Mobile phones are supposed to make life more convenient for us, enabling people to reach one another while they’re on the go doing work or running errands. However, if it seems that you are fielding more calls than you can reasonably accommodate yourself, you may find that you feel chained to the device. In many cases, using a call answering service may be your best option.
For example, if you run your own business and do not have a receptionist or an assistant to book appointments, you may be out in the field installing equipment or meeting with a new client when calls come in. You run the risk of losing new business if you don’t answer the phone directly and let the call go to voice mail.
Your caller may perceive that if your organization is too small to have a person on hand to answer the phone, it may also be ill equipped to handle the job it wants you to do.
On the other hand, if you do take a call while you are out doing work for someone, you may risk giving the appearance that you are not focused on the job at hand. This is especially problematic if you charge customers and clients by the hour and you do not want to give the impression that you are asking them to pay for your time while you handle another client’s problem or inquiry.
Busy professionals may not realize that their time is better spent doing the tasks they specialize in, rather than answering a multitude of inquiries on their mobile phone. The sheer volume of incoming calls often makes it clear to them that they need to start using a telephone answering service to ease their burden.
Another advantage to using an answering service is that you can prioritize the types of calls that go through. For example, you won’t want to be bothered by routine questions, but if an emergency arises, your service can contact you at any time with the message or arrange to call you on another line.
The service can also categorize your calls for you, and give you details on the most pressing issues first, for example, or by giving you messages from people you designate as having a higher priority.
You should consider taking advantage of an answering service to make sure that you maximize the use of your time. You stand to gain more business as you present a more professional front, and you can avoid losing new business when callers get to speak with a real person instead of leaving a message with a machine.