What do I need to tell the AI receptionist about my services?

The more specific you are about what your business actually does, the better your AI receptionist will perform. At minimum, you need to provide a clear description of your core services, your pricing or price ranges if you share those with callers, your service area or locations, and your hours of operation. Think of it like briefing a new hire on their first day — they need enough information to answer basic questions without putting every caller on hold.

Beyond the basics, focus on the questions your phone rings off the hook with. What do people ask before booking or buying? Do customers need to know whether you accept insurance, offer free estimates, work on weekends, or require appointments? If there are things you never do — services you don't offer, areas you don't serve, or situations you always refer out — make sure those are included too. An AI receptionist that confidently tells a caller you don't do emergency work on Sundays is far more useful than one that says "I'm not sure" and loses the lead.

It also helps to give the AI a sense of your intake process. Does a caller need to schedule a consultation first, or can they book a service directly? Is there information you always need to collect upfront, like a property address, insurance provider, or vehicle year? The more your AI understands the actual flow of how a new customer becomes a paying customer, the more it can guide callers in the right direction rather than just fielding surface-level questions. A good setup conversation with your AI receptionist provider usually covers all of this — it's worth taking the time to do it thoroughly.

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