Virtual Receptionist Systems

Cole

Has anyone tried any of the ones on the market?

http://www.onebox.com/
http://www.evoice.com
http://gotvmail.com

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silvertree

I too am looking at this, my concern is how real do the receptionists sound. Does "Gloria" G_L_O_R_I_A I want to shout it all night, whoops, sound like a service or an employee. I haven't heard this in action, but I'm told the person answering leads the caller to believe you have a receptionist. Sure beats voice mail. I will be talking to one of these companies next week, I'll post how it went. What I'm doing now is getting all calls to my cell phone. I transferred my land line number, the same # I had for over 12 years to my cell last year and that works very well, but it does get tiresome when your trying to get something done and it rings and you answer and then the guy with the sawzall starts cutting. This has been a year of big changes for me and technology has made me more efficient, I am looking into a lot of things. But I quickly found out the business support business is as bad as the construction industry as far as having it's share of shady operators.

AintNoFun

ive been looking as well, some sound like a robot others are actually recorded by a human. i'd like to get it for the big company look and feel.


http://www.packet8.net/business_services/
thats another one im looking at

i'd like to know if anyone uses this type of service as well and their thoughts...

A.W.Davis

What are the advantages of this to a small business owner such as myself with just a small handfull of employees?

I see it as a unnecessary expense in my opinion, at least for me.

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http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
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silvertree

Yes it's an expense, but how much money would you save if you didn't answer the phone, and some else took down the information for you. It's worth looking into at least. I know I have written a lead on a piece of wallboard and then installed it with the number facing in? Maybe I'm the only person here dumb enough to do that though.

A.W.Davis

Okay my question would be....who is that "someone else"? I dont have a secretary or anybody else to take that incoming call. I answer the phone and speak exclusively with my clients/leads.

I understand the idea behind the phone receptionist service....it seems worthy for larger companies with multiple employees and different sales associates.

Its just not for me.....but it is a very cool thing to have if you are a larger company.

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A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

silvertree

I'm not a larger company and do only a half mil a year in sales, but I do OK and get a lot of time off. I would not hire this service unless it sounded exactly like a receptionist. It would be worth 50 or 60 bucks a month to have my phone answered. As for existing customers and subs or friends, they would all be able to call me direct. I can't stand answering machines or voice mail during business hours and would never use a automatic system. I also take pride in the fact that I am accessible to my customers.

fez-head

I am trying to remove myself from the daily operations of the business (not to mention I hate talking on the phone) and have been using Map Communications answering service since July 2007. It was the first step that I took to remove myself from the picture and before hiring the secretary that I have now.

Here is what I have set up for a script. The information is texted to my cell and emailed simultaneously. This DOES NOT take the place of a secretary but sure is better than an answering machine.

"Thank you for calling Handyman Solutions - is this an emergency call?" If "NO" continue with script. If "YES" immediately call my cell -if no answer leave message and then progress through the other 2 emergency cell numbers leaving a message on each phone.

New Client "YES" or "NO" if the answer is "yes" they get the callers address and home, cell, and work number with every call. If "NO" continue with script

"Thank you for calling Mr./ Mrs. _____ How may we help you today" Take information.

When appropriate ask "May I ask how you found out about Handyman Solutions?" and then list who referred them or what advertising medium triggered the call.

At the end of the call they inform the caller "We would also like to invite you to contact the office directly using the email address email@midmohandyman.com or web site www.midmohandyman.com - This provides the most efficient form of communication and allows us to better serve you."

This took a lot of trial and error and is not the perfect script by any meens. It has served my needs and may help you with your own script if you ever happen to need one.

Good luck
Jesse

PS My contact at MAP was Pete Farrar - pfarrar@mapmobile.com

silvertree

Thanks Jesse, it's always nice to get a heads up on things. You have a good setup.

Cole

Jesse, How much is that running ($$) you a month?

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Ed the Roofer

I used to use an answering service when I was always on the job, and it cost me about $ 30.00 per month, but that was about 15 + years ago.

They were so professional, that no one ever knew they got an answering service.

Unfortunately, the main partner sold out to the other and it became more "Upgraded", technology wise. You could hear all the other operators voice carry over and the keyboard clicking entering the in formation.

That really took the personal touch right out of it, so I dropped them and got myself my first secretary/receptionist.

Ed

porkchop

If you are looking for a virtual phone system I use virtualpbx .com They offer a comprehensive system for a very low cost.

For instance I purchased my toll free number from tollfree number. com Cost of $50 gets you a number that is yours for life. You can switch between carriers without ever losing your number. Then I am having the number ported (transfered) from them to virtalpbx. For $10 a month (plus 3-6 cents a minute depending on package) I get a PBX system that gives the illusion that I am a huge company. Some of the perks, since its virtual you can grow it with your business. You will never get a busy signal for incoming calls, free fax (same number) and while the person is transfered they listen to music as the system tries the numbers you have until you send it to voicemail or accept the phone call. For example, all the caller hears after they select the extension they will hear music while on hold. The automated system will call the office first, if no one picks up after 20 seconds, then it goes to my cell phone, etc.

Here is there number if you want to hear a sample system, 1-888-825-0800. My system should be up in about a week!!!

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- Chris
My construction company- Chicago Painting Contractor, Chicago Handyman, Chicago Remodeling. Chicago Internet Marketing by LSB.

fez-head

I am paying $30 per month and $0.90 per call. There are other plans with pre paid minutes at a discount but this one works best for me in conjunction with a secretary. It usualy costs me around $100 per month with this plan.

What I like best is all of the information that is gathered upfront for me and the fact that it is texted and emailed. The info can be cut and pasted directly into Quickbooks from there.

IMHO anything is better than a common answering machine. We used to get a lot of hang-ups on the machine but now they all leave a message with the live service.

gofrugal

I am also looking for the similar ones. Thanks guys.

L. B. Condulet

I use www.ringcentral.com

I have an 800 number that costs $120 a year, very reasonable. I can do all the voicemail tricks but for the most part I just forward calls to my cell phone.

Here's something some of you may not know: You can't hide your caller ID from an 800 number. People think they can hide by making their caller ID private or blocked, but when you call my number, I see exactly who you are.

800 numbers are exempt from "caller privacy" regulations because in some cases the owner of the 800 number pays by the mile for incoming calls, so caller ID is required for that.

Whoop! Whoop!

Ed the Roofer

I used to use Ring Central software on my old computer for incoming faxes, but when my old drive crashed last April, I could not find the original software for it. It seemed to have more capabilities, even though I only used it for the incoming fax feature and I miss it. I hate coming into my office and seeing the 10-15 pages of spam fax that now has to come in through my old thermal paper fax.

I will check out that sitte and software and see if their is just a one time purchase fee, since I already have had an (800) number for about 20 years.

Ed