Answering Service

nlgutters

I had a secretary last year but in this business we cant keep busy enough in the winter to keep them. So i have to start all over again this year with a new one. I was thinking of trying a answering service to answer all calls.

I generaly like to make an appointment when they call and not have to call them back but would consider trying them.

Has any one here ever hire one?

How did you like it?

How much was the cost?

Did you ever have people complain about it?

Did you ever check your phone records to see how many they where missing?

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www.nlseamlessgutters.com

rbsremodeling

They have never missed a call


They offer different services and plans www.acena.com

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nlgutters

Do you call it and check every once in awhile to make sure they speak english when they answer your line?

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www.nlseamlessgutters.com

rbsremodeling

They are based out of NY. The same 3 girls have answered the calls since I have been with them. All American, well spoken extremely polite.

You can work with them on how you want them to answer the phones

Try the one week trial.

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rustyjames

A friend of mine uses an answering service; to be honest, I'd rather just leave a message on an answering machine because of some of the receptionist's I've talked to. At times, there have been those who are unpleasant or unprofessional. If people really want you they'll leave a message on a machine.

rbsremodeling

Most people will leave a message with a live person, 40% will hang up on a answering machine and not leave a message.

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MACEXCAVATING

As far as new potential customers go, I have found that if they do not get an answer they just call the next guy in line in the phone book or advertising.

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"The land of familiarity belongs to the dead."
"We're playing in the dirt BROTHER!"

www.macexcavating.com

nlgutters

I agree becuse i do the same thing.

And we get a lot of jobs beacuse we do pick up the phone.

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www.nlseamlessgutters.com

Mellison

Always answer your cell phone (or at least try).
An answering service in my opinion is nothing more than a live answering machine.
I, and I assume my customers want to talk to the owner or a real employee asap. Not an answering service.
Any time I call a vendor and an answering service picks up it is quite obvious. I know all I am doing is leaving a message.

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"Enjoy Every Sandwich" Warren Zevon

Thewoodman

All my advertising directs customers to my office number. The thing is I am never in the office. I used to rely on my answering machine. I would check messages each day and check the caller ID to see how many called but did not leave a message. I found that very few left a message.

I got hooked with an answering service that answers the phone 24 hours a day 365 day a year. As soon as the call comes in they text it to my part timer secretary and she either calls and schedules an appointment or if It needs my attention she texts it to me. Then every morning I get a fax with a list of calls from the previous day. I then file that list in a folder to use as a reference. From that list I can watch for trends... times calls came in, number of calls for different advertising I may have launched, and other things statistical.

It has made a major difference for my business. If you can have a secretary or yourself answer the phone this would be my first choice. But if not my second choice hands down is the answering service.

It cost me from $90 to $130 a month and that covers around 200 calls they answer. That price is a drop in the bucket compared to the work it could bring in.

Mark

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Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
www.wasatchvalley.com

nlgutters

I prefer a real secretary but that is cheap money. My secretary was costing me $2500 or more a month but she was worth every dollar.

I still have a month and a half before we get busy for me to decide.

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www.nlseamlessgutters.com

Winchester

What do you guys think of a virtual office rental?

BASIC INSTANT BUSINESS PACKAGE:
$100 / month + $100 setup

Basic Mailing Service
Mail holding and forwarding, A real street address, not a P.O. Box, Automatic email/package notification, Full-service mail and package receiving. Lastly, if your client comes to our address, we will greet them ,take a message and forward it to you.
Your own local/toll-free phone number
Your own fax number

Phone answering service
40 minutes / month and $1.00 for each additional minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week coverage and email notification of messages
Access to our meeting room
creating a professional image to your business clients



I don't really need mail and package receiving, but it would be nice having a downtown address for marketing purposes. I also like the meeting room access, though I don't know if I'd ever use it, I just like the idea of knowing I have a meeting room available.

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Ryan

George Z

We used to havethat 2-3 years ago.
Their phone service was not that good, it was just an address, really.
We have our own space and person now, there is a big difference.

The meeting rooms we used a few times, it was great value for that.

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Blast&Coat

Think it would be a great idea for certain businesses. Maybe like have an electric sign/tv that changes to the companies logo whenever they are going to have a meeting. People might think you are a bigger shot than you really are and that might be an advantage for small companies looking to break in to get some bigger jobs. Would def have to be the right market though to make it work. Most peoples construction offices at least frommy experiance are nto that nice cause well thats what we are dirty construction guys

Logic

We rent space from Regus. For $50/month, 2 girls answer our phones. Well worth it......