A virtual receptionist is a call answering service that operates remotely to assist business owners. It is an affordable solution that enables businesses to manage inbound calls, regardless of when they are open. In addition to taking messages, virtual receptionists can also patch calls directly to staff members, schedule appointments using a calendar integration, answer common questions and provide self-service options for callers, and screen out solicitors and time wasters.
Many small business owners and their employees wear multiple hats and can’t always be available to answer the phone. Outsourcing calls to a virtual receptionist allows them to focus on other critical tasks and places the responsibility in the hands of someone trained in increasing customer satisfaction and sounding professional.
Unlike answering machines or automated phone trees that ask callers to select from different options (press 1 for sales, press 2 for billing, etc), virtual receptionists are skilled customer service professionals and understand how to represent your brand appropriately. Combined with their ability to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for your customers, virtual receptionists can significantly boost customer retention rates.
Most virtual receptionist services charge on a per-minute basis, with some offering monthly subscriptions that include a set number of prepaid minutes to use as needed. Others charge a flat fee for each month of service, which can include a minimum monthly volume or be negotiable depending on the provider. For the ultimate flexibility, some virtual receptionists allow you to set multiple schedules for your virtual receptionist, allowing them to operate on an after hours basis, during holidays, or during lunch breaks and other downtime. virtual receptionist
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