Securing new clients is the holy grail of any business. It is how businesses grow and is key to success and longevity.
Of course, retaining clients is crucial too and there is one simple thing that all businesses can do to support client acquisition and retention. Ensure that phone calls and inquiries never go unanswered.
Unanswered calls lead to lost business. It really is that simple! And yet, it is something that many small businesses overlook whilst they are busy focusing on other aspects of the business. This is understandable, particularly in smaller or growing businesses where the owner and employees are often trying to multi-task, and answering the phone isn’t anyone’s specific job role.
Lunch breaks, meetings, being on another call, accepting a delivery, focussing on hitting a deadline, staff absence or holidays are just some of the reasons why phone calls are missed. Answering machines are sometimes considered to be a solution, and whilst this may be preferable to a phone constantly ringing out, there is absolutely no substitute for a human voice on the other end of the phone.
Many people still hate talking to answering machines, automated services or even worse, being held for ages in a queue. Some will hang on or leave a message but many won’t. In fact, research shows that 69% of callers won’t leave a voicemail.
Often those that do leave a message don’t provide all the information needed to fulfill their inquiry or even forget to leave their contact details. In addition to potential lost business, missed calls are also a missed opportunity to create a positive first impression.
It can be difficult to measure lost business from missed calls and this is the main reason why businesses don’t make it a priority. However, the phone is still the number one method of communication that customers use when they want something quickly. With this in mind, it makes sense to ensure your business phone is always answered. The perfect solution to this is to use an answering service.
Finding the ideal phone answering service
The right answering service will help generate new clients and retain existing ones. In addition to not losing business due to missed calls, outsourcing phone answering can free up time for staff to focus on other tasks which will generate new clients. This could mean dedicating more time to outbound sales, marketing activities, networking, customer research or product/service development.
A professional call answering service, such as the service offered by Moneypenny, will not only ensure that all calls are answered promptly but also that the voice on the other end is friendly, professional, polite and understands what you do and what your prospects want.
This is key to gaining new customers; the right call answering service will represent your business in the best possible light, instilling confidence and providing the right information. A Moneypenny Receptionist can answer your calls in your company name and, depending on your availability, calls can be put through or messages taken. Messages which are detailed and accurate can be sent to you by text or email to ensure they are received promptly and can be followed up in the best way possible to secure new business.
What are you waiting for?
To find out more about how a Phone Answering Service can help your business, call us today on 844 364 0600. We can offer you a FREE one week trial, allowing you to sample our services and see the results for yourself, with no obligation to continue.
