People do not stop calling your business just because you closed up the shop for the day. If not answering the phone, it means that you are handing the business to the competitor who does. There are those callers who will wait for you to open your business again while others won’t.
The after-hours answering service can serve your customers and take the load off. It also helps in preventing missed calls from becoming missed business opportunities.
In this guide, we will look at some of the features of an after-hours answering service.
- 24/7 service
Whether you are on holiday or fast asleep, you will be able to get services any day, any time. Their services are all year round.
- Instant activation
An after-hours answering service ensures that you are online by signing up with them. You will set up your dashboard, and they will start responding to your calls.
- Toll-free or local number
Do not give out your personal number in order to boost your professional image.
- Personalized dashboard
Their dashboard lets you view your detailed reports and messages.
- Personalized on-call schedules
Update your schedule using their mobile application or dashboard. You are the one to decide when to call them for their services. Either during high call volumes, after-hours, weekends, and nights.
- Immediate messaging
An after-hours answering service ensures that your messages are delivered through SMS and email instantly.
Understanding the types of after-hours answering services
There is a different kind of services that you can select. Some of the after-hour telephone solutions include;
- Virtual receptionists
It refers to a group of remote receptionist that provides services and answers phone calls in the place of your business. When you provide a script, they forward it to a T.A virtual receptionist.
- Auto attendants
Here, your callers will navigate using their voice or the number pad. They use interactive voice recognition to help callers get the services they need and understand what they are saying. Through the auto attendant, people complete basic transactions and request information.
You do not have to speak to a person. Also, auto attendants give options to particular employees or departments.
- Call centers
These ones resemble virtual receptionists. The difference is that they are international and much larger. They possess a greater capacity when handling inbound calls. They also offer different kinds of services, such as the use of various pricing structures and making outbound calls.
- Call forwarding
It is the easiest solution when responding to after-hours phone calls. However, you are burdened to always pick up the phone. Call forwarding is recommendable for a solopreneur.
- Text answering
Instead of leaving a voicemail, text answering allows your after-hours callers to start a text conversation. You can respond to your callers as you close up the business for the day.
Parting shot
Every after-hours call is a chance to earn somebody’s business. Your business competitors will benefit whenever you miss a call. Make sure that your customers are served conveniently and quickly, even when you cannot answer a call.
