Call Answering Service. Typical Costs? Any Recommendations?

[Gma290]

hi

My name is Gerry. I read the book. Since dec 2005, with VOIP I Telework (Im an IT Recruiter) from Thailand where I live, I came here as I Love Muay Thai Kickboxing Trainign, and also the way of life, low costs, nice beaches etc. And I work each afternoon 3pm - midnight into Ireland, I recruit IT Engineers, Network Engineers, Systems Admin Tech Suport, Irish Candidates, Irish Companies, Irish VOIP number, basically my biz is portable, 90% was always phone + email, etc..any Ill intro myself proper tomorrow.

I got book from amazon.com other day, scanned chapter on outsourcing and I have one hire already and another one the wings, and 2 other project on elance. I am outsourcing as much as I can. Anyway..

Does anyone know the average costs of a typical Call Answering Service, in offshore low costs country, with good english, good technology, and a good price?

See I am a very small solo recruiter, and I get no more than 5 or 10 inbound calls a day.. I d say 5 is average. I try to push as much onto email as I can.

I am so busy I have my phone 90% of the time diverted to voicemail, and i know this few months people are getting annoyed, as some clients have disappeared, the amount of voicemails left is going down.

So I want a reliable, cost effective, phone answering service, to take Name, email, phone, compay and reason for call ( I want then to ensure they make good effort to get this info) then teach the caller, that the fastest way to get me is my email and its my preferred way of contact, and encourage the caller to email me also. the phone answer immediate emails message to me.

How I got a quote today... a good compay seems like. $1 US Dollar per call. but if that goes up to 10 inbounds a day mon - fri ..thats $200 every month. or if it average 5 a day $100 a month... or 20 a day...$400 a month.

How do those prices compare?

Has anyone any good recommendations?

I know Philipines has good english speakers.

I got a big off 1 indian firm and the guy saidif I can divert my VOIP software phone to an Indian MOBILE PHONE!!!! He would get a professional good manner person to answer!!! eeeerrrr mobile phone in Indian...no thanks mate!
I could see the reaction of the IT Manager in a large financial company in ireland, is she called an some Indian lady answered in my company name on a cell phone while out shopping in the local market!! no thanks!!!

I got a good online VOIP sent up and I can in 2 mins or less divert my VOIP number to literally any phone in the world.

So any advice on this would be great?
Thanks
Gerry

[Gma290]

Does anyone know the average costs of a typical Call Answering Service, in offshore low costs country, with good english, good technology, and a good price?


So I want a reliable, cost effective, phone answering service, to take Name, email, phone, compay and reason for call ( I want then to ensure they make good effort to get this info) then teach the caller, that the fastest way to get me is my email and its my preferred way of contact, and encourage the caller to email me also. the phone answer immediate emails message to me.

How I got a quote today... a good compay seems like. $1 US Dollar per call. but if that goes up to 10 inbounds a day mon - fri ..thats $200 every month. or if it average 5 a day $100 a month... or 20 a day...$400 a month.

How do those prices compare?

Has anyone any good recommendations?

[Michele]

i have been researching this really heavy myself, and have decided on Ring Central for now, and go with live operator later. Right now each call matters to much to risk it being mishandled by someone who is either haveing a bad day or from another country. I don't like that myself. I will get 5 extensions to delegate my calls so I only get the NEW BUSINESS inquiries...no more PROBLEMS...i need to delegate that.

[Mack]

I actually use West and LiveOps within my current job. They can follow a script however the more complicated the product, the more complicated the scripting. These call centers are set up to obtain orders-not necessarily sell something. They are effective and recordings, which can be inavaluable, are available. As someone who has used both, I would recommend both but be sure to set up follow up. I don't care who you are, if you care about your business, you need to watch.

Edit your scripts and be prepared for fall out. Fall out meaning that when you make a change, that change can impact YOUR money.

Managing to a 4 hour work week is my goal but there is sooo much that needs to be thought out and if you are using a call center it is PARAMOUNT that you monitor and be prepare to make (and pay for) adjustments. I AM NOT SAYING that you have to pay for adjustments but rather it will impact your business in the short term. I AM NOT SAYING that West and LiveOps are not good, they are, but manage YOUR business.

[Gma290]

Thanks Lads!
Has anyone any URL for these?

I am due to talk to am American run company got cicra 100 stafff based in Indian. they do the $1 per call thing, their thier lads in netrual accents, and expect the client (me) to work a little at start to train them. Thats a good thing.

Still I want to keep options open.

For example this morning I had to divert my call to voice mail, as I was out 3 hours (too much working IN business) now I know some Impatient people refuse to leave voicemails, so if I had the call center options = less lost message, more potential business.

[Gma290]

Originally Posted by Mack

I actually use West and LiveOps

I AM NOT SAYING that West and LiveOps are not good, they are, but manage YOUR business.

I guys thanks for infor... I found www for Live Ops and for Rong Central

Cannot find www for West that Mack uses. Can you give to me or PM me even with it? Thanks!

Yes, you cannot guarantee an OUTSTANDING job but then again even when I had 14 staff before I went solo... sure it was the same thing... go out for a coffee for 20 mins.. and I am sure someone. (based on experience) would be not just great answering a call etc...

then again, if I am serious busy and someone catches me on an incoming call, and its the last thing I need, I am sure I can have my moments too!

Today I was held up... phone into voicemail for 4 hours... and not so busy when i finish this post, it has to stay in VM for me to catch up!!!

So lets see what else we can find re call answering centers.

[Mack]

http://www.west.com/

[jeffstrum]

I highly recommend http://www.officeanswers.com