From text to email, there are many ways to communicate in the modern age. In business, talking on the phone has proven to be the most important medium of them all, still. A single phone call can be the deciding factor on whether you gain or lose a customer. 

If your business has inbound calls from customers, the more you grow, the more you will discover the need of an answering service. You likely do not have the budget or the capacity to ensure that calls are answered at all times and that your customers are taken care of. Choosing an answering service, on the other hand, is the logical choice, but when you are trying to find the right one, should you focus only on those that are focused in your industry or those are local to you? Here are the benefits of each: 

It is no secret that technology is changing the world as we know it. As it is now, there are already new methods of doing things available in the market. In terms of customer service, while answering services are still at the forefront, will that change in the future? Chatting services are already gaining a lot of traction and over time, it’s possible that they may be more popular than answering services at some point. But that doesn’t mean your customer will have a more satisfying experience, however.

When it comes to choosing the right answering service for your company, you might think price is the most important factor, right? Putting the cliché “You get what you pay for” aside for a moment, there are actually several elements that go into creating the best customer service experience for your customers. From the availability and friendliness of telephone representatives to the availability and capabilities of the company, do some research and you’ll find that not all answering services are created equal.

Ah, summer. It’s a time filled with fun, sun and plenty of relaxation… unless you’re a business owner who has customer service issues, that is. Whether you’re experiencing an influx in business, trying to get ahead for the busy fall season or simply want a chance to unwind, hiring an answering service can be the perfect solution for the warm-weather months.

In case you didn’t know, April is Customer Loyalty Month. But have you ever stopped to think what would happen if your company focused on improving customer loyalty every day of the year? According to several sources, it can cost between four and 10 times more to acquire a new customer than it does to keep an existing one. That’s why improving customer loyalty is so important!

If your medical office is in search of an answering service, you’re probably looking for a company with representatives who are responsive. You also want people who will establish trust with your patients. But did you know that HIPAA compliance is important as well? In fact, it’s one of the primary boxes a medical answering service should check. 

It’s a common question many business owners ask themselves: “Doesn’t getting the cheapest price give the best value to my business?” While we all want to save as much as we can, lower price doesn’t necessarily translate to more value in the answering service/call center industry. A successful businessman put it this way: 

Floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, oh my! Natural disasters are a big problem for businesses that communicate regularly with customers—especially if you’re in a disaster-prone area like Tornado Alley or near the coast. Sometimes it seems like a new natural disaster season is always around the corner. So what happens to your business when there’s a natural disaster? If you’re not prepared, you could lose your communication abilities, leading to lost revenue and customers.

Every industry has its own jargon and answering services are no different. If you are considering an answering service for your business, you will be asked a series of questions to help define your needs and develop a plan. In order to make the selection and sales process smoother, there are a number of answering service terms that you should know.

Here’s a short list to get you started.