| Despite the appearance of low-cost recorded | | | | figured accurately, which you can only do once you |
| answering devices, there is still a thriving demand for | | | | have arrived at detailed rates with the telephone |
| answering services featuring 8 live persons on the | | | | company business office. If you are in an area that |
| other end of the line. If you have ever called | | | | has a limited number of message units for a fiat rate |
| someone who used a recording device for an | | | | with an additional charge for additional calls, you will |
| answering service you probably know why. People | | | | have to base your pricing accordingly. |
| just cannot carry on a satisfactory conversation with | | | | Stress in your brochure that your service will be |
| a machine. For doctors in particular the recorded | | | | tailored exactly to the needs of the client. Solicit |
| message answering service was never an acceptable | | | | customers who may not be using an answering |
| substitute. But now most small, one-person | | | | service now possibly because they didn't realize how |
| businesses that rely on telephone calls from potential | | | | helpful it could be to them. A local TV repair shop |
| customers realize the value of having a person | | | | may be owner-operated. The owner may be in the |
| answer the phone who can respond immediately to | | | | shop much of the time but involved in work that |
| the caller's particular needs. | | | | does not allow him to answer the phone easily. |
| Basically the way an answering service works is quite | | | | Stress that you not only take messages but also |
| simple. It is an extension of your client's telephone | | | | make appointments and deal with TV repair |
| with the number ringing on your switchboard at the | | | | customers, almost as if you were in the shop. |
| same time it rings on his telephone. After three or | | | | If the money necessary to run telephone lines into |
| more rings the answering service picks up and says, | | | | your home to a switchboard is beyond your means |
| for instance, "Dr. Thompson's office," and the person | | | | right now, there is another way to start your own |
| is answered just as if he had actually reached Dr. | | | | answering service more modestly You can have your |
| Thompson's office. The service takes a message and | | | | client list your telephone number as an alternative if |
| either gets in touch with the client immediately or | | | | there is no answer at the telephone listed for his |
| reports with a series of messages at one time. For | | | | place of business. In this way, you can avoid the |
| doctors this service is quite indispensable. For other | | | | immediate expense of sophisticated telephone |
| professionals and small businesses the answering | | | | equipment and still offer many of the same |
| service acts as their office switchboard. | | | | advantages to your customers. This means, of |
| This is the kind of business you can run from one | | | | course, that you will have to start with a smaller |
| room in your home. For a fee, the telephone | | | | nucleus of clients since you must leave your |
| company simply runs lines into a switchboard they | | | | telephone reasonably free to receive as many |
| install for this purpose. In some states the telephone | | | | messages as possible. For this more modest beginning |
| company requires you to have a minimum number of | | | | consider having one telephone to receive telephone |
| customers before they will set up this equipment. | | | | calls and another telephone to deliver messages. This |
| You will have to lay out an advance sum of money | | | | way, of course, one phone remains free for incoming |
| when the equipment is installed, just as you did when | | | | calls at all times. |
| you were having new telephones installed in your | | | | Take the trouble to visit prospective clients |
| house. You should check your telephone company's | | | | personally. They will appreciate the attention and you |
| business office for specific rates. | | | | will be much better equipped to discuss a client's |
| To get customers for your service you should have | | | | needs if you can also see the setting in which your |
| a small listing in the Yellow Pages. You should also | | | | client works. |
| prepare a small brochure for specific customers, | | | | To supplement the income from your service, you |
| listing your rates. To start you should try to limit | | | | can offer a wake-up service. Your fee for waking |
| yourself to handling telephone messages during the | | | | people nicely by telephone twenty times a month will |
| business day. Anything approaching an 18- or 24-hour | | | | be approximately $6 to $8 dollars a month, depending |
| service will require a trained staff. The best training | | | | on local telephone rates. |
| you can get for this kind of business is to work as | | | | The telephone is a valuable moneymaking instrument. |
| an operator for someone else's answering service. | | | | It's a particularly good business for people who must |
| Bear in mind that when you try to solicit customers, | | | | stay at home during the day, such as a parent with a |
| especially doctors, you will be dealing with | | | | young child or a handicapped individual. The versatility |
| prospective clients who already employ an answering | | | | of the telephone means that you could offer |
| service. You will have to approach these prospective | | | | additional services to your clients, such as reminders |
| clients with the goal of winning them away rather | | | | by telephone for important birthdays, anniversaries |
| than selling them on the service. The best way to | | | | and other occasions. You might also offer a |
| win over clients is obviously to offer features that | | | | telephone solicitation business to your answering |
| other services do not. Price is the most competitive | | | | service clients. |
| feature of an answering service. Your pricing must be | | | | |