According to Wikipedia, “The telephone is one of the most common household appliances in the developed world and has long been considered indispensable to business, industry and government.” So why is it that so many of us hate it so much? The phone is a wonderful invention that has kept families in touch, averted disasters and spawned many a puppy-love affair over the years. It has also become a weapon of torture thanks to the telemarketing industry. In business, phone conversations are a necessary evil that, while potentially bringing in new work, keeps you from doing the work you have already procured.
Well, have we got great news for you! Were you aware that there are VA’s who have centered their entire workday around making phone calls for you? No longer do you need to spend hours connecting with people on the phone in order to arrange to connect with them in person. Your VA can do that for you … and so much more. Here are some examples:
· Do you have a stack of business cards from your recent networking breakfast or tradeshow that you have been meaning to wade through? Hand them off to a VA. Your VA can pre-screen potential clients, set up appointments and weed out the ones who aren’t quite right for you and your business. You can stay focused on the bird in your hand while your VA wrangles in the ones in the bush.
· “No, thanks. I do not need to order toner.” “I am sorry, we have already distributed our charitable donations for this year.” “No, we don’t have time for a customer survey right now.” “Really. We’re completely stocked with toner.” For every one true business call you receive, you get four other calls that do nothing other than waste your precious time. A receptionist service can help you avoid telemarketers while not missing out on actual clients’ calls. Have your VA answer inbound calls, take messages, transfer the good ones directly to your line, and reiterate, as many times as necessary, “Seriously, we have plenty of toner.”
· Potential clients are very important, but what about those existing clients of yours? And remember those previous clients? Where did they go? Have a VA call them all. Schedule appointments, set up sales meetings, arrange business lunches … all without actually picking up the phone. Perhaps you are teaching a course and need to make sure the attendees are prepared with their materials. Maybe you have organized a tradeshow and need to confirm with the participants. Let your VA take over these essential yet time-consuming tasks while you concentrate on the big picture.
The talent for multi-tasking is vital in today’s business world. Maintaining current clients, cultivating potential clients, and screening those pesky toner salespeople are tasks that need your constant attention. Thanks to VA’s, you no longer have to do it alone.