Blog Layout
Achieve Winning Business Communications: Play Seven
Anser • May 07, 2020
PLAY #7:
Determine ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS
and PRACTICES.
You have achieved a Super Bowl championship with the choosing of your best answering service partner. Now, we must look at how to maintain this success and keep it going season after season.
The two primary items to examine are ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS
with your services and understanding PRACTICES
that will help your partnership grow and improve. We will examine some of the most important items to maintain success.
- Understand the billing period of your answering service. Most services bill based on a calendar month (12 periods per year) or on a 28-day cycle (13 periods per year). For most companies, there is very little variance in the annual billing, but smaller companies should consider their cash flow, especially if their business is seasonal. If you are billed monthly the invoices may be a little higher to account for more days in the billing cycle. With the 28-day billing cycle your company will have 1 month where 2 invoices are received during the calendar year.
- Know the type of contract you are signing. Most services offer a month-to-month type of contract, but there are a few answering services that require longer commitments. The advantage of month to month commitments allows your company the freedom and flexibility to make service changes as needed. However, the benefit of a longer service commitment is a guarantee of your current rate plan and resulting in fewer rate increases over time.
- Offer price packages based on volume. Review your call volume at least once a quarter to be certain you are on the most economical package for your business. Find out how many times you are allowed to update your pricing plan without penalty. Seasonal businesses, such as HVAC and lawn care services, need the flexibility to have one plan for your busy season and one plan for your off-season.
- Ongoing dialogue with your answering service partner. Monthly or quarterly dialog with your account representative gives you the opportunity to review procedures, reassess your price plan, and verify that company information is accurate and up to date. It may also be appropriate to schedule annual re-training sessions either in person or through online meetings.
- All answering services are going to have errors. Know who and how to immediately report any errors so your answering service partner can address the issue in a most expedient manner. Timely reporting the service error to make immediate determinations on how to address the issue is very helpful to both parties. Reporting issues weeks and months later and letting animosity build up is not the way to develop a good business partnership. Keep the communication line open!
We hope this blog has been a good playbook to helping you find and choose the best answering service partner for your business. The Achieve Winning Business Communications
series will become a Whitepaper that you can use or share with business associates. If you have any questions, or would like our assistance with any of these plays, please contact our Business Communications Consultant, Byron Bordelon at (225) 766-1111
or byron@anser.com.
Answering services can help your property management business function more efficiently. Read on for signs that you need to hire an answering service.
Virtual reception services help manage business operations efficiently. Learn more about the benefits of these services by reading our blog.
Effective customer service communication helps build strong customer relationships in today's fast-paced business world. Read this blog on some strategies.
When you hire a phone answering service, you want to make sure that they have the right knowledge. Read our blog to learn how to find the right service.
One tool that hospice companies can leverage to enhance their services is an answering service. Learn how you can benefit from this service in our blog.
For the 17 th time, AnSer Answering Services has been honored with the exclusive 2023 Award of Excellence. The award is presented annually by the Canadian Call Management Association (CAM-X), the industry’s Trade Association for providers of call center services including telephone answering and message delivery. AnSer was presented the award recently at the CAM-X 59 th Annual Convention and Trade Show in Calgary, Alberta. Independent judges are contracted by CAM-X to evaluate message services over a six-month period. The scoring criteria includes response time, courteousness of rep, accuracy of call, knowledge of account, and overall impression of call. For over 70 years, AnSer has been a leader in the telecommunications industry and is now a 17-time winner of the Platinum Plus Awards which demonstrates AnSer’s quality service to its customers. If you would like to learn more about AnSer’s services and how they are able to help improve your communications with your current customers and potential new customers, call any time and ask for Byron at (920) 490-7700.
Provide vital services to your patients with virtual answering services. Read on to learn more about this exciting new advancement in technology.
Answering services can help offer immediate assistance 24/7 for your clients when they have issues. Read our blog to learn more information.
AnSer Answering Services for the second time in the past three years has ranked in the annual INC 5000 fastest-growing private companies list. AnSer is part of Message Network, Inc. headquartered in Green Bay, WI, but AnSer is operating a total of 18 call centers with live telephone agents from coast to coast in the United States. For over 70 years, AnSer has been a leader in the telecommunications industry and is currently the #1 ranked call center in North America by the industry’s two largest associations. President Allan Fromm commenting on the many recent achievements of AnSer said, “I am very proud of our entire team working towards our company goal of providing a friendly, professional customer service experience. Our recent awards and continued growth are a testament to our team’s commitment, and we appreciate the recognition from third parties.” If you would like to learn more about AnSer’s services and how they are able to help improve your communications with your current customers and potential new customers, call any time and ask for Byron at (920) 490-7700 .
Before utilizing virtual receptionist services, you need to create a script to ensure your calls are taken effectively. Read to learn more.
COMPANIES THAT TRUST OUR SERVICES
QUICK LINKS
CONTACT DETAILS
Phone: (800) 723-0000
Email: info@anser.com
HQ Location: Green Bay, WI
Business Hours:
Available 24 Hours