Most small businesses are just that, a smaller company with very few employees or just one person. It may not be financially possible for small businesses to hire a full time secretary or receptionist to handle the day-to-day calls.
A virtual receptionist can be a cost effective way that your small business get the best customer support without the added cost of more employees. Here are some benefits of hiring an answering service to be your virtual receptionist.
Great Customer Support
When you hire an answering service they have programmers that walk you through the set up process. This means that you tell us how you want your phones answered and how you want your calls handled.
You can provide us with information to do first level customer service for your clients while you focus on running your business. Most of the time your clients don’t even realize that they are talking to your answering service.
Availability
A virtual receptionist is always available, in most cases they can be available 24/7 if needed. This means that you don’t have to worry about finding coverage or hiring a temp for your receptionist to take their lunch breaks, bathroom breaks or even worry about them going on vacation. A virtual receptionist can handle all your calls anytime they come in.
Seems Like a Larger Company
With a virtual receptionist your calls are answered quickly by a professional representative, leaving your clients with a good impression. Virtual receptionists will take incoming calls and answer specifically with your companies preset answer phrase.
Your virtual receptionist can schedule appointments for you, take and relay messages, or just answer some general preset questions for your client. Virtual receptionists are an extension of your business. They are an invaluable asset to most any type of business, their value comes from making you appear as though you were a larger, more organized company.
More Time to Focus on Work
If your company does not have an onsite secretary you can find yourself being pulled away from important tasks to answer the phone.
Studies have shown that once you are distracted it takes a while to get back on task and back into that work mindset, as this article from the NY Times shows.
A virtual receptionist can alleviate the constant interruptions you face in your day to day work allowing you more time to focus on what is important to you, your business!
Saves on Cost
When you hire a virtual receptionist, you save on the cost of on-boarding a new employee, their yearly salary, and the rising cost of benefits for them. You don’t have to worry about paying personal time, benefits, or vacation time.
An answering service that acts as your virtual receptionist can handle multiple calls at the same time, meaning that your clients do not have to wait on hold or get a busy signal when they call, which can lead to generating more revenue for you.
With the benefits listed above it is easy to see how most businesses can benefit from having a virtual receptionist. With most being available 24/7 for your business you can be confident that you will always receive your messages even in your busiest times.
At Antietam Call Center we work with our clients to set up the proper scripting and protocols to become an extension of your business.
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