Jay Link returned to his office to discover that his answering machine was blinking "14," "14," "14." Frustrated, Jay set his tool box by the door and dropped heavily into his chair. He grabbed a scrap of paper from the top of his desk and hit "play."

Instantly, the air was filled with urgent messages from area businesses who either needed computer repair services or network assistance. Jay scribbled madly until he had listened to each of the fourteen messages. Then, he left his desk to grab a quick cup of coffee.

Jay was at once pleased and overwhelmed. His new business, Link Technology Systems, was becoming busier everyday. For Jay, it meant that the long hours he had spent alone over the past year was beginning to pay off, and that he was finally establishing enough business to make ends meet. However, Jay was a new entrepreneur who had sunk everything he had into his new business. He did everything from client consultations to computer repair, to the bookkeeping.

Unfortunately, it also meant that he spent most of the day out of the office, and his prospective customers were greeted only by an answering machine. Jay wanted to provide the same high-quality service as the larger, more established firms, and he wanted his customers to feel like they were calling a large, established company. He knew that as things were, Link Technology sounded like a second-stringer.

Returning to his desk, Jay searched around for his list of fourteen clients to call. It was no where to be found. Frantically, he ruffled through pile after pile of papers on his desk. Nothing. He searched the trash basket. Nothing. He searched his pockets. Empty.

Becoming frantic, he walked around the office until he reached the coffee pot. There, in a pool of spilled coffee, was his note, the ink now spread into illegible ribbons on the page. Fourteen potential clients. Fourteen prospects lost. He slumped back into his chair. Something had to change, and fast.

A few days later, Jay was running CAT-5 cable on a network project when his cell phone rang. Smiling, he glanced at the text message. There, saw that one of his regular clients had another project for him, and that he was scheduled to arrive at her office at 9 AM the following morning. Then, he got back to work.

Jay had discovered that he could outsource all of his telephone reception and dispatching needs to a professional team at a local answering service that would help him sound just as professional as his larger competitors. His messages were instantly messaged to him via text message, and his appointments were all scheduled by a competent, trained professional secretary. Best of all, Jay had incurred no hiring or training costs, and the cost of the service was far below that of hiring a full-time employee with benefits.

Grinning as he tested the network connectors, Jay reflected on his decision. Things were looking up, he decided!

Learn more about telephone answering services and discover how the might be able to help you.