If you were to ask the average person what they know about the virtual receptionist industry, you would likely be met with a blank expression. You might be forgiven for thinking that the word “virtual” means the receptionist is not actually a person, but a digital software package that automatically answers the phone, and with that in mind, here are some common misconceptions connected to the virtual receptionist industry.
- You Need Lots of Expensive Hardware – If you have visions of a large truck rolling into your business premises and a team of men carrying lots of bulky equipment into your premises, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is, you can be hooked up within 5 minutes and ready to go! If your business is based in Sydney or Melbourne, Office HQ offer a virtual receptionist service across Australia, and they even offer a 7 day free trial, and to be honest, it doesn’t get any better than that.
- Virtual Receptionists are Unreliable – The fact is, the virtual receptionist is guaranteed to answer every call within 5 seconds, which really takes some beating, and with professional people who are fully briefed on the client’s business, all calls are handled courteously and professionally. If you would like to explore the possibilities of using such a service, all it takes is an online search to put you in touch with an established provider, and you can use the service within a few minutes and see for yourself how professional the service actually is.
- Virtual Receptionists Speak Poor English – Another misconception that needs to be addressed, as the virtual receptionist would be a native English speaker, and most providers will actually provide someone with a local accent that is native to your business location. There are some cheaper outfits that might use third world call centres, which is why you should always check the nationality of the people who are answering the phone on your behalf. If you would like to brush up on your phone communication skills, there is a guide to correct telephone etiquette in a business environment, which is sure to be helpful.
- The Client is Tied to a Long Contract – Any virtual reception provider who is confident of their services would not need to bind their clients with long contracts, and some are even prepared to give you a free 7-day trial. A strong indicator of a good service is if the company is prepared to provide their services on a month to month basis, which allows the client to cease the service at the end of the month.
- Virtual Receptionists Are Ill Informed About Their Clients – In fact, the virtual receptionist is always fully briefed on each and every client they handle, and one person would never be given more than 3 or 4 clients to handle at any given time. The receptionist would work with your script and they are professional enough to deal with any issue on the phone.
For many small businesses, the virtual reception service is an essential component to smooth running, and with a very flexible set up, they are ready and willing to help your business by providing a range of services at affordable prices. If you would like to explore the possibility of using such a service, all it takes is an online search and you can take it from there.
