A virtual or live receptionist provides more than just an answering service. Virtual receptionist companies offer a variety of services that can improve how a business manages incoming calls from customers, and they add a layer of professionalism to consumer-facing communications.
If you’re thinking about using a virtual receptionist, consider the benefits such a service could offer your business.
What Does a Virtual Receptionist Do?
A virtual receptionist can serve the same functions as an in-house receptionist, who answers phone calls, takes messages and sets appointments. The difference is that a virtual receptionist is located at a call center facility or other remote location.
Hiring a professional receptionist allows a business to manage incoming calls professionally without requiring in-house staff to stop what they do to man the phone lines. A skilled receptionist can answer incoming calls based on the needs of a business.
The best virtual receptionists adapt to your business. They know your business, and they can adjust to it when needed. They should field incoming calls with the knowledge and professionalism to boost customer appreciation. They should also be flexible and easily be able to pivot services as your business’s needs change.
Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Receptionist
Consider these benefits a virtual receptionist can offer your business:
1. Improve Customer Experience
A good virtual receptionist is an essential part of your customer support team. They field call, add to your company’s brand image, and generally do everything they can to help clients and customers get the answers and solutions they need. A virtual receptionist is a trained customer service professional who understands how to represent your brand. The right answering service can positively impact the customer experience, leading to higher retention rates.
2. Free Up Internal Resources
Many small business owners and employees wear multiple hats, and answering the phone can take away from other important tasks. Hiring a virtual receptionist to answer calls removes your in-house team’s burden of managing customer service. You can boost customer satisfaction by hiring an agent trained to deal with customers.
3. Streamline Appointment Schedules
Setting appointments can be tedious, especially if multiple staff members do it in various systems. Assigning the task to a virtual receptionist unifies the appointment-setting process and ensures that everyone stays on top of schedule with automatic reminders sent out through email and text. Some virtual receptionists can even engage in small talk to make the appointment feel more personal.
4. Offer After-Hours Support
When your small business is closed, who is there to answer phone calls as your virtual receptionist? If your virtual receptionist can answer common questions in your place, callers might even have their issues resolved right then and there. If you decide to hire a virtual receptionist, you should consider how it will extend your customer service hours.
Conclusion
Consider various situations that might arise regarding the reception of calls and the types of messages that may come in for your company. Having a virtual receptionist who can answer calls at all times is essential.
24H Virtual provides the best 24/7 call center and virtual receptionist services for businesses across North America and Europe. Our unique edge in customer support lets you manage customers in a smarter way, providing them with the time and support they deserve. We handle everything related to your business calls—from appointments to taking messages. The difference? Your customers get the right impression the first time. It’s the perfect customer support service for your business! What are you waiting for? Get started today!
