Answering Service Blog
Read Ambs' blog for tips, tricks, and inside information from answering service veterans on how to create a culture of professional, customer-focused voices.
How Answering Services Work | Virtual Receptionists 101
By:
Peter DeHaan
March 7th, 2024
This blog was originally published on 2/4/2019 and has been updated for relevance. You likely know that hiring a call answering service provides many benefits. And with businesses growing more each day, many turn to answering service companies to help solve their issues. Oftentimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Customer Service | Human Resources/HR Solutions | How Answering Services Work | Shopping for an Answering Service
By:
Ryan Ambs
February 26th, 2024
This blog was originally published on 5/10/22 and has been updated for relevance. If you have an answering service, there’s probably been a point when you’ve wished your bill was cheaper.
Get our free infographic, illustrating how partnering with an answering service can grow your business, by subscribing to our blog.
Customer Service | How Answering Services Work
By:
Aaron Boatin
March 24th, 2023
So you’ve made a decision to use a telephone answering service. Congratulations! It may be one of the best business decisions you’ll make all year. Now the question becomes, “How do I call forward my phones to the answering service?” Never fear, we’ve outlined some of the most common call forwarding methods.
How Answering Services Work | Shopping for an Answering Service
By:
Aaron Boatin
February 16th, 2023
The telephone answering service industry does a great job at confusing the heck out of you when it comes to answering service pricing. You think a minute is really just a minute? Nope. It would make sense that a call is just a call too, right? Not even close.
Customer Service | Human Resources/HR Solutions | How Answering Services Work | Healthcare | Real Estate & Property Management | Entrepreneurs/Small Businesses | Attorneys | Trade Services | Virtual Receptionists 101 | IT | Shopping for an Answering Service
By:
Jennifer McGlothlin
June 2nd, 2022
We’re all trying to tighten up expenses during this crazy time and the family at Ambs Call Center is here for you. Learning about ways to streamline your account can dramatically reduce your answering service costs. All without affecting the service level to your customers.
By:
Aaron Boatin
April 25th, 2022
When purchasing a new service or product, one of the first considerations that comes to mind is price. With price comes value, and everyone wants to maximize their value. While Amazon has spoiled us with the ability to find the cost of almost anything, the cost of business services such as answering phones are harder to grasp.
Human Resources/HR Solutions | How Answering Services Work
By:
Jennifer McGlothlin
January 14th, 2021
When you’re a busy HR Manager at a mid-size to large company, staying on top of employee absences can be a burden.
Customer Service | How Answering Services Work | Virtual Receptionists 101
By:
Jennifer M. Cronkhite
November 30th, 2020
Patching is essentially call center lingo for transferring a caller to your team. Patching is frequently used by switchboard operators, virtual receptionist and after-hours emergency dispatchers. In the telephone answering service industry, there are two common ways callers can be patched including, warm and cold.
By:
Peter DeHaan
November 4th, 2020
In looking at common answering service rate plans we warned that some answering services charge additional fees beyond the typical base rate and usage charges. Watch out for these ancillary charges. Left unchecked they can turn a reasonable rate into a budget buster. Here are some common monthly reoccurring answering service charges to watch out for:
By:
Aaron Boatin
September 14th, 2020
Doctors answering services have been around for a long time. But that doesn’t mean they’re obsolete. In fact, they may be more important now than ever before. Throughout this time the medical answering service has continued to evolve to meet healthcare providers’ needs and their patients’ expectations. With an emphasis on the personal touch, a patient answering service applies the latest technology to their service offerings so they can provide best-in-class service to their healthcare clients.
By:
Aaron Boatin
June 29th, 2020
Do you find yourself struggling to keep up with the things on your to-do list to keep your business running? Do you feel like you’re on a treadmill where you can't afford to jump off to work on the business instead of in it? That’s where using an answering service for small business can free you from being tied to the phone so you can get some work done.
Customer Service | How Answering Services Work
By:
Peter DeHaan
June 23rd, 2020
Toll-free numbers make it easy for people to reach you. Regardless of where they are in the country, this one number will work. There’s no guessing about using an area code or not. And there’s no need to pick from a list of many local numbers to select the right one. If you need a toll free number, you can get your own or your answering service can provide one for you. Here are five tips for successfully using a toll free number with a toll free answering service:
By:
Aaron Boatin
May 5th, 2020
All business owners know how critical customer satisfaction is to their company’s success. But the most successful owners understand how closely customer satisfaction is tied to profitability. That's why it is really important to pick the right answering service. A poor customer experience is often the reason people choose to stop doing business with you. In fact, 71% of U.S. consumers chose to end a business relationship because they were turned off by a bad customer service experience. And lost customers impacted those business’ bottom lines.
Customer Service | How Answering Services Work | Healthcare | Virtual Receptionists 101
By:
Jennifer M. Cronkhite
May 1st, 2020
Which is better, using a telephone answering service or a virtual assistant? Well, no one can answer that question except for you. In fact, the real question is, “Which style of support is best for you?” To gain some clarity, you must understand the basics of each style and then determine your needs. Which is why you should continue reading this article. You'll learn about answering services, virtual assistants and call centers. Then we'll walk you through some basic questions to determine your needs. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how to choose the right service for your business.
By:
Aaron Boatin
March 1st, 2020
When looking for a telephone answering service, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of companies that show up on your Google search.
By:
Peter DeHaan
November 15th, 2019
Some answering services offer free trials to entice wary businesses to use their service. Their logic is that if you try it you will like it. They pretend their service is so good that they have nothing to risk. In reality, if their service was that good they wouldn’t need to bribe you with a free trial.
How Answering Services Work | Entrepreneurs/Small Businesses
By:
Peter DeHaan
August 29th, 2019
Hurricane season is officially upon us. Whether or not your business is in an area prone to hurricanes, it’s wise to be prepared for the unexpected. Though the threats vary by location, no business is immune to some sort of hazard.
By:
Aaron Boatin
August 19th, 2019
The best telephone answering services charge by the minute. It's the most fair and accurate way to account for the work they do for you. In the answering service industry, this is known as work time. Think of them as your staff on demand where you are only paying someone when they are actually working.
How Answering Services Work | Virtual Receptionists 101
By:
Jennifer M. Cronkhite
April 30th, 2019
There are many reasons for business owners to consider hiring a telephone answering service. These include providing 24/7 availability, improving customer service, and enhancing customer-facing communication. However, did you know that if you hire the right answering service, they can also help you increase your sales? Here are seven ways that a phone answering service can help you close more sales.
How Answering Services Work | Virtual Receptionists 101
By:
Aaron Boatin
April 29th, 2019
Using a virtual phone receptionist is a great way to impress your callers. On top of that it helps you take control of your calendar and focus on the things that matter. Here are 12 reasons why using a virtual answering service will help your business.