7 Benefits of a Virtual Receptionist
The internet is making remote work more practical than ever
Today’s business culture looks a lot different than it did 20, 10, or even five years ago. To be successful and experience growth, businesses need to be flexible, available and capable of meeting customer expectations, all while still making cost-effective decisions.
If you are a small business or a startup, hiring employees may not be a possibility. But, fielding every incoming call is not the best way for business owners to spend their time either. One possible solution is hiring a virtual receptionist to manage calls so you can spend more time growing your business.
With the rise of remote work possibilities, driven by the internet and mobile technology, it’s easier than you think to integrate a virtual receptionist into your business plan. Consider these seven benefits.
What is a Virtual Receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is an individual who answers incoming phone calls from another location. Some virtual receptionists work from their home. You can also work with an outside contact center to handle these calls, as well.
Benefits of a Virtual Receptionist
Hiring a virtual receptionist is an effective strategy for businesses. Take a look at the seven benefits below.
1. Less expensive than you think
When you hire a full-time receptionist, you can expect to pay more than $28,000 per year in addition to paid time off and benefits. By working with a call center to fill your call answering needs, you can expect to pay less for their services than the cost of a salary, taxes and benefits.
2. Available more hours of the day
You can customize the hours, days, and frequency a virtual receptionist answers phone calls to meet your needs. If you want calls answered after normal business hours, they are available in addition to regular business hours. If you are concerned about calls being answered while you are on vacation, virtual receptionists are a great option.
3. Ability to help more customers
You can customize the hours, days, and frequency a virtual receptionist answers phone calls to meet your needs. If you want calls answered after normal business hours, they are available in addition to regular business hours. If you are concerned about calls being answered while you are on vacation, virtual receptionists are a great option.
4. No training costs
By contracting with a call center, you won’t have to worry about take the time to or invest in training. The call center covers training expenses as part of your agreement, which saves you substantial time and financial resources.
5. Automatic coverage
An in-house receptionist can only answer one call at a time which can result in a negative experience for a customer who waits on hold. When you work with a call center for your virtual receptionist needs, you get multiple receptionists. If one is on a call, another one is ready and able to take the next call, so every customer feels important.
6. No need to worry about vacations
The majority of full-time employees take at least one vacation per year. When a receptionist goes on vacation, you are left to answer the calls. When you utilize virtual receptionist services through a call center, you don’t have to worry about that as there is always another receptionist ready to fill in during these instances.
7. You gain your time back
The biggest benefit of hiring a virtual receptionist is you gain your time back. Instead of managing time-consuming phone calls and returning messages, you can focus on growing your business.
Related Posts
