Do You Need a Specialized Answering Service with Expertise in Your Industry?

Choosing the right way to field phone calls can quite literally make or break your business. When your startup has grown to the point that you’re no longer capable of fielding the calls on your own, you need to invite in professional help. Of course, that insinuates bringing in the right kind of help. What that means is a little different for everyone, but typically it involves a custom solution like outsourcing to a specialized answering service (like the dedicated virtual receptionists at Smith.ai, but more on us later). 

So, how do you know whether it’s time to invest in an answering service, and how do you possibly choose the right one for the job? Well, there are several different things to consider, and we’ll cover them all here in this guide. Let’s begin by looking at considerations in determining whether you need an answering service, and then we’ll discuss how to choose the right people for the job and other important details. 

Time for an answering service? Ask these questions first

If you are thinking about outsourcing to an answering service, no one will be able to tell you whether that’s the best decision. You’ll have to decide that for yourself based on the available services and what they have to offer. To get a better idea, here are some questions that you can ask along the way. 

Is your in-house team under water?

If you’re struggling to keep up with phone calls and returning messages, you might need some help. Whether your business is just you or you have a handful of people working with you, or even if you have a full-time receptionist on hand, it may still not be enough. If you find that it’s a struggle to keep up with calls, it could be a good time to consider outsourcing. 

Do you need a more affordable solution? 

Paying the salary and other costs for an employee can get costly, quickly. Today’s companies are usually looking for a more affordable option to assist with their communications. That’s where outsourcing comes into play. These companies offer similar services and sometimes even more comprehensive services than a single employee could provide, which is what makes them a popular choice for SMBs and those who want more for their money. 

Are you missing night and weekend calls?

For the modern business, this could be a big problem. People need flexible services that are available on their schedules. That may include offering 24/7 phone support or live website chat, and to do that, you’ll need to consider enlisting the help of an answering service. Your staff surely can’t be available 24 hours a day, after all, and you shouldn’t have to be. With a professional answering service, you can ensure that every call is fielded even if you’re off the clock. 

Is your productivity suffering?

If you’re too busy answering the phone to take care of other business, eventually, you’re going to feel it. You won’t be able to spend time with customers, get work done, or even manage the rest of your team effectively. When you realize that phone calls are impacting your productivity and the flow of your day-to-day business, you’ll realize that it might be time to find someone else to field the calls so that you can focus on the business at hand. 

How to choose a quality answering service

The Internet has made it easy to find an array of companies offering professional answering services and other solutions for communications. Fortunately, it’s also fairly simple to narrow down the options and find what you need. Keep the following tips in mind:

• Look for a reputable answering service that has been working in the industry for years. Make sure that they have the expertise that it takes to handle your business communications needs, as well as any other solutions you have in mind. 

• Choose a company that is transparent about its services and pricing. The last thing you need is a bunch of beating around the bush or hidden charges when you’re trying to set up a more affordable, cost-effective answering solution. 

• Look for providers that can do more than just answer calls. Today’s best answering services are designed to assist with all kinds of calling and communication needs, admin duties, and so much more. 

• Consider all the features that they offer compared to their plan pricing and costs. You can often find companies that will combine an array of communications and admin solutions for a lower cost than if you chose them a la carte. 

• Are they available 24 hours a day? If you’re trying to make sure that your company never misses a phone call, that’s going to be an integral part of your decision. Fortunately, most of the best answering services today offer 24/7 support. 

These are just a few things to keep in mind when you’re in the market for an answering service. And of course, you can save a lot of hassle when you reach out to the team at Smith.ai. 

Partner with Smith.ai for all the specialty assistance that you need

If you want to make sure that your customers are taken care of and your calls are properly handled, you can rely on the dedicated receptionists from Smith.ai. Our 24/7 virtual receptionists offer support for lead generation and intake, appointment scheduling, outbound sales and support, and more. Plus, we’ll even tailor a solution for your industry and business and can offer premium support for industries like law and IT. 

At Smith.ai, we understand that your niche affects how your answering service works and we will do what it takes to create a strategy that’s effective for fielding calls, answering chats, and so much more. Plus, we do it all with 24/7 availability so that your business never sleeps. 

To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss how the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can deliver the specialized expertise that your callers need and more. You can also reach us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.