Potential Client FAQ's
Q: How long has Advantage Answering Plus (AAP) been in business?
A: Since May 15, 1992 - a day we will long remember! Now well over eighteen years later, we look back over the years with great pride knowing all we have accomplished for our clients and our community.
Q: How is AAP different from any other service?
A: In a number of ways, actually... We understand how reassuring it is to call a company and speak with a live person right away. For this reason, we make it a point to be easily accessible to our clients. Additionally, if our clients need assistance or have any questions or concerns, we're just a phone call away and are always more than happy to assist in making updates so we can serve our clients in an efficient manner.
Another point of differentiation is our level of expertise. Advantage Answering Plus is a leader in the Telephone Reception Industry and has a combined experience of over 125 years. Because of our high level of expertise, we are confident we can overcome any telephone answering challenge and are able to assist by customizing a solution just for you. Over the years we have worked with a myriad of businesses, ranging from individual home-based businesses, to fast growing start-ups to industry-leading corporations.
Q: How will AAP enhance my business and make my life easier?
A: Letting your business phones ring and go unanswered is terrible. Letting your business phones ring only to be picked up by an answering machine is slightly better, but each instance gives rise to a question from your caller's perspective: "If my 'very important' call is ignored, how important do I have to be to get a real, live person, and when, if ever, will I get a call back?"
Let your callers know how important they are by investing in our Live Reception Services or Voice Mail Live Services. Using our Service assures your callers that you value them enough to provide attentive and personal assistance around the clock. Often times the cost of service is easily recouped by capturing new business. This is a direct result of being able to leave a message with an individual who can speak intelligently about your business and give out basic information to your callers.
By utilizing the services of Advantage Answering Plus, you can enjoy a healthier work/life balance. Enjoy peace of mind knowing the entire team of AAP is working for you 24/7/365.
Consider the peace of mind that can be achieved by knowing that your callers are being assisted promptly and professionally 24/7/365. In addition, consider your time. Utilizing Advantage Services will allow you to focus on growing your business while our receptionists insure that no calls are missed.
Q: What type of services does AAP provide?
A: In a nutshell, we offer two "types" of service.
We offer Live Reception Services and Enhanced Services.
Our Live Reception Services offer the benefits of having a full-time, personal receptionist at a fraction of the cost of hiring a part-time receptionist.
Our Enhanced Services offer the benefits of a sophisticated phone system paired with the personal assistance of a receptionist that will screen calls according to your instructions.
Q: What is your most popular service?
A: Our Advantage Answering Service is our keystone service, followed closely by our Virtual Receptionist Service.
Q: I have a new start up business. How can Advantage help me?
A: Depending upon what you would like your callers to experience - in addition to what your budget allows - we have a number of customizable solutions. One such solution might include using our Live Reception Service for after hour or emergency call routing. Our Live Reception Service plans start at $69.95 a month - just a little over $2.30 per day. If our Live Reception Services are above your current budget, you may be interested in using our Enhanced Service options: Voice Mail Live or Virtual Phone System. Voice Mail Live Service plans start at $39.95 a month and costs approximately $1.33 a day.
Q: I have an existing business. How can AAP help me?
A: You have worked hard to build your business to reach this point in time and Advantage Answering Plus is here to ensure your continued success. AAP offers a host of benefits that can help you ensure your continued success while enhancing and projecting a positive business image.
By now you may have some telephone reception challenges and by sharing those challenges with our experienced team of experts, we will design a month-to-month (no long term contract required) service plan tailored to your specific needs. One solution might include utilizing our Virtual Receptionist to assist during business hours and then use our Voice Mail Live after business hours, in order to give your callers easy accessibility while keeping costs in mind.
Q: How does an Advantage Receptionist access the information needed to answer my calls professionally and assist callers according to my instructions?
A: Advantage Answering Plus utilizes the most advanced and reliable CTI (Computer Telephone Integration) system to keep our receptionists up to speed on your latest needs and current status. When your line rings into Advantage, our receptionists see your preferred greeting, a display of your pertinent business information, your call handling instructions - including your on-call calendar, and a customized message ticket. This information is used in concert with the professional skills of our receptionists, often leaving the impression that we work directly in your office.
Q: How does AAP ensure that my calls are handled correctly and professionally?
A: AAP is dedicated to employing and supporting an exemplary team of receptionists in order to meet the needs of our clients while exceeding their expectations. Not only do we recognize and embrace the fact that our employees are the heart and soul of Advantage Answering Plus, but we train our staff to understand the importance of projecting and enhancing a positive business image for our clients. From hiring to ongoing training and monitoring, we support our team of talented and professional receptionists, so that our clients are able to enjoy peace of mind knowing their calls are being handled courteously and professionally - 24/7/365.
To say our hiring and training process is extensive would be an understatement. During the hiring process, candidates are extensively tested and interviewed using a lengthy Top Grading interview process. The Top Grading interview process is designed to identify the potential for long term success for the benefit of Advantage and our clients.
AAP also invests a great deal to ensure each Advantage Receptionist possesses the skills and knowledge necessary to provide exceptional customer service. Before an Advantage Receptionist can begin assisting callers on their own, each must first pass and complete our Advantage Training Program which is very rigorous and takes approximately 4-6 months.
In addition to investing tremendously in our employees, we provide continuous training and monitor employee performance through a structured Quality Assurance Program. The goal of our Quality Assurance Program is ensure exceptional customer service is provided at all times. In order to meet this goal we have a dedicated Quality Assurance Specialist on staff that is responsible for monitoring calls regularly and providing additional coaching when needed.
Q: How does AAP know what information I need from my callers?
A: Before we activate your account, we work with you to understand the specific needs of your business in order to determine what information would be beneficial to collect from each of your callers. We then program a customized or scripted message ticket (or multiple tickets) so that our Receptionist is able to collect the appropriate information from each caller in an accurate and efficient manner.
Q: What does AAP know about my industry or business?
A: Having served the needs of businesses large and small, new and existing, for-profit and non-profit, government and private, since 1992, we have a great sense of what many types of business needs, and we are dedicated to designing a customized solution to meet the needs of each unique business.
Q: How does AAP guarantee the privacy of my business and the confidential nature of my calls?
A: All of our team members (from Receptionists to Executive Officers) have agreed to uphold the highest level of confidentiality and have signed a legal document ensuring the privacy of all communications that take place within our organization. Our sophisticated CTI (Computer Telephone Integration) software also provides safe guards for confidential information, utilizing secure and hidden fields to effectively protect and conceal sensitive or confidential information.
Q: How will I receive my messages from AAP?
A: There are a number of ways you can receive and manage your messages. You can view your messages online through a secure client log-in or you can receive your messages via fax, email, text message, pager, voice mail, or any form that works well for you. Messages may be sent to you as they come in or at select times of the day.
Messages can also be sent to a single location or multiple locations. Several Message Delivery Options can be combined to create a customized plan that works for your business.
Q: I have a very busy phone line. How many simultaneous calls can you take before my caller gets a busy signal?
A: Our standard set-up allows us to take up to 3 simultaneous calls for each client, but this can be adjusted to accommodate up to 40+ simultaneous calls. If you are launching a large campaign or expecting a high number of calls to come in at once, contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Q: Is AAP available 24/7/365?
A: Yes, indeed - and every four years we are available 24/7/366.
Q: How quickly can AAP start assisting my callers?
A: We appreciate a 48-hour time frame in order to train our staff, but we are available for same day activation if time is of the essence or the need is critical.
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Call (800) 549-8282
