Finding the perfect virtual receptionist answering service will expose you to words and terms that you may not have heard before. Having a conversation with someone who knows what these words mean, when you do not, will be confusing. Rather than feeling unprepared to make a decision regarding an answering service because you don’t fully understand what is being offered, Insta-answer.com has created a glossary to help you make the right choice. 

A Glossary of Answering Service-Related Terms 
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• Abandoned Call: When a caller hangs up before any conversation takes place. 
• Auto-Attendant: A computerized virtual assistant, also called an IVR (interactive voice response), and a CSR (customer service representative). 
• Automatic Call Distributor: Sends calls to the right destination. 
• Automatic Number Identification: Caller ID 
• Blended or Shared Agent: A call center operator that answers calls for different businesses. 
• Dedicated Agent: A call center operator that answers calls for a specific business. 
• Call or Line Hunting: Calls that ring at one location and transfer to another location after a specific number of rings. 
• Call Paths: How operators route calls for paths such as appointments, billing, emergencies, etc. 
• Cold Transfer: Transferring a call before checking if someone is available. 
• DNIS: Dialed Number ID Service: Allows the operator to know which phone number was dialed in order to use the correct script. 
• Interactive Voice Response (IVAR): Allows the caller to have different options using their keypad to be directed to different numbers. 
• Message Ticket: The message taken by the operator. 
• OpID: Operator identification. 
• Patching: Connecting a call to another destination. 
• PBX (Private Branch Exchange): A business’s telephone system that connects phones to each other and to the public telephone network. 
• Portal: Answering services usually offer an online portal where you log in to see your messages. 
• Script: An operator will have a script to handle the requests of anyone who is calling. It is customized by you to fit your specific needs. 
• Trunk: The amount of phone lines that come into a call center. 
• Unified Communications: Unified communications include phone, email, fax, instant messaging, etc. that are organized to provide a way for operators to respond to phone calls by any method. 
• Voice Over Internet Protocol (VolP): Allows you to make or accept a call using the internet and not a phone service provider. 
• Warm Patch or Warm Transfer: An operator places a caller on hold when patching them through. 
• Web Chat/Live Chat: A system where clients speak with customer support via the internet. 

​Now that you are familiar with the vocabulary pertaining to virtual receptionists, contact Insta-Answer. We have been a U.S. based, privately-owned company for over fifty years so we understand what our clients need to grow their small or large business. We make sure you never miss a call. No matter the size of your business, our answering service representatives can help you stay on top of the market. Look no further than Insta-Answer.com at 888-356-8866 or email support@iacaller.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Regardless of whether you are a single consumer that needs a virtual receptionist to make sure that your messages are never lost, or a business that must maintain communication with their customers at all times, Insta-answer.com is the perfect answer for you.

Business-to-business (B2B) marketing is very different from business to consumer (B2C) marketing. Companies are in the business of streamlining the buying process so that they can maximize profit and save time. When decisions are made to purchase the services of an answering service, for example, you can be sure that the reasoning and logic behind the decision is based on facts and not emotion. There are generally more decision makers involved in the process and those individuals want to see a substantial return on their investment. Businesses must be flexible and available to attract customers. A virtual receptionist will help do that.

Happily, Insta-answer.com is both a B2B and B2C business. We understand that although a purchaser’s needs may be different from a business’s needs, our focus always remains on the service itself and our message remains the same for both types of clients. With a B2C as well as a B2B approach, we are able to target a wider market and offer a service that saves money, resources, and time. 

All Businesses are P2P (Person to Person)

The bottom line remains the same for everyone who can benefit from a virtual receptionist service. Real people answering your calls all the time because no one enjoys speaking to a robot.

An in-house receptionist to answer the phone and respond to emails is a large expense. Besides their salary, an in-house receptionist will cost you employee benefits, additional taxes, and a viable workspace. Many companies are outsourcing the receptionist’s duties to avoid these extra expenses. 

Insta-answer.com invests their time and resources in making sure that their receptionists receive cutting edge training on the most effective way to communicate with your callers using the latest communications technology. Our receptionists are personable and professional. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you will never miss a call. Remember first impressions are important in establishing a successful client-business relationship.

Insta-Answer.com has been a U.S. based and privately owned company for over fifty years. We know what our clients need to grow their small or large businesses and we know what our individual clients need to feel secure that they will never miss a call. No matter the size or your business, our answering service representatives can help you stay on top of the market. Look no further than Insta-Answer.com at 888-356-8866 or email support@iacaller.com. We look forward to hearing from you.