Wendy Mckay

"Don't worry, voicemail will get it." "Leave it ring, I'll get it later." "Hey, I ain't got time to answer calls." "Who's that calling all the time?" "Where's me phone, I should get back to these people." "Why are these people calling all the time?" And many more ridiculous ways to run a business. Calls, call queues and connected customers are all part of it.

You know how it is. You arrive at your office having walked past the Receptionist who only momentarily notices you, as the obligatory nail filing and hair brushing is attended to. And if it's a woman it could be worse! People are slouched over their desks and you wonder why does it have to be like this? Where are the sales campaigns, the surveys and the calls? You need business growth.

The business life can be hectic can't it. By the time you get to the office there are twenty emails shouting out to be answered and even more voice messages yelling at you. You just get started on them and the secretary hands you eight paper messages most marked as urgent! Then to top it off a member of staff comes to you with a request to go home sick. And it's only 9am!!! Nothing gets done. Nevertheless, those business calls need attention for business growth.

It's true that out of all the complaints received by companies, one which is always at the top of the list is that of customers not being able to get through to a company by phone. Furthermore, customers don't like being put on hold for an age and they certainly don't like their calls going unanswered. Hmm, me thinks we have a problem.

From window cleaners to Research Metaphysicists, they all need to communicate. And with email, texts, face to face and fax, the humble old telephone is still a primary method of communication. But, and it's a big but, lots of those telephone calls actually go unanswered. Missed calls for any business is a no no. A business not answering calls needs a call answering service.

It seems that whenever we read about jobs working from home the first thing that comes to mind is "scam". And whilst that is a very fair comment it is also very fair to say that surely, not all work from home jobs are scams. Some are jobs. Checking them out is fairly easy.

Working from home is just about everyone's dream. But that dream is shattered when those people hand over their hard earned cash to pay for "start up costs" or "admin fees" or "to show they are not time wasters". Working from home is only viable if it's an actual job or an actual business. A business manager is a good example of just that.

Possibly at first you may come to the conclusion that no, there isn't really a need for a call answering service in business. You might reason that business calls are highly important regardless of their nature and you might reason still further that business calls provide an opportunity for business growth. Based on that reasoning those in business will put their calls on a high priority and answer them. Why then do so many divert their calls?

It's essential isn't it, to grow the business. It's sometimes difficult to keep the business afloat, before even thinking about growing it! As of 2012 there is still a recession hitting businesses all over the globe so it's quite common to hear business owners say they are struggling to stay in business. But growth is still essential. And those business calls therefore, must be made, answered and dealt with. Yes, help with the business calls may just be the thing.

There is so much to pay attention to when running a business. Stock control, pay roll, rents and rates, health and safety, staff motivation, competition, business growth, and so the list goes on and on. That list though, would only exist if the business exists and the business only exists if communication exists. So why then do so many companies treat their business calls as if they are a pain in the neck?