Virtual PBX phone systems were designed specifically to address this concern and to transform your home into an integrated, highly professional office. It does this by using an innovative technology that links disparate phone numbers and voice mails into a pre-recorded directory, which is easily navigated by a prospective caller.
Let's say a prospect dials your virtual PBX toll free number. Your 'virtual assistant' will automatically answer and greet them warmly; this is a greeting that you personally choose and record.
A great benefit of this, of course, is that the virtual assistant never needs a break. It can handle an unlimited number of inbound calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which not only projects a professional, centralized operation, but also frees up a ton of time for you.
Another way a virtual phone system allows you more flexibility in your schedule, and turns your home office phones into a hierarchal system like one of the big Fortune 500 companies, is by automatically redirecting important calls to your cell phone if you're not in the office.
Simply tell your virtual phone system which numbers you can be reached at, at a given time, and it will dial each one until it gets you on the line. So, if you're not in your office when a prospect calls, the virtual phone system places them on hold and they enjoy music of your choice while it dials you on your cell phone and alerts you of the call.
You have the choice of either taking the call or not. If you do wish to take it, you're instantly connected and, voila, the prospect never suspects you are away from the office. If you choose not to take it, the virtual phone system re-routes the caller to the appropriate voicemail box.
The structure of the virtual PBX phone system is determined by you and your needs. You have complete freedom to architect multiple extensions, department directories, individual employee voice mailboxes, and automated customer service support.
For instance, you can assign any extension to any department or employee. Plus, you have the option of handling department extensions manually or relying on a virtual PBX phone system's "Dial-by-Name-Directory." This not only helps a prospect instantly find a certain employee, but, by projecting an intricate, organized web of levels and departments, can make your small business operation seem like a vast corporation.
Rehashing to inquiring customers what products and services your business offers can grow quite tiresome after awhile. It's also quite time-consuming. A virtual phone system offers an answer to this problem: a sales tool that has the intelligence to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. This feature helps you create an entire, automated voice menu with pre-recorded information about your company, enabling a caller to select and listen, at leisure, to what your business has to offer.
Many home run businesses have too few lines to handle incoming calls, leading to busy signals and dissatisfied customers. While many owners invest a ton of resources into making their operation of the highest quality, their phone system betrays their efforts. However, because virtual PBX phone systems can essentially handle an unlimited number of calls, busy signals have been eliminated. If your customers dial an extension and you are either busy or choose not to accept their call, they are courteously directed to the appropriate voicemail box.
As a small business owner, it's safe to say control and flexibility over your operation are important to you. A virtual PBX phone system is designed to grant you full latitude to manage and change features like outgoing messages, greetings, notification options, and marketing messages.
Furthermore, multiple "points of access" allow you to check your calls from anywhere. Whether you'd like to arrange to have your mailbox playback the message for you over the phone, have a voice message sent to your email as an audio attachment, or request to be notified of the message by page, then you can manipulate the system so that it is working for you. On top of that, you have the ability to change the settings on your voicemail either by phone, email, or mobile device.
A virtual phone system, which sets up your home as an interconnected, sophisticated office, is an affordable alternative to the technological systems that many larger corporations utilize. Maybe the home you operate your small business from isn't exactly a corner office; but with this economical, valuable system, it sure will feel like it.
Brandi Cummings is an expert author on the unique issues facing small and home based businesses. Get a virtual PBX 15 Day Free Trial at http://www.Freedom800.com, a leading provider of virtual PBX systems.
Tags: business, small business, virtual pbx, home office telecommunications, small business telecommunications