Phone Answering Services
Outsource your call answering services and let us handle your calls while you grow your business.
Outsource your phone answering to Consumer Links and stay connected, even when you’re not available. Our trained call handlers pick up as if they were part of your in-house team, polite, professional and always on-brand. We help you stay responsive, keep standards high, and make sure no call goes unanswered. It’s a simple way to free up your team, reduce costs, and give every caller a better experience. If you want to improve your phone answering service without adding pressure internally, we’re ready when you are.
What Is An Outsourced Phone Answering Service?
An outsourced phone answering service is when a business uses a trusted external team, like us, to handle incoming calls on their behalf.
It’s a simple, professional way to make sure every call is answered, even outside of core hours or when your team is busy. Agents follow your brand tone and scripts, so callers get a consistent, reliable experience that feels like speaking directly with your team.
Help your business stay responsive, build loyalty and confidence with customers, and free up internal resources without missing a beat.
What Are The Benefits Of Outsourced Telephone Answering Services?
An outsourced phone answering service helps you stay on top of every inquiry, give customers a better experience, and free up your team to focus on what they do best. It’s not just a support service, it’s a smarter way to run your business. Here’s just some of the core benefits…
Cost-Effective
You won’t need to hire or manage in-house receptionists, which means lower overheads, no added payroll, and fewer admin headaches.
Improved Customer Experience
Every call is answered promptly and professionally, giving callers a great first impression and helping to build long-term trust.
Availability
Some services offer extended or round-the-clock support, so you’re always reachable, even outside of working hours.
Increased Efficiency
With phone lines covered, your team can stay focused on the tasks that move your business forward, not juggling calls.
Enhanced Professionalism
Calls are answered by trained agents who understand your brand and represent your business with consistency and care.
Call Management
Handle high volumes, filter out unwanted calls, and make sure the right people get the right calls at the right time.
Customisable To Your Business
From message taking and call screening to appointment scheduling, services can be tailored to suit exactly how you work.
How Does An Outsourced Telephone Answering Service Work?
An outsourced phone answering service is a simple and structured process designed to fit around your business.
First, you share your preferred call handling instructions like how you’d like calls answered, what information to collect, and how to deal with different types of enquiries. You’re then assigned a dedicated number or have calls diverted directly to the service.
When a call comes in, it’s answered in your business name, with a professional greeting tailored to your brand. Depending on your setup, the agent can forward the call, take a message, or book an appointment.
After each call, you’ll receive a summary, so you’re always in the loop without needing to be on the phone.
As a leading outsource company, we will work with you to fine tune our service to meet your needs and desired outcome.
Do Outsourced Phone Answering Services Only Include Answering Calls?
A lot of outsourced phone answering services do more than pick up the phone. Trained agents can usually support with live chats, email responses and other admin tasks. But, this will depend on what has been agreed as part of your package. So, make sure you explore the services your chosen provider can offer to get the most out of your experience.
Popular Outsourced Phone Answering Services
There’s more to phone answering than picking up calls for our clients. Many businesses outsource specific types of support depending on their needs, whether that be for inbound or outbound services. Some of the most commonly used services can include:
- Call Answering & Message Taking: Calls are answered in your business name, and messages are passed on quickly and accurately.
- Call Forwarding: Important calls can be transferred directly to the right person or department.
- Overflow Call Handling: Useful during busy periods or campaigns when in-house teams can’t pick up every call.
- 24/7 Answering: Ensures your business stays responsive outside of normal working hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Inbound Customer Service Support: Trained teams handle general inquiries, resolve common issues, and provide support on your behalf, keeping service levels high and customers happy.
- Appointment Scheduling: Agents can book or manage appointments directly into your system, helping streamline operations.
- Virtual Receptionist Services: A more tailored approach where agents manage calls, route inquiries, and act as a first point of contact for your business.
These services can often be combined or customised, giving you a setup that works around your team and your goals.
Explore Outsourced Phone Answering Services Today!
Interested to discover how your business can save time and money with an outsourced phone answering service? Our specialist agents are trained to become a natural extension of your brand to allow you to better focus on your daily operations.
Speak to a member of the Consumer Links team to discuss your business needs and how we can best help.
Let’s help your business grow.
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FAQ's
Have a look below for more information regarding outsourced phone answering services.
Is an answering the same as a 24/7 answering service?
Unless expressly stated that it is an all-day service, your answering service will likely be available during a specific timeframe.
Ensure that you check this with your provider before finalizing the details of your contract.
How can I set up an outsourced answering service for my business?
Simply contact your team—we will ensure that you get the best providers for your business.
Following this, you can discuss instructions and desired goals with your chosen team to ensure you are on the same page in terms of expectations.
Can any business use outsourced phone answering services?
Absolutely – companies of any scope can tap into these outsourced providers’ benefits.
Will my customers always be engaging with a “real person”?
All calls will be handled in person and not by any AI or preprogrammed technology. Your customers will get a personal touch with every interaction.
How can I get the most cost effective tariff for my call answering service?
Every phone answering service cost can be adapted to suit various budgets.
No two call answering service packages are the same, and companies can discuss their needs and budget upfront with the providers that they would prefer to work with.
What are some of the benefits of outsourced phone answering services?
One of the biggest benefits of telephone answering services is a significant reduction of missed calls, and ensuring that all customer calls are attended to.
Companies can get all the benefits of a trusted answering service that will allow them to still maintain a high level of customer satisfaction even during busy periods.
All important calls can be quickly answered, and should unwanted calls come through, these calls can be managed professionally and with finesse.
Added to this, third-party providers can improve customer service, and provide a cost effective solution for incoming calls.
When should I consider using a professional telephone answering service for my business?
If the phone rings off the hook in your office, or your existing clients are not getting through to your in house receptionist, an outsourced experienced team can certainly provide relief.
They can ensure that your company name maintains a high standing with customers, and that customer interactions are satisfactory from start to finish.
With outsourced phone answering services, you will always have the right person answering client calls.
Every team member will have a professional tone, providing a seamless extension of the exceptional service that your business is known for.
If you want a bespoke service that can benefit small and medium businesses, as well as bigger businesses, telephone answering can certainly give you a leading edge in your industry.
Can my virtual receptionist service also include cold calls?
Sales calls could potentially be included in your telephone answering service. You can discuss your options and all the benefits that you could receive with your dedicated team.
Can my answering handle call recording?
This is certainly an option – check in with your outsourced team what resources they use for this purpose.
Is there any risk to allowing a call answering service to handle customer queries?
Trusted third-party telephone answering services have the necessary etiquette and professional tone to manage client calls.
They will be up to date with your service offerings and can answer calls with confidence.
Can an outsourced provider do more than answer calls?
An outsourced partner can certainly do more than answer calls – some could assist you when you need to cancel appointments, while others can handle calls from cold callers or field unwanted phone calls.
Your handling services can be adapted specifically for your business, ensuring that your business telephone answering service is personalized according to your business needs.