[Becci Swan]

Do you find you miss a lot of business calls whilst working?

I know there are many answering services out there that take messages to pass onto you, however would it be of interest to have an answering service that is aware of your company and services so could promote and book quotation appointments when picking up these calls?

If so how much would you be willing to pay per hour for this service that would still be cost effective for your business?

All (realistic and helpful) opinions appreciated!  

[deeege]

Not required imo.

I just have my landline diverted to my mobile so rarely miss any calls.

Realistically I probably get between 2 (bad week) and 8 (very good week) enquiries per week. I want to be the person answering these calls because I believe that I am the best person to be selling the services I offer.

[p1w1]

Not required imo.

I just have my landline diverted to my mobile so rarely miss any calls.

Realistically I probably get between 2 (bad week) and 8 (very good week) enquiries per week. I want to be the person answering these calls because I believe that I am the best person to be selling the services I offer.

I'd agree with this, i don't really see the need for it.

[dannymack]

Don't agree with ya degree as I think it's more professional if you have a secretary or PA to answer your calls !!!

[bobplum]

Don't agree with ya degree as I think it's more professional if you have a secretary or PA to answer your calls !!!

it does and i have used this type of service before, it will all come down to the cost

[Becci Swan]

Don't agree with ya degree as I think it's more professional if you have a secretary or PA to answer your calls !!!

it does and i have used this type of service before, it will all come down to the cost

Thank you for your responses so far.

Bob & Dannymack - what would you be prepared to pay as an hourly rate? This would be regardless of the amount of calls received.

[Elfyn]

I'm with Deeege on this. Any questions that the custie might have are cleared up right away and I think it's more professional.

[p1w1]

i don't see how it would be any benefit for me of you making the appointments you would constantly need to know where i was working what i could do that day etc would be to much hassle for me. And to be honest if a customer calls and i don't get to answer i can ring that number back if no message has been left.

[bobplum]

Don't agree with ya degree as I think it's more professional if you have a secretary or PA to answer your calls !!!

it does and i have used this type of service before, it will all come down to the cost

Thank you for your responses so far.

Bob & Dannymack - what would you be prepared to pay as an hourly rate? This would be regardless of the amount of calls received.

its usually done as bulk, ie the first 40 calls etc

[bobplum]

anserve were the company i used, very good if i remember

[roundbuilder]

An hourly rate to answer the phone??? Id pay £10 a month maybe if was good to have the service if i missed a call etc, i wouldnt pay anymore because its simply not worth it in my eyes.

[dave0123]

Dont think many people get calls per day maybe 1/2 calls or something if that! and some days its quiet so i don't think per hour would work..

and because so little calls come in compared to other business i don't think it would be worth the while you can just answer them your self like already stated.

[ascjim]

Not required imo.

I just have my landline diverted to my mobile so rarely miss any calls.

Realistically I probably get between 2 (bad week) and 8 (very good week) enquiries per week. I want to be the person answering these calls because I believe that I am the best person to be selling the services I offer.

your the man 

[concept]

Becci, you can happily answer all my PPI calls, advertising calls, injury claim calls etc

[roundbuilder]

Becci, you can happily answer all my PPI calls, advertising calls, injury claim calls etc

Lol you forgot the dreaded yellow pages calls!.

[Becci Swan]

An hourly rate to answer the phone??? Id pay £10 a month maybe if was good to have the service if i missed a call etc, i wouldnt pay anymore because its simply not worth it in my eyes.

I was thinking of a rate of £3 per hour to provide an answering service, whereby we dont just take a message, but actually sell your company and services to avoid potential customers calling and booking with someone else if you were unable to answer.

The service would be available on adhoc or regular hours where you may be working on a large job where you know you would be unable to answer your phone for a couple of hours, or simply if you just want a day off!

Regarding an earlier reply re knowing when to schedule appointments - I was thinking that the set up of a Google calendar is free and can be shared and accessed on mobiles and tablets, infact around 25% of my clients already ask us to book appointments using this when we are outbound calling.

[KT1]

Becci a telemarketing friend of mine does this service for £15 a month unlimited answering so I think it would be pretty,  competative. Becci you can share your data via google apps rather then sending excel and stuff.  If you have alot of clients maybe look at a CRM system, and give people log in codes? easier to manage data that way  Google apps are  brilliant, reliable and been around for ages.  3 years and they are brilliant

[Richard iSparkle]

I have this already from a local PA service.

they give quotes and take payments for me.

a great service 

[colin bird]

Not required imo.

I just have my landline diverted to my mobile so rarely miss any calls.

Realistically I probably get between 2 (bad week) and 8 (very good week) enquiries per week. I want to be the person answering these calls because I believe that I am the best person to be selling the services I offer.

agreed

[deeege]

Becci a telemarketing friend of mine does this service for £15 a month unlimited answering so I think it would be pretty,  competative. Becci you can share your data via google apps rather then sending excel and stuff.  If you have alot of clients maybe look at a CRM system, and give people log in codes? easier to manage data that way  Google apps are  brilliant, reliable and been around for ages.  3 years and they are brilliant

CRM system, google apps, data management, log in codes blah blah blah.

Why complicate things so much? And for £3 per hour?? no thanks.