AM Fans – Volume 2

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The bottom line for business is keeping expenses down and customer satisfaction up. AM Fans know that having dedicated staff always available and completely focused on customer calls is a very affordable service that pays off in big ways. Here’s what Answer Midwest customers say about getting the help you need to grow your business:

“Record keeping is huge in my industry. Answer Midwest is great at this.” Rob Honke with Honke Properties, fan of Answer Midwest for 20 years

At Answer Midwest we document, record and store your phone calls on archival media for 7 years. Our staff is meticulous and detail-oriented when speaking with your customers, ensuring that we deliver accurate information to the correct person every time. Our management staff continually monitors operator calls to guarantee our standards are continually met. 

“It’s not as scary or expensive as you think. I made money off of it from the first month.” Jon Stobbs, principal attorney with Stobbs Law Office, fan of Answer Midwest for 5 years

We are more than happy to put together a program for you that fits your company’s budget. Most people are surprised at how affordable our services are and the return they get on the investment. Having a 24 hour phone service can significantly boost both sales and customer retention. Having a live person available at all times shows potential customers that you will always be there when they need you.

Call Answer Midwest today at 618-463-2430 for more information.

Look out for our next installment of AM Fans coming soon!

 

Answer Midwest Employee Spotlight: Lauren

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We at Answer Midwest know how important our employees are to the ongoing success of our business. We would like to focus on a very special young lady, Lauren Pruitt, who has been with Answer Midwest since November of 2013.

Lauren is a senior at Alton High School with dual credits through Lewis & Clark. She looks forward to going to college and majoring in International business. She is a part of the National Honors Society and the Spanish Club.

Lauren has been involved in Panama missions for the last 3 years and is planning to go back this February for her 4th missions trip. She was so inspired after her first trip, she founded her very own non-profit foundation, Project Panama. She has already raised enough money to provide a wood burning stove and a water purification system for a village in Panama. We are proud to have Lauren as a part of our team!

 

AM Fans – Volume 1

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The bottom line for business is keeping expenses down and customer satisfaction up. AM Fans know that having dedicated staff always available and completely focused on customer calls is a very affordable service that pays off in big ways. Here’s what Answer Midwest customers say about getting the help you need to grow your business:

“Answer Midwest has helped our business grow by being thorough and quick, getting the message to the correct person. They maintain our high level of quality even when we aren’t available.” -Diane, Hillcrest Apartments, Answer Midwest Fan for 30 years 

Taking work related phone calls in undesirable situations can seem very unprofessional to clients. Don’t miss your kids soccer games, dinner with the family or vacation time because you want to avoid losing a current client or miss out on a potential client.

By allowing Answer Midwest to take your calls after hours, on weekends and holidays you have the luxury of getting the information to the right person and letting them decide on an appropriate time to get back to business. Your clients don’t need to hear the soccer noise but they do need to know you care and will get back to them. You CAN make your loved ones and clients happy at the same time!

“I like that Answer Midwest uses our calendar to book appointments. They integrate their technology into our specific business. Not every call center can do what they do.” -Paul with Rooterman, Answer Midwest Fan for about a year

Answer Midwest’s clients vary from lawyers to plumbers to doctors. No two fields or even businesses in a field require the same response. At Answer Midwest we research your company’s particular needs before we get started with your personal program.Your customers will feel as though our agents are your personal secretaries; knowledgable and informed about your business.

Call Answer Midwest today at 618-463-9093 for more information. Look out for our next installment of AM Fans coming soon!

 

Answer Midwest Receives International Recognition

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At Answer Midwest we often brag that our service team provides clients the best service available in the nation. While we knew it was true, it sure was great to have our faith in the staff confirmed by a panel of independent judges.

 

The Association of TeleServices International (ATSI) has awarded Answer Midwest the 2014 Diamond Plus Award for winning the Award of Excellence more than 12 years in a row. Of the 2,700 answering services in the United States, only 13 have won as many consecutive years as Answer Midwest.

 

A panel of independent judges is contracted by ATSI to evaluate. Providers are judged on courtesy, response time, accuracy and overall service to their clients. The award is presented annually to the best telecommunications and call center services in North America and the UK.

 

“The ATSI Award of Excellence is the most prestigious recognition of exemplary customer service in the industry. Award recipients demonstrated the highest level of service throughout every aspect of a caller’s experience, it’s quite an honor,” says ATSI President Sharon Campbell.

Take Back Your Holiday!

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It’s that wonderful time of year again, when friends and family gather together to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Most Americans look forward to the Fourth of July more than any other day off. It is a celebration of summer and a time to kick back and enjoy a much needed national holiday. Nothing feeds the soul quite like bar-b-ques, parades, fireworks and time with loved ones.

Not a single person wants to be a slave to their phone, afraid to miss a potential customer or sale, on this or any holiday. Give up the reigns and let Answer Midwest and our excellent staff handle your business with care, so you can get back to the business of enjoying your time off. Allow yourself to mentally “clock out” on holidays, weekends and after business hours so you can focus on the people that matter the most. Call Answer Midwest today to see how we can help at 618-463-9093 or visit our website at www.answermidwest.com. We look forward to serving you!

24 Hour Service for Legal Professionals

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For attorneys and other service providers whose salary depends on billable hours, nothing is more frustrating than having to stop in the middle of a great-paying project to speak to an emotional caller that just rambles on and on and on. If it is a potential client the call can be worth the wait but often it is hard not to get impatient.

At Answer Midwest our professional phone staff can listen patiently to the whole story, collect the facts and write down the details. The caller can talk as long as they need to and you get a quick e-mail documenting it all.  Whether it’s a potential client, a legitimate referral source or just someone going through the yellow pages fishing for information, you can call back right away or take the time to provide a more informed response to their questions at a time that works for both of you.

Your client’s needs are important and sensitive. We get it! Our operators are professionally trained to respectfully provide quality service and complete confidentiality to legal and service businesses. Whether you are in court or a meeting, preparing a case, or simply out of the office, Answer Midwest can take your calls and get the important details so you have the facts without all the drama.

Want to know more about Answer Midwest? See what we can do for you! Call us at (618) 463-9093

Limit Risk with Answer Midwest

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As if running a business isn’t scary enough, in a recent survey most tradesmen admitted to picking up the phone while in a dangerous position. This risk for reward attitude has a solution. Answer Midwest works with many trade professionals to pick up the phone. No matter where you are, you don’t have to STOP what you are doing to answer the phone. Our services limit the risk and liability by letting workers focus on quality and safety.

You may assume that you can not afford our services, but what we provide for your business is priceless. The risk of allowing a workplace accident to happen is NEVER worth the benefit. Endless lawsuits, injuries and even death are horrifying yet realistic situations that can easily be avoided by allowing Answer Midwest to take care of your customers so that you can continue to safely perform your job.

Answer Midwest Employee Spotlight: Jen

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At Answer Midwest, we love serving our clients! We uphold a strong attitude of always serving the client to the greatest extent of our abilities and making sure that all of their needs are fulfilled. Our exceptional, talented, and expert staff members always do a fantastic job in serving the clients we have, no matter what time of the day or night. Our Employee Spotlight this month is definitely no exception when it comes to helping clients! This month, we’re pleased to feature Vice President Jen!

Jen has been with Answer Midwest since 1991 and started as an operator in her college days. Since then, her responsibilities have kept increasing each year until 2001 in which she became a partner of Answer Midwest. Now she’s the official Vice President of the company. “Of course, I do a little bit of everything,” Jen said. “While I am officially responsible for accounts payable and most anything relating to finances, I also oversee and have my hand in everything else from human resources to technology to doing dishes and taking home towels to wash. That’s the joy of working in a business that you care so deeply about – you do whatever needs to be done.”

Jen and her family moved frequently when she was growing up, which gave her an incredible opportunity to live in several states and cities. “I had a fantastic childhood and was able to experience living in Florida, Kansas City, Denver, and Illinois,” Jen noted. “I developed friendships and memories all along the way. I have pretty amazing parents who have loved and nurtured me all along the way and taught me to be a responsible adult. I am so thankful that they didn’t just give me everything I wanted but made me realize the value of work and the importance of being a person of integrity.”

It wasn’t until her grandfather passed away that her family moved back to the Godfrey area to live close to her grandmother. “After getting married in 1994, my husband and I lived in Missouri for 13 years,” said Jen. “We’ve just recently moved back to the Alton area to be around family.”

Jen graduated from Greenville College, a small Christian college located in Greenville, Illinois. “I dearly loved going there,” said Jen. “It was like living in Mayberry – just my style.”

After Jen graduated college, she received her series 7 license and spent several years working at Edward Jones on the trading floor. “I learned very quickly that that is just not my style – I am an easy-going person and not a fan of high stress,” Jen remarked. “It was clear to me that working here in the family business would allow me to take the values that I held and build a company around them, and I have been able to do just that.”

Jen thoroughly enjoys what she does at Answer Midwest, but she truly loves working with people and finding opportunities to help them. “I love being able to help a client who needs advice or who is looking for ways to improve their business,” Jen said. “I also love my coworkers. They really make coming to work each day a pleasure!”

Jen is happily married to her husband and will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next month. They have two children, Truman and Ellie. “I know I’m biased, but they are without a doubt the best kids ever,” Jen beamed. “I always tell them I want to be just like them when I grow up.”

Whenever Jen isn’t busy helping clients, she enjoys decorating her home and spending time with her family. “I’m honestly not sure what free time is, but I love what I do, so it all feels like fun to me!” she said.

Want to know more about Answer Midwest? See what we can do for you! Call us at (618) 463-9093

Do You Need a Personal Receptionist? The Solution Is Answer Midwest!

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Receptionists are often the unpraised workers that make an office run smoothly. Think of Pam Halpert from “The Office” or Joan Harris from “Mad Men.” These are the characters that hold the office together, seamlessly and gracefully.

We are sure that there have been times in which you have considered adding a receptionist to your office team, someone to help the office run more efficiently. Maybe you thought that you couldn’t afford one. Answer Midwest offers a budget-friendly solution. Here are four ways that our answering services can be the perfect answer to your receptionist dilemma!

Budget-Friendly – First, think of how much it would cost you to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Keep in mind that you would have to include your workers’ salaries and the expenses of keeping the physical business open the entire day and night. Most companies don’t desire to do this anyway. Our services are available to you 24/7/365 at a fraction of the cost! Your business can focus on being efficient while the phones are taken care of for you at all times.

Reliability – A typical receptionist will require sick time or vacation time. Our operators are there for you whenever you need them! They know about your business and can answer questions, manage appointments and act as an information center to your customers. Your clientele will never get a voicemail or have to wait for a response ever again! This is great news for customer service and building loyalty within your business.

Constant Professionalism – Our Answer Midwest operators are part of your team. They are trained in tasks you would require of your employees and they always answer in a friendly and professional manner. Our well-qualified operators give your business a sense of credibility that answering a call from your cell phone does not. We take detailed messages that can be emailed or even sent as a text message to your phone if you are busy in a meeting, leaving your schedule uninterrupted.

No Worries – When you are out of town or if bad weather strikes, we are always there to take the calls that you can’t. You no longer have to be worried that you will miss out on business or opportunities. We can increase your accessibility and responsiveness during these times, keeping your customers happy! Our services are crucial to a successful business.

Call us at (618) 463-2430, and follow us on Twitter @AnswerMidwest!

Answer Midwest Employee Spotlight: Bailey

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Here at Answer Midwest, we love taking care of our clients’ customers and fulfilling their needs. This wouldn’t be possible without our amazing staff, who always help out with enthusiasm and a smile on their faces, no matter what time of the day or night. Our Employee Spotlight this month showcases Assistant Dispatcher Bailey!

Bailey has been with Answer Midwest for a year and has recently been promoted to Assistant Dispatcher. She takes incoming calls and provides customer service for a variety of companies. As a dispatcher, she also follows the clients’ protocol in making sure that their messages are delivered to them as they desire. “Our business always tries to help the customer to the best of our ability,” she said. “We always want to have a nice tone, positive attitude, and make sure that the caller feels comfortable and that their needs have been addressed!”

A native of East Alton, Bailey attended Roxana Schools and is a graduate of Roxana High School. She is currently working on her second year of college at Lewis & Clark Community College and plans on getting an associates degree in science and will begin working on her elementary education degree.

Bailey was drawn to Answer Midwest when one of her friends mentioned working here. “My friend thought that I would be good at customer service and thought that I would be friendly to the customers. I immediately applied and ended up getting hired,” she said. “I love the people I work with, and I like coming to work and knowing that I will be working in a positive environment. Since I am a full-time college student, it’s also very nice that they are willing to work around my school schedule!”

Ambitious and hard-working, Bailey is in the process of completing the training for another promotion to Main Dispatcher. She is hoping to receive this promotion in the next few weeks!

Her ambition doesn’t just stop at her job. Bailey drive and motivation have led her to Jamaica for a week to do mission work in which her group helped rebuild an orphanage, conducted street ministry and taught at different schools. “It was an incredible experience to engage in the culture there,” she said. “I will always remember that trip as one of my best summers ever!”

Bailey also went to Washington D.C. three years ago for a conference in leadership training. “I stayed for a week and went to seminars and got to sight-see all the different monuments,” she noted. “The last day of the conference was July 4th, and the group and I got to see the fireworks on the Potomac River in a Double-Decker boat. It was a great way to finish up the conference and celebrate our freedom.”

When Bailey isn’t assisting our clients’ customers or handling calls, she can be found spending time with her big family, her amazing friends, and her golden retriever-lab mix Ollie and her Calico cat Angel.

Want to know more about Answer Midwest? Call us at (618) 463-2430