Message Direct

From its base in Ferndown, Message Direct provides call answering for businesses that need to handle calls when their own team is busy, away from the office, or temporarily unavailable.

The company dates its beginnings to 1994 and focuses on call handling: rather than automatically sending callers to voicemail, a team of receptionists can answer on a client’s behalf and pass along information according to agreed instructions.

Telephone answering is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and can be used continuously, during business hours, or only for after-hours coverage and demand spikes.

Message taking and overflow handling serve different needs: one maintains contact when a business cannot answer; the other helps manage a higher-than-usual call volume. Messages can be sent by email or text message.

The virtual receptionist service adds call transfers, order taking, answers to frequently asked questions, and appointment booking. The company says it can work with most online calendars and tailor the greeting to each client’s business name and preferred wording. It also offers inquiry response and lead qualification for companies that receive sales opportunities by phone or through digital forms.

Specialist services include outsourced contact center operations and emergency response, callouts, and help-desk calls. The website directs these services, among others, to clinics, dentists, veterinarians, engineering and technology firms, property managers, trades, construction businesses, and media agencies. Coverage can be arranged as an extension of a client’s team or for a defined period, such as vacation coverage.

Message Direct rounds out its offer with virtual office services, mail forwarding, telephone numbers, and meeting rooms that can be booked for meetings or interviews. It brings remote call handling and some office resources together, with options that can be used continuously or for specific periods, such as vacation coverage.