How much does a virtual receptionist cost?

How much does a virtual receptionist cost?

Appoinment Setting/ Favorites/ Receptionist Services/ Small Business

How much does a virtual receptionist cost?

Virtual Receptionist service costs about $4 per hour. About 75% less than hiring an employee at $12 per hour. Additionally, businesses save money because they don’t have to manage or pay employee taxes or benefits on the service.

What can a virtual receptionist do for my business?

A virtual receptionist can manage a calendar for service providers, take messages and provide general customer support. Law offices, Chriropratcors and other types of businesses can benefit from having extended support hours, thereby improving the opportunity to gain more customers.

How does a virtual receptionist service work?

A business hires a type of contact center that specializes in helping small businesses. The business owner gives the provider instructions on how to handle calls and access to an online calendar or CRM. This would be the same type of training one would give an employee working directly for the company. The process can be personalized to the business owner’s needs.

How does a virtual receptionist benefit a company?

The many benefits of hiring a virtual receptionist. One, a small business can reduce costs. Two, the company can use the extra support to raise productivity with the inhouse team. Three, Virtual receptionist work in teams, so there is always someone available to handle customer questions or book appointments.

Can a virtual receptionist handle emails or chat?

Yes, a virtual receptionist can respond to email or chat. The small business owner can customize the experience to meet there clients’ needs.

Is a virtual receptionist service the same as an answering service?

A virtual receptionist is similar to an answering service but can handle more complex support calls. Most answering services will take a message and send the information off to on-call staff after hours. A virtual reception, on the other hand, acts as an extension of the team. Typically the caller will not know the difference from someone in the office or vice versa.

Where can I find information about Virtual Receptionist services?

You can find out more about our virtual receptionist service by calling Contact One today. We will provide you with a personalized quote with all the details you need for your business.

Answering Services for Small Businesses

Answering Services for Small Businesses

Answering Service / Call Center Support/ Small Business

Small business owners wear many hats. These hats include being the company’s salesperson, marketing agent, accountant, and in some cases, the webmaster. Playing all of these roles alone can be exhausting, especially when customer service comes into play. This is where hiring an answering service can benefit you.

Along with customer service, there are many ways in which an answering service can benefit your small business. Some of these benefits include being available at all times, providing bilingual support, handling orders, and ultimately, saving you money.

Small business owners can’t be in the same place all the time, and it can be costly to hire another person to handle the influx of calls you may be getting. Answering services can help you and your small business by being that present person to your customers at all times. This can mean taking phone calls at any time of day, week, or month (including holidays); or assisting users on your website via live chat, which is a huge benefit itself.

If there’s a delay in answering, or if there’s interruption while speaking with a customer — it may not portray a positive and professional image. The agents that work at answering services are highly trained. That means you, as the small business owner, won’t have to worry about having a representative that is giving out incorrect information, or is speaking to your customers with a poor attitude. Answering services ensure the highest level of customer service is achieved, meaning your customer base will always have their questions answered, their complaints handled, and any wanted information gathered.

Answering services offer a sense of security knowing that they, the small business owners, won’t have to miss a call that could lead to potential business, and won’t have to answer a call that may waste his or her time. Additional benefits of answering services is overflow support, which will answer every call in less than three rings, and call-screening services, to ensure that you’re getting the right kind of calls transferred to you.

Contact One Answering Service offers all of the services listed above, and more. With Contact One, we can take messages, schedule appointments, forward calls, and provide bilingual support to your customers. According to an article by CNN, there are approximately 41 million U.S. residents who speak Spanish at home. Though many of these residents also speak English, it is still important to consider the population that primarily speaks Spanish.

If your small business is within the e-commerce realm, we can help you give your clients the ability to purchase what they want, when they want with the ease and convenience of online shopping. Contact One Answering Service provides order-taking services that will allow your clients to browse through your inventory and make purchases any time — day or night.

The biggest benefit offered by Contact One is knowing that we will help you save money. The cost of hiring an answering service is significantly less than hiring a full-time staff member to do what a virtual receptionist can. The salary alone of a full-time staff can be between $2-$3,000 a month (or up to $35-$40,000 a year!). Most professional answering services provide the same benefits as a full-time employee, but won’t cost nearly as much as hiring new staff.

Running a business of any size can be a challenge. Let us help you get more productive and improve your customer satisfaction. With the answering services, live-chat, bilingual support, and order-taking services, Contact One Answering Service, you can find more success. We give you the services you need to optimize your business appeal and keep your clients satisfied. Learn more about our answering services by calling us today at 1-800-278-3347.

Answering Services for Salons and Spas

Answering Services for Salons and Spas

Answering Service / Call Center Support/ Appoinment Setting/ Blog/ Small Business

Salons and spas are generally perceived as places for relaxation, pampering, and de-stressing. Such places are designed carefully to create that ambiance. Your effort though of creating a relaxing place for your customers can be easily tampered by a busy phone system. If you’re experiencing this problem right now, it’s time to consider the services of a virtual receptionist.

How a Virtual Receptionist Can Benefit Salons and Spas

Professional and prompt handling of your customers’ calls

This is one of the biggest advantages of contracting the services of a virtual receptionist. Whether it’s scheduling appointments or providing customer service, a virtual receptionist can do it professionally.

Improvement in your productivity

Virtual receptionists who are trained specifically in this industry are expected to remember and handle effortlessly the salon/spa’s marketing promotions. If you contract answering services from a reputable company, you can expect your virtual receptionist to be adept at communicating to your customers the associated policies of such promotions. They know how to positively offer alternative solutions to your customers if such promotions do not apply to them. This can be a huge help in your business. The less time you spend in dealing with it, the more time you have in serving your clients in your salon/spa.

Simplification of your appointment book

It’s often tricky for a customer to reach their massage therapist as most salons and spas are comprised of independent entrepreneurs who just rent out a space or booth. This means that when a customer wants to contact his/her massage therapist, he/she has to call the company to reach him/her for an appointment. This process isn’t just an inconvenience on the client but also on the entrepreneur as this interrupts his/her ability to service his/her clients in the spa.

With a live answering service, all you need to have is a single phone number that you can advertise and the assigned virtual receptionist shall handle all of your staff’s appointment requests. Keep your salon or spa a haven for relaxation and de-stressing. Get an answering service for managing appointment requests and handling business calls.

Contact One in Tucson provides answering services you can rely on 24/7. Call us to find out how we can help you.

3 Reasons Your Small Business Should Hire an Answering Service

3 Reasons Your Small Business Should Hire an Answering Service

Answering Service / Call Center Support/ Blog/ Receptionist Services/ Small Business

As a small business owner, you wear many hats. You are your company’s salesperson, marketing agent, accountant, and in some cases, you may even be the webmaster. Playing all of these roles alone can be exhausting. This is why a professional answering service is a must-have for every small business.

An answering service is a specialized service that can help screen your calls and forward them as needed. It’s a great help, especially for small businesses whose resources are limited. Here are some of the benefits of hiring an answering service:

Never Miss a Call
With a professional answering service, you’ll never miss a call again. You’ll have a dedicated call center agent who will take customer calls in less than three rings. Having your company calls handled promptly and professionally means you’re always open for business, even when you’re on the road, in a meeting, or tending to other business matters.

Provide Prompt Service
Even in a small business, every aspect of it means a lot – including phone calls. When there’s a delay in answering, or if there’s interruption while speaking with a customer – whether it’s background noise or other distractions, it may not portray a positive and professional image. An answering service solves this problem. A virtual receptionist who is professionally trained to handle business calls, will take calls promptly and politely.

Save Money
The cost of hiring an answering service is significantly less than hiring a full-time staff member to do what a virtual receptionist can. The salary alone of a full-time staff can be between $2,000 to $3,000 a month. Most professional answering services provide the same benefits as a full-time employee but won’t cost as much as hiring new staff.
Are you a small business owner tired of wearing all hats to keep your company moving along? Contact One Answering Service based in Tucson, Arizona is ready to help take something off your plate. Our agents take calls 24/7, regardless of your industry. To learn more about our services and to get a quote for your specific business needs, call 1 (800) 278-3347.

What Are Your Must-Haves When Starting a New Business?

What Are Your Must-Haves When Starting a New Business?

Blog/ Small Business

If you are contemplating starting your own business, you will need to plan out your strategy carefully. From writing up a business plan to hiring an answering service to take your calls, there are many aspects that must be in place before you can open your doors. To help you prepare for your upcoming business ventures, here is a look at some must-haves for all new business owners.

Financial Resources

In order for your new business to succeed, you will need to make sure that you have enough financial resources. Initial capital is required to rent your facilities, purchase equipment, and pay your staff. If you do not personally have the funding that is required to start your business, consider seeking out investments from firms and private individuals.

Proper Marketing

To ensure that your business is successful in its first year, you will need to attract customers. Marketing is critical for spreading awareness of your brand and building a dedicated clientele. When you are creating your marketing strategy, consider both conventional advertisements and digital marketing techniques. Social media, blogging, and SEO can all be used to drum up interest in your brand.

Live Call Answering

Once you have opened your doors for business, it is very important to make sure that you are committed to the satisfaction of your customers. Rather than attempting to answer phone calls on your own, you can hire a call answering service to assist you with this essential task. Your call center team will have the training needed to correctly address the needs of all of your customers.

At Contact One, our answering service in Tucson will be thrilled to help you with your new business. We offer call answering and customer service, and our friendly staff will serve as a terrific face for your brand. To learn more about the benefits of hiring us to answer your calls, give our offices a call at (800) 278-3347.

Overcoming Common Small Business Obstacles

Overcoming Common Small Business Obstacles

Small Business

75779885 Small businesses have to perfectly navigate the challenges of their industry while finding the best way to keep customers happy. Use the following guide to learn about some common small business obstacles and how to overcome them.

Struggling to Stay in a Certain Direction
As a small business, you have to be flexible enough to grow and change with new opportunities. A lot of unsuccessful businesses hold on too hard to clients or opportunities that do not work out. Try to work closely with your customers so you can gauge their wants and needs and figure out the best direction for your company. You should also make decisions to benefit the future. Whether you are hiring employees or looking for new ventures, it is important to retain the ability to grow and to change.

Facing an Unexpected Roadblock
Even the best business planners cannot account for every situation. People get sick, other companies steal your business, and valued employees decide to move on to other opportunities. Instead of losing control during an unexpected situation, it is important to put your focus into the factors that you can control. Accept the problem and start finding the best ways to fix it so you can keep your company moving in the best direction.

Not Looking into Future Growth
Some small businesses are surprised when they are successful and do not have a real plan of how to move forward. It is always a good idea to look at business plans of successful companies in your industry and figure out how they took the next step toward success. Try to create a new path that leads you toward a successful end result.

Whether you are trying to find the best way to start a small business or you want to find a new direction for your current business, Contact One Call Center is here to help you do it. We provide services that enable you to better interact with your customers and expand your company. To learn more, visit us online or call 1-800-278-3347.

How Small Businesses Support Local Economies

How Small Businesses Support Local Economies

Blog/ Small Business

Small businesses may not earn the same revenue as large corporations, but they play a crucial role in their local communities. While small businesses provide employment in their local towns and cities, they simultaneously act as the building blocks for the larger corporations across the country. Defined as a business with 500 or fewer employees, small businesses enhance their local economies by providing jobs and services their communities need.

Providing Local Jobs
A small business creates jobs in the community where it is established. Not only does this help stimulate local economic growth, but it also provides employment opportunities to those unable to work for larger corporations. Additionally, small business environments tend to attract talented employees who will create new products or discover solutions for specific problems the business faces. Larger businesses in the community also depend on outsourcing to smaller businesses in the community for specific job functions.

Responding to Economic Climate
Small businesses tend to be very customer oriented, so they are better able to respond to changing economic climates than big corporations. Local customers are very loyal to their favorite small businesses during times of economic crisis. In bad economic times, this loyalty helps small businesses stay afloat. In turn, this loyalty helps strengthen the local community during times of financial hardship.

Encouraging Future Growth
Many large corporations, including Nike and Ben and Jerry’s, began as small businesses in the United States. Over time, they became major players in the national and international marketplace. Even though these small businesses grew internationally, they still maintained their contacts in the communities where they were first established. By becoming a large corporation headquartered in the local community, these businesses could even further provide employment opportunities and help stimulate their original local communities.

Whether you are looking for answering services or after hours support systems for your business, call Contact One Call Center at 1-800-278-3347. We specialize in bilingual services, including live chat and customer service solutions. We are here to help make life more convenient for your customers while helping you become more efficient.

Serving Your Customers: The Basics

Serving Your Customers: The Basics

Blog/ Customer Service/ Professional Services/ Small Business

A good product is not enough to attract customers and keep them interested. Customer service is also essential for maintaining a strong and successful business. Give your small business the boost it needs by following these customer service basics:

Be Patient
Patience isn’t just a virtue; it is essential when it comes to quality customer service! Customers often feel confused or frustrated when they contact a company to ask a question or voice a complaint. Being patient is important for helping customers feel comfortable and making sure they can express their thoughts thoroughly. If you are patient when dealing with customer service interactions, customers will see you as professional and courteous.

Be Friendly
Friendliness and patience tend to go hand-in-hand, which is great because both are very important for providing good service to your customers. Training employees to stay friendly during every customer interaction will help your company maintain a kind and professional reputation. Being friendly will encourage customers to keep coming back and can even change customers’ minds if they have had a negative experience.

Be Understanding
Customers want to know that the companies they buy from care about them and not just their money. Being understanding during customer interactions is one of the best ways to ensure customers that you care about their opinions and want them to be happy with your product or service. If customers are frustrated or annoyed when they contact you, try to understand their point of view so you can provide the right solution.

Be Informative
It is important to be able to provide answers to your customers’ questions. Even with the other basics, your customers will not be satisfied unless you can help them get the information they need. Make sure your employees are knowledgeable and can find the information that your customers request.

Contact One Call Center can help you provide the best customer service possible! Let us handle secure messaging and after-hours support so your team can focus on the business. Learn more by calling us at 1-800-278-3347.

Small Business Success Story: Hillcrest Media Group

Small Business Success Story: Hillcrest Media Group

Blog/ Customer Service/ Small Business

Some businesses go with the flow. Others create their own flow. If your small business is looking for new ways to obtain success, you can look to today’s successful small businesses for guidance. Read about Hillcrest Media Group to get started.

What is Hillcrest Media Group?
Hillcrest Media Group is a publishing company that offers an assortment of helpful services to authors and collaborators. Unlike other publishers that take more than their fair share of profits, Hillcrest Media Group puts the author first to ensure a smooth and successful publishing process. This company also helps authors find the right marketing strategies to attract buyers and get their books out there to the readers!

Who Started Hillcrest Media Group?
Mark Levine gained interest in the publishing world after publishing his own book about self-publishing! After seeing the success and realizing there was a spot in the market for a publisher that cares more about authors than making money, Levine started Mill City Press back in 2006. Eventually, Mill City Press became the starting point for a larger company known as Hillcrest Media Group.

How Did It Become Successful?
By offering something totally different from the competition, Hillcrest Media Group was able to become a pioneer of a totally new style of service! Authors no longer had to pay a fee just to get their book published only to share profits with their publishers—now they could work with Hillcrest Media Group and get the profits they deserved.

How Can This Story Help Your Business?
Excellent customer service is part of the reason why Hillcrest Media Group is so successful. Keeping your customer in mind and making sure they get what they need and want can help your business become more successful! Contact One Call Center can help you handle your customer service responsibilities so you can focus on other elements of success. We specialize in call center services as well as secure messaging, chats, and more. Take a look at our website or call us at 1-800-278-3347 to learn more.

Customer Service Don’ts for E-Commerce

Customer Service Don’ts for E-Commerce

Blog/ Customer Service/ Small Business

E-commerce makes it easy for customers to get what they want, when they want it! This technology also helps businesses reach out to more customers in more places. Make the most of your e-commerce by learning about these customer service don’ts:

Not Keeping Your Promises
It is easy to attract customers with promises of free shipping, easy returns, and other important elements. Unfortunately, a lot of companies take advantage of the level of ease by making false promises to customers. If you offer certain perks and do not follow through, customers will not return and will likely make others aware of their negative experiences. Do not make any e-commerce promises that you cannot keep!

Only Offering Phone Service
Phone calls are a great away to get in contact with a business, but they are not the only way! Today’s customers are constantly busy and constantly on-the-go. That is why they want a variety of ways contact your business when they have questions or concerns. It is important to offer answering services as well as online chat services to make it as easy as possible for customers to get in contact with you.

Taking Too Much Time to Respond
How long does it typically take you to respond to customer questions or concerns? If you are not responding as quickly as possible, you might be losing customers! With mobile sites and online services, timeliness is more important than ever. Customers make decisions and purchases quickly, so responding quickly will make you more appealing and give you a better chance of success.

Using Generic Responses
Your customers want to feel heard and respected. They do not want to feel like they are talking to a robot. But that is exactly how they will feel if you keep offering generic responses for each question or concern. Take the time to carefully read comments from customers so you can respond appropriately and show that their voices are being heard.

Contact One Call Center can help you avoid these don’ts with our excellent customer service help! Call us at 1-800-278-3347 for more information about our after-hours support and call center services.