Keep the Phone Ringing: 6 Tips for Small Business Call Management

As a growing small business, it seems the challenges will never end, especially when you’re working with a limited budget. Incoming phone calls bring new business leads, so it’s important to make every call a priority. So how can you make sure you answer and handle each call with care? Here are some helpful tips for small business call management:

Get an 800 number for routing

A toll-free number is an inexpensive and easy way to make sure your customers can always get in touch with you. Even if your business moves or you change phone lines, your toll-free number follows. You can route calls to any number and use an online account manager to track and analyze every call you receive.

Utilize your voice mail recording

When you aren’t able to answer a call, your voicemail recording should still be helpful to customers. Answer common business questions, like offering your office hours or another way to contact your business. Some callers only want this very basic information, and many will be satisfied after hearing a recording.

Schedule employees to maximize call coverage

Plan workers’ schedules so there is someone to cover the phones during and after business hours. It’s a good idea to hire flexible employees who are willing to work earlier or later than business hours, in order to maximize the time when a real person can answer the phone.

Check your call log

There’s no need to worry if you end up short staffed one afternoon. When you have a toll-free number, your account automatically saves all call history, meaning you’ll never miss an opportunity to create business. Simply access your online account manager to get all the call data from the time you were unable to take calls.

Consider quality control

A call-recording feature allows you to monitor calls for quality control so you can make sure your employees are on the right track. Find out how they are prioritizing answer time, first time and various call types, simply by listening to each recording.

Employee training

Handing calls correctly starts with adequate employee training. Teach your employees how to prioritize and handle calls quickly by keeping messages short and summarizing information.

Find the right tools and start managing your phone system like a pro. To learn more about how Custom Toll Free works visit customtollfree.com/how-it-works.