Today, more and more people are working from home, so if you have recently begun a business, you may be operating it out of your living room or kitchen. Fortunately, this is not a problem for most people, because today’s technological advances make it very simple to do this. Whether your business is consulting, providing various services, or even retail, it is now easier than ever to operate out of your home, which saves new business owners both time and money. However, if you are running a business and need additional services such as a professional phone number or business address to become more efficient in your job, what are you supposed to do? Hiring a receptionist and office space is expensive, and when you are just starting out, the costs may actually prohibit you from growing your business. However, there are alternatives. Today there are virtual companies that provide receptionist and other services that you use only when you need them, allowing you to be able to present a professional image in an inexpensive way, and enabling you to do what you do best – grow your business.
Making Sure You Are There for Your Customers
Regardless of the type of business you own, the one thing that most businesses have in common is the fact that they need customers to survive. Your customers are your livelihood, and making sure they can get in touch with you when they need to is crucial. Of course, even the most experienced business owner can’t be at the phone 24 hours a day, so hiring a virtual receptionist is a great solution to this common problem. Virtual receptionists answer the phone 24/7, and will answer it in your business’s name, so the callers will never know they are not calling you directly. In addition, you can familiarise the receptionists with some basic facts about your business, so they can answer simple questions from the caller. Furthermore, you can obtain your messages any time you like, via email, phone, or text. You also don’t have to worry about what happens if you get several calls at once, because these companies have dozens of receptionists on hand at all times, so your calls are always answered quickly. Hiring a virtual receptionist is easy and inexpensive, and you can also turn off the service at any time if you decide you want to answer the phones yourself. You are able to turn the service on or off with just a few simple numbers dialled into your phone – in either case, the process is fast, simple, and convenient, and allows you to switch back and forth during the day with no trouble.
All Types of Services Are Available
Companies such as Message Direct’s staff act as your virtual receptionist whenever you need them to, and their prices are reasonable as well – usually starting at under 70p per call. Of course, they also have monthly plans that can save you money, but regardless of which plan you choose, it is good to know that you won’t have to pay a fortune just to get good, reliable virtual receptionist services. In addition, these companies offer other virtual services as well, including the following:
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Emergency phone calls: when your business is expected to receive an unusually high number of calls temporarily, such as electric companies after a storm has caused customers to be out of electricity
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Media response calls: when you have recently sent out a marketing or advertising piece, and are expecting calls that request additional information from your company
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Holiday coverage: when your regular receptionist is on holiday or maternity leave, and you need temporary full-time coverage for the telephones
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Outbound calls: when you have customer lists or other information that needs to be updated, virtual secretaries can call people and get updated information from them
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Basic message-taking services: when all you need is to get basic messages from your customers, either on a long-term or short-term basis
Of course, if you run a business, you may determine other uses for a virtual receptionist, and if you do, all you need to do is call the company and they will work with you to develop a personalised plan just for your business.
The Many Advantages of Using Virtual Services
Virtual receptionist services offer many advantages, mainly because the companies that offer these services are continuously focused on improving their services and techniques. Whether you intend to use them for a week or on a regular basis, these companies only hire professional receptionists that are guaranteed to give you excellent customer service. Most companies allow you a free trial period, which means you can use them for free for a time, usually up to one month. There are also no hidden fees or additional charges for setup or continual use – just the monthly or per-call fee that you have chosen. In addition, your calls can be answered 24 hours a day, so if your business operates around the clock, you can still get expert and professional receptionist services regardless of what time it is. These and many other benefits are reasons why choosing a virtual receptionist nowadays makes both practical and economic sense. Virtual receptionists allow you to run and grow your business without worrying about missing calls from customers, and they provide all their services at prices that won’t break the bank.
Don’t Wait – Contact Them Today
When you are starting a business, every penny counts, but in order to grow, you need to make sure you respond to all of your customers on a timely basis. This is why a virtual receptionist service is so valuable, because they offer the professionalism and reliability you need at prices you can afford. They can provide a personalised plan just for you, and best of all, they will take care of your customers while you do what you do best – grow your business. In this day and age, it is good to know that these services exist, and that you can take advantage of them to help your business can grow and thrive.
