Live Virtual Receptionists: 5 Benefits for the Small Business Owner
Benefits of a Live Virtual Receptionist
Many small business owners would like a full-time receptionist on staff, but find they can't hire one due to high overhead costs. One solution is contracting with a call answering service that provides off-site live reception to handle your incoming phone calls. Properly executed, a live answering service gives the illusion of having an in-office receptionist without many of the extra costs associated with hiring one. However, reduced costs are only one benefit of using a business answering service to handle your important calls. Here are 5 ways a professional and cheerful live virtual receptionist team can help your business.
1. Never Miss a Phone Call
With the help of a call answering service, you will never miss a phone call even if you are not in the office. Regardless of your location, a virtual receptionist will screen and transfer incoming calls. If you are not available, the live virtual receptionist can take a message or transfer the caller to voicemail. Finally, virtual reception offers flexible options for receiving messages, via email, text message, or over the phone. If you are out of the office, a virtual receptionist can transfer phone calls to your home phone, cell phone or another appropriate number. All of this means that your organization will never pass up another juicy lead or lose an important customer because of a missed phone call. That's good for your bottom line.
2. Cost Savings
On average, a live virtual reception can save a company $1,800 per month compared to hiring a traditional, in-office receptionist. On hiring a traditional receptionist, you will need to add that individual to your payroll, pay additional worker's compensation insurance, provide employee benefits, and probably purchase additional office equipment. Moreover, you may end up paying an in-office receptionist to sit around and wait for the phone to ring. A live answering service, on the other hand, covers wages and benefits for their virtual receptionists, so you do not have to alter your payroll or insurance policies.
3. Efficiency and Flexibility
A virtual receptionist service fosters staff flexibility. Because calls can be transferred to you wherever you are, you and your employees will have more freedom to leave the office. This benefit will help you and your staff get more work done in a shorter amount of time without the worry of missing a phone call. Additionally, a virtual reception service is efficient for a small business, as you are billed just for the time the off-site receptionist spends on the phone for your office, not the time in-between calls.
4. Better ROI on Labor Costs
A live virtual reception service frees your employees to do the tasks for which you hired them, and allows you to focus on growing your business. Administrative tasks like answering the phone and contacting clients to provide reminders may seem mundane to employees and can take away time that is better spent on time-sensitive projects. Virtual receptionists can call clients with messages or appointment reminders on your behalf, in addition to handling all incoming calls.
5. Reliable Professionalism
A call answering service has a team of dedicated, trained individuals to assist those calling your office. As a result, you do not have to worry about your receptionist taking a day off, getting sick, going on lunch breaks, or other events that can cause individuals to miss work. With a live virtual receptionist firm on your side, your customers will always be greeted by a knowledgeable, cheerful live receptionist.
[Photo by: alantankenghoe]
[Photo by: alantankenghoe]
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