Home Business Management: Virtual Office Features To Help You Do Business

I received a call from a former coworker the other day who just wanted to “check in.” It was great to hear from her, and I was happy to catch up on the latest news, family happenings and business status. The only problem was this: my friend likes to talk. And by that, I mean that she will answer the most innocent of questions with multiple anecdotes, therapeutic insights and complex reflections of the day.

So while I was filling space with, “Uh-huhs,” and “Oh, wows,” I wasted 45 minutes and missed two important phone calls. Ugh!
Why is this story important? Because it’s a perfect example of what can happen when you’re running a small business with no phone help!

One of the most important features to look for when trying to find a virtual assistance service or phone system is a Follow-Me-Live-Call-Transfer capability. This service can track you down at your home, office number and extension, cell phone, or any other number choose, and get the caller connected directly to you. You will then hear an announcement of the callers name, and you can decide whether it’s a good time to talk to that person, or you can send them to voicemail.

Here are additional benefits:

• You won’t miss a call, like I did, and you’ll always be available to your customers.
• You’ll save time by sending callers who tend to waste valuable time into voice mail.
• You will present a unified company image as if you work out of the same building, even if you and your partners work out of different places.
• You can block out "DO NOT DISTURB" times, so you can take time off from the phone and concentrate on a special job or task.