The Importance of Owning Your Business Toll-Free Number

Potential clients frequently ask me if we provide a toll-free number as part of our service.  

This is probably a common question because providing clients with toll-free numbers is common practice in the answering service industry. However, what most business owners don’t realize is that it is not good business practice to use the toll-free number an answering service provides, as your main business number.

There are several reasons why this practice is not a good idea, but one reason stands out above all the others ... read more.

How to Provide Top-Notch Customer Service During the Busy Holiday Season

Today’s customers expect nothing but the highest level of service, and during the holidays they are looking for even more enthusiasm and friendliness to spread the holiday cheer.

During the busy holiday shopping season it is even more important for businesses and customer service agents to maximize satisfaction for overwhelmed consumers.

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Show Your Customers You Care

Great customer service is the backbone of every consumer-oriented business.

At AnswerFirst, we’ve been perfecting the craft of customer service since 1985, and our clients know they can trust us to provide their customers with the highest quality of service. When it comes down to it, customer service is all about showing customers that you care. Everyone wants to feel valued, especially when they are spending their hard-earned money – customers want to feel appreciated for their patronage and loyalty.

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HIPAA & Answering Services: How Will This Change Our Service?

We have been talking a good deal lately, in our office meetings, about the new HIPAA “Omnibus” Rule and how it will affect the way we do business with medical professionals and facilities that handle Patient Health Information (PHI).

Under the new rules, it is not just the medical professionals and facilities responsibility to comply with HIPAA standards.  We, as the answering service, are also directly responsible for compliance. This means that any transmission of PHI, must be encrypted, on both sides.

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Feeling Overwhelmed By Your Inbox?

What if you could outsource your inbound email processing, the same way you outsource your inbound telephone calls?  Imagine, never having to worry about checking your email again?  In our technologically advanced climate, this seemingly impossible feat, has become a wonderful reality.

How Does It Work?

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Small Business Owners: Spend Less Time at the Office with These 4 Tips

Here at AnswerFirst, we work with small business owners and their customers 24/7.

Our clients save time and money by using our AnswerFirst answering services, but we know that they still spend countless hours devoted to their businesses.

With the following four time management tips, small business owners will find time to accomplish more business-related tasks, while also making time to enjoy life outside of work.

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Why We Don't Discount Our Services

Sometimes potential clients ask me to discount our answering services or our set-up fees as an incentive for them to do business with us.

I won’t say that I’ve never offered a reduced rate to a potential client because there are times when it makes sense to do so.  However, it’s very rare that I am willing to budge on price and I’ve got several reasons for this mentality.  Instead of explaining myself, I’m going to share a few emails that were exchanged between me and a potential client.

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