Calls come in when you're managing events, handling crisis communications, or meeting with clients about campaigns. We capture leads, field media inquiries, schedule consultations, and log details instantly in your systems. With our AI-first answering service with human support as an extension of capabilities, urgent media requests and client needs never hit voicemail.
The answering service from Smith.ai greets every caller professionally and captures essential information through structured intake questions. By collecting key details upfront — such as inquiry type, media outlet, deadline urgency, client references, and campaign interests — the system helps identify and prioritize high-value calls based on your firm's focus areas and client roster.
The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai combines cutting-edge AI technology with optional human support to deliver unmatched call handling capabilities. Unlike competitors who offer basic subscription services, we provide white-glove implementation and ongoing support to ensure your success.
What sets Smith.ai apart:
Make better business decisions with real-time call data powered by AI, visualized in your Smith.ai dashboard. Every call summary is enriched with AI-generated metadata including actions completed, caller disposition, priority, relevance, call recording and transcription, and more. Track media patterns, client trends, and campaign effectiveness through historical tables and charts to predict business growth, resource needs, and ROI with superior accuracy through our AI-powered analytics.
While our AI Receptionist with human support delivers exceptional results for most businesses, we understand that some situations require dedicated human coverage. That’s why Smith.ai also offers comprehensive virtual receptionist plans with 100% live, North America-based agents answering your calls 24/7.
Our virtual receptionist plans provide dedicated human agents trained specifically on your business and industry.
Improve customer experiences with 24/7 AI-powered engagement built specifically for your business. Unlike basic AI competitors that offer one-size-fits-all solutions, Smith.ai delivers infinite customization with white-glove implementation tailored to your exact needs and goals.
While other AI services leave you to figure it out alone, our expert team works closely with you to craft custom AI behavior that sounds like your business, follows your procedures, and delivers results that match your goals.
Traditional call services take messages. The answering service from Smith.ai becomes your PR firm's partner, understanding your business and actively helping manage the constant flow of media inquiries, client calls, and new business opportunities. While traditional services struggle with "I need to speak with someone about crisis management for our product launch tomorrow," your answering service captures every detail, applies your custom screening protocols, and knows exactly how to prioritize based on your criteria.
The real game-changer is the combination of AI-first efficiency with human support when needed. Your answering service handles high call volumes during breaking news cycles without breaking a sweat, while our North America-based receptionists seamlessly step in for sensitive situations or when callers request human assistance. They're professional receptionists who excel at information gathering and call routing — not PR consultants giving strategic advice. You get real-time analytics showing which campaigns generate buzz, when media calls spike, and how quickly leads are captured. Plus, with integration to over 7,000 business tools, everything flows directly into your CRM and project management systems. You're not paying for basic message-taking — you're getting enterprise-level customization at subscription pricing, with white-glove onboarding that ensures success from day one.
We don't hand you a generic script and wish you luck. Smith.ai becomes your partner through a detailed onboarding process where our specialists learn your PR firm's specific language, client types, and unique workflows. We understand that how you handle a crisis communication call differs completely from a new business inquiry or a journalist on deadline.
Our onboarding specialists work directly with you to create custom AI prompts that mirror your firm's exact protocols. Need different handling for tech clients versus healthcare accounts? Done. Want specific qualifying questions for media versus potential clients? Built in. This isn't a one-and-done setup either. Your dedicated account management team continuously refines these prompts based on real call data and your feedback.
The AI learns your terminology — whether it's "earned media," "thought leadership," or "embargo dates" — and applies it correctly. With real-time analytics, you see exactly how calls are handled and can adjust on the fly. This ongoing collaboration ensures your AI Receptionist stays aligned with your firm's evolving needs, not stuck with outdated scripts from six months ago.
The AI Receptionist from Smith.ai connects with over 7,000 business tools, turning your phone system into a seamlessly integrated part of your tech stack. When a journalist calls about a client's campaign, the details flow directly into your CRM. New business inquiries automatically create leads in your pipeline. Meeting requests sync with your calendar system. No manual data entry, no sticky notes, no "I'll update the system later" that never happens.
Our solutions team can create custom workflows using Zapier, Make, or N8N to connect tools in ways that match your exact processes. Media call at 6 PM? It's logged in your project management system with the reporter's deadline clearly noted. Client calling about an urgent issue? Your crisis communication team gets an instant Slack notification with all the context they need. This integration eliminates the constant back-and-forth between systems that kills productivity. Your team spends time on strategic PR work, such as crafting narratives, managing relationships, and developing campaigns, instead of administrative tasks. Everything stays synchronized in real-time, so whether someone's working from the office or remotely, they have the complete picture. It's the difference between juggling systems and having them work together like a well-oiled machine.
Yes, the AI Receptionist from Smith.ai handles bilingual interactions smoothly, particularly important for PR firms managing diverse client bases and international media relations. The system typically supports English and Spanish, covering the primary languages needed for North American business communications. When callers speak Spanish, the AI responds appropriately, capturing information with the same accuracy as English calls.
The platform's customization capabilities mean it can potentially be configured for additional languages based on your firm's specific needs. This matters when you're managing global campaigns or working with international media outlets. The bilingual capability isn't just about translation — it's about maintaining professionalism and ensuring every caller feels understood and valued. When language complexity requires human touch, our North America-based bilingual receptionists provide seamless support. They handle nuanced conversations while maintaining your firm's professional image across language barriers. This ensures you never miss opportunities because of language differences, whether it's a Spanish-language media outlet seeking comment or a potential client more comfortable conducting business in their native language.
Getting started with Smith.ai isn't like those services that send you login credentials and disappear. Our onboarding specialists schedule consultation calls to understand your PR firm's specific needs — how you categorize media calls, your client protocols, your escalation procedures for crisis situations. We then create custom AI prompts tailored exactly to your practice, ensuring the system handles calls precisely how you want from day one.
The setup process is streamlined but thorough. We configure integrations with your existing tools, test call flows with your specific scenarios, and ensure everything works perfectly before going live. But here's what really sets us apart: the ongoing support never stops. Your dedicated account management team provides wraparound support, regularly reviewing performance data and refining protocols as your firm grows.
System updates happen automatically, new features get integrated seamlessly, and our support team stands ready to adjust anything as your needs evolve. You're not stuck figuring things out alone or waiting days for email support. When media cycles move fast, your AI Receptionist adapts just as quickly. This combination of white-glove onboarding and continuous optimization ensures your phone system enhances your firm's capabilities rather than constraining them.