Technology and proper training enable receptionist to answer each call as if they were an employee of your company. Computers queue receptionist instantly identifying call's source. A prepared script or fact sheet is utilized to handle call.

In addition to off-hours call handling, many answering services can handle calls after a certain number of rings or when there would be a busy signal during periods of hyper-activity, often saving a sale.

The reality is most businesses are open less than one-third of time. That is a small window of opportunity for your customer to buy.

In today's economy and lifestyle, customers want to satisfy their need as quickly as possible. If you're not available when they are ready to buy, you may have a disgruntled potential customer or prospect, or worse yet, a lost sale.

Consider a professional answering service to solve this problem for your business. You should experience increased sales and have a happier customer base.

I can remember back when I worked for temporary agencies, they were forever giving out pens, pads, magnets, etc. to keep their names in front of everyone. Think of Pizza Hut and Domino’s. How many magnets do you have with their name and telephone numbers on your refrigerator. When we ran our Matching Numbers business, we made up shirts and jackets that we wore everywhere. You’d be surprised how many customers we got in grocery store, post office, fast food places, who asked us for cards or about our business.

There is a whole separate industry that deals with advertising specialty items. You name it, you can get your name on it. Mugs, pens, business cards, memo pads, etc. These items can get word out on your business not only to your customers , but also to your customers’ customers. Memo pads are especially nice. People have a tendency to jot notes on them and then give them out to others. So they are a very far reaching tool. Advertising with Specialty items is almost as good as referrals.

Be sure on your promotional material (brochures, flyers, newsletters) that you indicate how your referral program works. Be sure to indicate what type of incentives you offer. Be sure to be very specific in outlining what your customers need to do. For example, fill out this form and mail it back (or fax it back) with names, addresses and telephone numbers of those you are referring. You don’t have to ask for all of this information, however, if you are going to snail mail you will need their address.

Be sure when you do your networking at your organizational meetings or chamber meetings that you tell people about your referral program. Business people appreciate being rewarded for referrals they give you. However, too many people never follow through, which is why for many businesses their referral program goes by wayside. This is one area where we stress to our students you tell all your networking partners, your tenant buyers, your sellers, and all of your family, friends, in fact, everyone you come in contact with that you pay a percentage of each deal you do (an average deal is $5000) to them if they refer someone and you do a deal with that person. Believe me when I say, once they receive one check from you, they become a walking advertisement for your lease purchase business.

There is one caveat to offering a referral program and that is you must DO GOOD BUSINESS. Your credibility is at stake. You want to be viewed as a reliable, dependable, and trustworthy individual. You need for people to want to buy from you, and because you did such an outstanding job, tell everyone else about you.

So, are you using Secret Weapon?

Copyright 2003 DeFiore Enterprises