Appletree Answering Service

For those of you who are sports fans, this story may peek your interest, but I will not give you the blow by blow recant of the game.  Stay with me, I promise it’s going somewhere. 

So last night, I was lucky enough to get 2 club box tickets to the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Dallas Stars game, with a premier parking pass.  We had exceptional seats, about 12 rows off of center ice; access to the club box bar and close proximity to a restroom, which seems small, but quite the luxury at a crowded sporting event.  The game proved to be exciting clear through the 3^rd period where the Flyers pulled out a 4 -3 win over the Stars, giving them their 5^th win in a row.  With all the commotion of an exciting win and masses of people exiting the stadium, my friend and I went out the wrong exit.  So much for a premier parking pass…  And to add to it, it was raining, hard!  Taking advantage of the situation, we decided to run through the parking lot, jumping in rain puddles, splashing each other and racing through the parked cars like an obstacle coarse.  It was freezing cold and we were soaked, but it was fun.  Fun that you see children having, carefree, easy fun and it was all stimulated by a mistake.  When I woke up this morning, I was excited to share my story.  If it made me take the time to reflect on the simplicity and smile, then maybe it would touch someone else.  I guess the moral of the story is, not to let mistakes get you down, don’t dwell on them.  Get through them, learn from them and make the most of the situation! 

We are all affected in some way by the current economic slowdown.  The key to success is managing through these tough times with minimal strategic impact.  Companies lay off workers, cut back on resources, reduce wages and freeze benefits.  General anxiety leads millions of companies to hunker down and stop spending, which slows the economy even more.  However, your business does not have to suffer during these hard times.  During times like these, there are still several ways for companies to thrive and continue to grow their business.  Below are some tips from experts on how to save money and still grow your business during an economic downfall.  Along with some suggestions on how Appletree can help. 

Get your Finances in Order
It’s important to keep your business costs low and maintain cash flow.  Save money on jobs by eliminating non-profitable areas and outsourcing in order to use money where you need it the most. 

As your receptionist, you don’t have to pay Appletree a salary, benefits, sick and vacation days, taxes, or workman’s comp.  You don’t have the expenses of office space and you only pay us for service when the phone rings.  Appletree provides significant bottom line savings in comparison to full time employees.   

Keep your Staff Happy
During down times, management needs to place absolute focus on the core business.  Take care of the people that are going to carry your business through this tough time. 

In order to avoid hindering your employee’s productivity, Appletree can help your employees focus on their jobs and fulfilling their responsibilities.  By screening their phone calls, we can transfer their urgent calls and relay the messages for the others.  In addition to taking calls, Appletree can also answer your employee’s emails around the clock. 

Increase the frequency of communications with existing clients
Another key element for thriving during a recession is to focus more on customer satisfaction.  By focusing on delivering more than you promise, you are putting the customer first.  This helps reinforce their decision to buy from you.  Personalized attention makes your callers not only feel important, but also makes your company stand out.

Appletree will address client concerns, take orders, and answer their questions one-by-one, all while providing you with 24/7 customer support. With Appletree, you can increase your productivity, while still providing your clients with the personal attention they deserve.

Invest in Your Business
Promote, promote, promote!  Look at effective ways to market your business. When people are ready to buy, they want to talk to someone now.  To get an answering machine or voice mail gives them no sense that they have made any contact at all with your company.  Many feel that if they cannot reach someone when they are ready to buy, surely they may not reach anyone when they have a problem. 

An answering service can give your callers the impression of stability and professionalism that they look for in a company they want to do business with.  Appletree will always be there to answer their calls and can help you generate new business by making outbound phone calls or fielding and screening your incoming sales calls.  Your image starts with the person who answers your phone.  Show your prospects that you are a customer service oriented company.  With Appletree, all of your calls are handled with accuracy and expediency.