Live Virtual Receptionists: A Look At What They Do & The Benefits of Hiring A Receptionist

Being self-employed or running your own business isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes the workload can feel overwhelming, and you can’t always afford to pay for an extra set of helping hands. When there aren’t enough hours in the day for all the work, and not enough money in the budget for the help you need, what’s a hard-working entrepreneur to do?

Well, we have good news for all those fiscally conflicted independent businessmen and women out there. You can get the help you need for a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee. The key is knowing what level of help you need, whether you need someone to answer phone calls and set appointments, or you need something a little more involved. 

To help with that, this post will discuss your two main options, how they differ, and how to know which one you need. 

Live Virtual Receptionists

Virtual receptionists (sometimes called “live receptionists,” or “live virtual receptionists”) are like regular receptionists. They answer, screen, and forward phone calls, take messages, set appointments, send out appointment reminders, and occasionally supply customer service to limited degrees. In other words, they fill all the functions of your average receptionist. They just do it via telecommuting.

Working remotely, the live receptionist takes your calls and forwards them to whatever number you’d like. They provide a professional face (or voice) for your company and help ensure that you never miss a call, or a customer. They’re trained to answer questions regarding your industry, and you only pay for time they actually spend on the phone. That way, you keep your costs minimal, while maximizing your business’s professionalism.

Premium Services

Premium live receptionists services (sometimes called virtual assistants) take things a step further. Still working remotely, they offer a more comprehensive suite of administrative services and tend to be dedicated to a particular company, rather than serving a dozen at the same time. Among the benefits of premium live virtual receptionist services are:

• Answer calls and take messages

• Make outbound cold calls

• Manage your schedule

• Order processing

• Answer emails

• Manage social media accounts

• Make purchases and pay bills

• Bookkeeping

• Data management

• Customer care

• Make lodging and transportation arrangements for travel

• And more

Because it’s an increased level of service, you usually have to pay extra for premium live virtual receptionists. For many businesses, though, the help with the workload, the increased efficiency, and the peace of mind is worth that cost.

Choosing One for Your Business

Knowing which service to use for your business depends on understanding your needs. If you’re a freelancer who has most of the paperwork in hand but struggles to make sure to catch calls as they come in, then basic virtual receptionist services would probably be a good fit. If, however, you tend to get caught up in the day-to-day running of the business, and need someone to go behind you and cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s, then you may be better served by opting in on a premium plan.

What Davinci Offers

At Davinci Virtual Office, we offer both basic and premium services as part of the virtual office package. If you’re looking for a straightforward live virtual receptionist, our business plans will cover that service, and provide you with a qualified virtual employee to help you handle inbound calls.

If you need some more involved assistance, our premium plans offer coverage of a wider set of functions, and will help you stay organized and productive. If you’re having a hard time deciding, we can help you determine what your needs are, and help you pick a plan that works for you. If you have any questions about what services a live virtual receptionist can provide, contact Davinci Virtual Office Solutions today.

About Coco Quillen

Coco is the Chief Operating Officer at Davinci Virtual Office Solutions. She manages the strategic development and operational implementation of services for Davinci. She works closely with all teams to ensure customers are well taken care of.