Small businesses can be extremely rewarding both financially and emotionally however they can also be extremely taxing in terms of the amount of work that they require. As a small business owner you can have to fulfil many different occupations from accountant to sales assistant.
All the while you are trying to manage all of those different jobs for your Melbourne business you are also having to fend off all of those incoming calls. If you are a lone worker then this can be a real struggle. You could potentially let some of them go through to your answering machine however you don't know which are the important ones and which are simply telemarketers.
Rather than ignore all of those incoming calls and potentially lose business, with a phone answering service from VirtualOffice.Melbourne you can have all or some of those incoming calls answered by a live professional receptionist. You can then focus on some of the more strategic jobs that you need to get done to really get your business moving.
Our phone answering service is really flexible. We can answer all of your calls or we can answer just your overflow calls. Some of our customers just use us when their permanent receptionist is off on leave, other customers use us for their corporate answering. There must be lot's of opportunities within your business where we could be helping you to build your business.
We have been working within the telephone field for more than a decade and consequently have a really good understand of the business requirements of our customers. Our software is not just about phones and has been custom written by local Australian developers to suit the needs of Australian businesses. Despite being extremely powerful our software is really intuitive to use.
We believe that there is a big difference between a local Australian receptionist and a receptionist that is based in an offshore call centre. Our receptionists are mature professional workers who have a good understanding of local business issues and Australian locations. Your customers will think that they are actually part of your local team.
Once you sign up for our 7 day free trial there are just a few more items of information that you need to provide us with. When customers sign up for a free trial they are allocated virtual numbers. The virtual phone numbers are what our contact centre will be answering when they take a call. Once you have your number you will need to tell us how your want your callers greeted when they call. This greeting can be personalised to suit your specific business and can be changed at any time that you like. Next you need to let us know how you want us to deliver your messages to you. This could be either by email or SMS. The majority of our customers opt for email. After that you are ready to go. The whole process really takes only a matter of minutes.
We understand that no two businesses will be the same and consequently have a variety of packages to choose from. For a small one man band you might opt for the $20 retainer with no included calls while if you are a larger firm with multiple staff you may opt for a larger package with a reasonable number of calls included. We find that our average small business customer pays around $50-$60 per month for phone answering.
We don't just answer phone calls. We can also help you with a virtual address, a 1300 telephone number, a virtual assistant and more. If you would like to find out more about any of our business services please feel free to give one of our friendly sales assistants a call on 1300 794 910 and they will be happy to help you out.
In an era where digital communication has become the norm, one might question the relevance of a phone answering service for small businesses. However, the benefits of an answering service extend far beyond simple call handling. This article will delve into the reasons why a phone answering service makes sense for small businesses, even in our digitally dominated world.
Firstly, the essence of any business is its customers, and communication lies at the heart of any customer relationship. Despite the digital revolution, a phone call remains one of the most personal and immediate forms of communication. When a customer calls, they expect a quick answer. However, for small businesses, answering every call promptly can be a challenge. This is where an answering service steps in. They ensure that every call receives a prompt and professional response, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Live answering is another significant advantage that answering services provide. Live answering adds a personal touch, ensuring that a real person, rather than a machine, is always there to answer customer calls. It demonstrates to customers that their queries are being heard and valued, a crucial aspect in building customer loyalty and retention.
Time efficiency is another compelling reason for small businesses to consider an answering service. Answering calls can consume a significant portion of a business owner's day, diverting attention from other crucial aspects of running a business. An answering service takes over this responsibility, freeing up valuable time for the business owner to focus on core business operations.
The financial implications of employing an answering service also merit consideration. Traditional in-house receptionists come with added costs like salary, benefits, and training expenses. In contrast, answering services charge based on the number of calls handled, offering a more cost-effective solution. For small businesses working on a tight budget, an answering service can provide significant cost savings.
But it's not just about answering calls and cost savings. Many answering services offer additional services like appointment scheduling, order processing, and even customer support. They can handle many of the administrative tasks that otherwise take up a substantial amount of time and resources. This not only ensures efficient handling of calls but also frees up internal resources, allowing them to focus on tasks that directly contribute to the business's growth.
Scalability is another compelling factor for choosing an answering service. As a small business grows, the volume of incoming calls can increase significantly. To handle this increased call volume, a business might need to hire more staff, leading to additional costs. However, an answering service is a business service that can easily scale up or down according to a business's needs, ensuring efficient call handling at all times without additional hiring or layoffs.
Lastly, it's worth noting the impact of an answering service on a business's reputation. A missed call or a poorly handled call can tarnish a business's image. Answering services, with their professional and prompt responses, help businesses build a reputation for excellent customer service, a critical factor in gaining customer trust and loyalty.
A phone answering service is more than just a tool for managing calls. From enhancing customer service to cost savings, from administrative support to scalability, the benefits of an answering service extend far and wide. While digital communication channels continue to proliferate, the humble phone call remains a crucial touchpoint for customers. By opting for an answering service, small businesses can ensure they never miss a call while gaining a host of additional benefits. It's a strategic decision that could make a significant difference in a small business's journey towards success.
In the highly competitive business landscape, small businesses constantly strive to find ways to cut costs while improving efficiency. A promising solution that's gaining traction is the concept of a virtual receptionist. The financial benefits that small businesses can derive from answering services is significant, these services can positively impact your bottom line.
One of the most immediate benefits of using answering services is cost savings. Hiring a full-time, in-house receptionist comes with numerous expenses such as salary, employee benefits, workspace maintenance, and equipment. These costs can quickly pile up and become a substantial burden on a small business's budget. On the contrary, a call answering service charges primarily based on the number of calls they answer. This pay-per-use model can result in significant savings, making answering services a cost-efficient alternative.
Beyond basic savings, answering services also offer a value proposition in terms of productivity gains. Handling incoming calls is not a revenue-generating activity, yet it consumes significant time and resources. By offloading call answering to a specialized service, your team can focus on core business activities. This shift in focus can boost productivity and, subsequently, the profitability of your business.
Answering services also provide an added layer of financial flexibility. As your business grows, so too will the volume of incoming calls. Scaling up an in-house receptionist team to handle this increased demand involves further hiring, training, and infrastructural costs. However, an answering service can easily adapt to fluctuating call volumes, scaling the services up or down as per your needs, without incurring additional costs. This scalability makes answering services a financially smart solution for growing businesses.
Another financial benefit from the service stems from the improved customer service that a telephone answering service offers. Lost calls often translate to lost business opportunities. A professional answering service ensures that they answer every call promptly and professionally, even after business hours. This 24/7 coverage by the service can lead to enhanced customer satisfaction, loyalty, and potentially, increased sales, contributing positively to your business's revenue.
Additionally, many phone answering services offer more than just call handling. They provide services like appointment scheduling, order processing, and customer support. Integrating these services can further streamline your business operations, reducing the need for separate resources for these tasks and leading to further cost savings.
An often-overlooked financial benefit is the potential for risk reduction that answering services offer. By outsourcing call handling to a professional service, you mitigate the risks associated with employee turnover, sick leaves, and vacations. You no longer need to worry about an unexpected absence leading to missed calls and lost business opportunities, ensuring a level of financial stability.
Furthermore, the professional image that team answering and their services can project will indirectly contribute to your business's financial success. Small businesses often struggle to compete with larger corporations in terms of resources and brand image. An answering service can help level the playing field, providing a professional first point of contact for your customers. This enhanced business image can increase customer trust and potentially drive more business your way.
The financial benefits of employing a virtual receptionist are manifold. From cost savings and increased productivity to scalability and risk reduction, answering services offer a financially astute solution service for small businesses. While the up-front costs of such a service might seem daunting, the long-term financial benefits of the service can outweigh these initial expenses. As a small business owner looking to optimise costs while improving efficiency, a virtual receptionist is a worthwhile service to consider.