7 Common Misconceptions About Answering Services

7 Common Misconceptions About Answering Services

For many businesses, the thought of using a professional telephone answering service seemsanswering services misconceptions like an extravagance. Businesses often believe  that people will be put off by the idea of talking to a call center or that receptionists won’t be able to answer their customers’ questions. Despite this misguided thought process, the answering service industry helps thousands of businesses grow and succeed every year. There are many misconceptions about the answering service and call center industry. Here are seven of the most common myths about answering services:

1. I don’t need an answering service
This is one of the most common myths about answering services. An answering service can be used in a variety of industries including doctor’s offices, property managers, HVAC services, plumbers and business professionals. Basically, If you provide a valuable product or service in a “high-touch” client environment, it is very likely you would benefit from an answering service. Enlisting the support of an answering service is beneficial because it shows your clients, prospects or patients that you care enough about them to ensure they can always reach a live person whenever they need you.

2. I can’t afford an answering service
Here’s the truth: you can’t afford to NOT have an answering service. Answering services can provide additional customer support during office hours, and after-hours support when your offices are not open. For thousands of service oriented businesses, missing even ‘just a few calls a month’ is costing them a whole lot more revenue, and clients, then they realize. Finally, answering services can also save you money by helping you utilize your own employees in a more effective manner, including the reduction of the need for full-time resources to be dedicated to answering the phones.

3. I won’t know what’s going on
Even though you’re outsourcing your answering services, you’ll always be kept in the loop about the calls that are coming in. Answering service representatives will forward calls to the appropriate person(s), take messages and deliver those messages in a way that works best for your organization.

4. Callers don’t want to talk to an answering service
Customers WANT to talk to a real person, regardless of whether it’s an answering service or someone from your company. Customers will be upset if they call your number and they get sent straight to voicemail. Being sent to voice-mail worries people because it does little to manage their expectations in regards to the reason they are calling you. Having an answering service eliminates this problem. What people really want is to feel like their needs are getting met and that someone is addressing their questions.

5. Language barriers
One of the biggest misconceptions about answering services is that they are located offshore. There are literally thousands of call centers located in the United States, and those that do their homework can find quality providers with well-spoken agents, or even multiple language options.

6. Poor Customer Service
An answering service doesn’t automatically mean someone will receive poor customer service. Virtual receptionists and call center agents of quality providers are fully trained and will operate as an extension of your company. When you hire a good answering service, you can have peace of mind knowing they’ll handle your calls just as an in-house staff member would.

7. Lack of knowledge in my industry/field
Virtual receptionists are trained in a variety of fields, including medical, business, legal, hospitality, plumbing and more. Receptionists use call scripts that are written with your company’s input to help them assist customers efficiently and effectively. Chances are, most customers won’t even know that they’re not speaking to someone directly in your office.

Many of the reasons that people believe that an answering service isn’t right for them are simply misconceptions. Professional answering services provide many benefits and can help you manage incoming calls, provide better customer service and reduce the amount of stress on you and your employees.

To learn more about Main Line TeleCommunications, please download our free guide:
Free: 10 Tips For Choosing a Telephone Answering Service

Or visit our Contact Us page.

Related Links:
How to Best the Competition – Use a Quality Answering Service
Answering the Call: Provide the Best Service to Your Clients
How Answering Services for Small Businesses Drive New Revenue