4 Ways a Small Business Answering Service Helps You Compete with the Big Guys

Operating a small business in the era of monolithic online retailers and big box stores can feel like ice skating uphill, backward sometimes. But entrepreneurs continue to do it successfully each and every day. And those that hire a small business answering service have a particular advantage.

Here are just three ways outsourcing your calls can help you compete with the big guys:

1. Costs: Small businesses frequently struggle with the huge costs associated with hiring full-time front desk personnel to handle incoming phone calls. All too frequently a bad fit can lead to unexpected turnover and a severe loss of capital that was already dedicated to hiring, onboarding, benefits, and so much more. A small business answering service eliminates the guesswork and gives your customers a consistent, compassionate, and knowledgeable customer service agent.
2. Availability: It’s imperative for small businesses to use voicemail sparingly, and not as a crutch. Callers with important questions simply hate hearing those automated prompts. There are so many other alternatives available to you, particularly when you enlist the services of a small business answering service. Automatic call forwarding solutions allow you to divert important calls to such services whenever your in-house team is unavailable to answer. You decide how and when to utilize these fully customizable services. Forward calls at certain times of the day, or have every ring redirected. The choice is yours.
3. Volume: Seasonal upticks in call volumes can be taxing for even the biggest industry players. For small businesses, they can cause progress to screech to a halt. Whether you’re crunching numbers during tax season or fielding calls for HVAC repair smack dab in the middle of the sweltering summer, small business answering services can give you the added oomph you need to clear those hurdles. Professionally trained agents can handle an influx of calls with patience, poise, and a thorough knowledge of your services and/or products.
4. Customization: Personalization is the key to competing with the big dogs. People want to feel valued and heard. They want to feel like their needs are unique, and that you will go out of your way to meet them. You can. In fact, this one-on-one mentality is truly something only a small business with exemplary customer service and a small business answering service at its disposal can provide. At Edwards, for example, our personalized client accounts are 100% customizable, with options available for the types of calls received and the day and time we receive them. You set the tone, and we assist your callers according to your exact specifications.

With Edwards as your small business answering service, you can rest assured that your customers’ inquiries are being handled quickly and professionally.  Our team leverages multiple means of communication, reaching your customers via their preferred platform. And our prices are competitive, with a variety of plans to choose from.