosen one that will constantly adapt to fit your needs.

4. Features 

Check out the features and services that are available when you are reviewing different answering service providers. Most companies have similar features, but some may only offer limited answering service support, while others can handle a full-service admin and communications solution. Look for assistance in the areas where you need it most and see just how much you can get for your money. 

If you don’t see features that you want, or you have questions about the services that are offered, you should feel free to reach out and request more information so that you can make the right decision. Today’s answering services can do a lot more than people think—take advantage of that. 

5. Transparent pricing 

The last thing you want is to end up with a surprise bill for an answering service that you didn’t expect because they weren’t upfront and honest with their pricing. Any company worth your time will have transparent pricing structures in place and be able to give you at least an idea of what to anticipate, even if they cannot provide an exact quote on the spot. 

The idea here is more on the transparency than actually seeing the pricing—yes, you need to know what you can afford, but you also need to know that you’re working with a partner that’s not going to try to hide anything from you. 

For a better partnership, reach out to the team at Smith.ai 

The virtual receptionists at Smith.ai have all of this and more. As your 24/7 answering service, we’ll make sure that you never miss a single opportunity while also delivering solutions for lead intake, appointment scheduling, and even assistance with live website chat for those who need it. 

We will work with you to create a custom strategy to ensure that you never miss a beat, and we’ll ensure that your business is represented with the utmost professionalism. To learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to hello@smith.ai.

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