Be there even when you can’t. In a time of instant online ordering, immediate access to information and a 24-hour news cycle, people expect to get what they want at precisely the moment they want it. To keep up, it’s imperative that you’re available to customers or patients when they want you to be. That’s obviously impossible – especially if you want to sleep and have a life.

Even if you aren’t personally available during the day or after hours, the appearance of availability can be the difference between keeping someone satisfied or losing them completely. Having an updated website helps a little. When your contact information and hours are easily found, you appear more accessible. Even more effective is having trained professionals available to answer phones and other incoming communication when you cannot.

A well-trained, live answering service can be there round-the-clock, ensuring that your patients or customers are continually taken care of. Having someone available to answer calls according to your customized script not only helps you appear larger than you are, it makes sure you are exactly where people want you to be – and at precisely the moment they want to reach you. You’re accessible. They’re happy. Everybody wins.

Discover more business tips, tricks and trends