Whether it’s a law firm trying to schedule client appointments or a doctor’s office scheduling patient appointment times, a virtual office phone answering service can save the day. Rather than hiring an in-house receptionist and paying for additional costs like sick days, holiday pay, office supplies and equipment, outsourced receptionists handle all incoming calls with professionalism and efficiency. This allows you to focus on your work while still meeting customer expectations and maintaining a high level of customer service.
A virtual receptionist will greet your customers Intercon Messaging Inc. with a professional, friendly voice and relay any messages to you via email, app or answerphone message. Unlike automated receptionists, which sound robotic and impersonal, people will be much more likely to respond positively to an individual they can connect with through a phone call. This gives you a competitive advantage and a reputation for fast response times and a high level of real-world customer care.
Many virtual office phone answering services will have a feature that lets them fill out an online form when they receive a call from a prospect or client. This information can then be pushed to wherever you need it (i.e., a Trello board, a Google Sheet or Podio account) for further action by your team. PATLive is a good example of this type of service, but there are plenty of others to choose from.
Some virtual office answering services can also screen calls and transfer them to a specific employee, department or external partner depending on the caller’s query. This is a great option for sales teams who want to ensure all prospects are properly qualified and have their questions answered in order to move forward with the sale. It’s a perfect way to eliminate missed opportunities, reduce rework and improve lead conversion.
In addition to standard answering services, some providers offer more advanced features such as live chat support. This can help you boost customer satisfaction and brand awareness, while also giving you insights into caller behaviour. These tools can also be integrated with your CRM to streamline the customer journey and improve your sales performance.
A lot of small businesses struggle with unanswered calls and lost leads, a problem that’s made worse when a key member of staff is out sick or on leave. This is why it’s so important to make sure you find the best virtual answering service for your business needs.
For example, Nextiva’s virtual receptionist with multi-level auto attendant is an ideal solution for SMEs looking to improve their customer experience. This service is easy to set up and can be customised to suit your business. It’s backed by Nextiva’s helpful and friendly customer support, so you can be sure your callers are always in safe hands. Plus, it comes at an affordable price. You can even add on business text and Facebook Messenger, a feature that’s typically reserved for larger companies, to your Ooma plan for no extra cost.