Virtual Offices

[vegas1ne]

Just looking for some input on the service. I'm getting all my ducks in a row to be an independent agent. Since I have all the time in the world cause NV is taking so long to get my license to me I am working on everything else.

I have seen some services for about $150.00 a month where you get what basically seems like a front desk girl. They answer your calls and transfer them to you, giving you a more professional look. As an agent who will be working from home or possibly a one man office. Would my possible clients rather call me and I answer or go through what seems like a secretary/front desk to get to me?

Any input would be great. Thanks

 

[Frank Stastny]

Re: Vitual Offices

They answer your calls and transfer them to you, giving you a more professional look. As an agent who will be working from home or possibly a one man office. Would my possible clients rather call me and I answer or go through what seems like a secretary/front desk to get to me?

Why would you think that would give you a more "professional" look?

Ask yourself the same question. If it were you calling wouldn't you prefer to talk to "the person in charge" or would you rather spend time talking to someone who can't help you first?

 

[Norwayguy]

Re: Vitual Offices

Just looking for some input on the service. I'm getting all my ducks in a row to be an independent agent. Since I have all the time in the world cause NV is taking so long to get my license to me I am working on everything else.

I have seen some services for about $150.00 a month where you get what basically seems like a front desk girl. They answer your calls and transfer them to you, giving you a more professional look. As an agent who will be working from home or possibly a one man office. Would my possible clients rather call me and I answer or go through what seems like a secretary/front desk to get to me?

Any input would be great. Thanks

$150 a month only to answer a phone line and then forward it to you at home or on the road...When I clicked on the thread I thought you would be talking about having an office in the building and having the front desk person answer the calls...First any guess how often she mixes up the intro? Second unless your clients/prospects are idiots they will figure it out pretty quickly....

I use Ringcentral...There is no live person that answers the phone, they call a recording greets them and then attempts to connect to me, it rings for 5 seconds on my office phone first then rings other phones that have been set up ie cell...That way if I can pick up I do. I tell my clients exactly what is going on when they call. They get it they understand I'm on the road meeting with people like them and if I can I always answer my calls, if not I also get a text message to the cell when I miss a call, another if I get a voicemail on the ringcentral line or a fax... What was a nice feature (and still is) is if the call comes through ringcentral say forwarded to my cell, I can push *9 at anytime and the call will begin being recorded, I thought that feature would have been good for capturing phone SOAs, seems thats a no no now. If I didn't still have clients 3 hours away from me that I do 2 days trips to the area I probably wouldn't even have ringcentral, but whats nice is I can load the softphone on my laptop grab a usb headset and as long as I have high speed internet at the hotel I can make unlimited calls from my ringcentral office number just like if I was at the office.

I am not a paid spokesperson fro Ringcentral...I'm just a satisfied user...I believe that the best approach is to always answer the phone yourself and leave technology out of it...Luckily I'm to busy for that to be efficient so this is my next best thing.

 

[DHK]

Re: Vitual Offices

I myself, have been giving services like this a pretty serious look... but not the telephone service.

I like the idea of having the use of the "professional address" and having all my mail sent to such a "virtual office". I like the idea of having meetings held there for a small hourly fee (usually $25-$35/hr in a conference room). Then upgrading my services to include a full-time lease in the future.

If you're going to be an independent agent and plan to have meetings somewhere other than your prospect's home or business... then having such a service may be helpful.

The telephone bit I don't care for. Yes, the receptionist CAN get the intro wrong. I've seen it and heard it before. I don't fault them - it's just human nature. But that's not the only reason why I wouldn't use it.

I use a magicjack line, but not necessarily for making phone calls. It's essentially the cheapest way to own a phone number and have it forward to any other phone number you want. I want to keep one phone number for the rest of my career. If I need another phone number, I can get another magicjack and have THAT number forwarded to whatever number I want.

If you only use the phone number of the "virtual office" and you decide that you don't like or can't afford their services, then you need to change all your marketing materials and inform your customers/clients of your new phone number. Why bother with that in the first place?

Own your phone number and forward it to where ever you want. And just as Norwayguy explaned - tell your policy holders about your service to them as their agent. That you meet with people during the day, but you check your messages frequently and that they will get a response about their message within 24 hours.

Nobody should expect you to be tied directly to your phone all the time - unless you're dealing in securities & especially individual securities like stocks & bonds. Securities require minute-by-minute precision in executing trades on behalf of customers - should they want to make such a trade. Fixed insurance products? Not NEARLY as critical for service.

Professionalism isn't in WHO is answering your phone. Professionalism is in how quickly you acknowledge the message and what you do about it.

 

[Norwayguy]

Re: Vitual Offices

I can see the value of those types of Virtual office setups as well...They don't currently exist up here at least not anywhere close to me...I think Portland might have something like this but 1 hour one way doesn't make sense to me....Like DHK posted own your number...With Ringcrentral you are allowed to port your number out...I like how I can keep my phone number even if I move to another part of the state and would not be able to keep my number with a landline...

 

[daveb]

Re: Vitual Offices

... and would not be able to keep my number with a landline...

"landline"?

What's that?

I actually got rid of my landline a few years ago. I've had my cell phone since 2000 and just last week went with Vonage,which number I am using for my "office" line.I'm using a "business services" address,rather than my home address,which I also only secured last week.They also have a nice boardroom I can rent by the hour should the need arise.I'm so new in this business I'm still waiting on my business cards.

 

[Norwayguy]

Re: Vitual Offices

"landline"?

What's that?

I actually got rid of my landline a few years ago. I've had my cell phone since 2000 and just last week went with Vonage,which number I am using for my "office" line.I'm using a "business services" address,rather than my home address,which I also only secured last week.They also have a nice boardroom I can rent by the hour should the need arise.I'm so new in this business I'm still waiting on my business cards.

I can't have my DSL without the landline (Yes I've asked the carrier multiple times about this one) Time Warner tells me in my area they do not offer high speed service without the Cable TV (I prefer my Dish) I haven't looked at Satelite options.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Re: Vitual Offices

I haven't looked at Satelite options.

Do not switch to satellite if you have other options. I pay almost $100 per month for Hughes and it sucks. It is the only option I have besides dial up.

Every time someone pee's in the driveway the satellite goes out. It times out all of the time. I may be without internet for 30 minutes or more because there are too many people trying to access it. I am limited to downloads, if I "go over" then I have to wait for 24 hours until the "new day" begins.

 

[WinoBlues]

Re: Vitual Offices

Do not switch to satellite if you have other options. I pay almost $100 per month for Hughes and it sucks. It is the only option I have besides dial up.

Every time someone pee's in the driveway the satellite goes out. It times out all of the time. I may be without internet for 30 minutes or more because there are too many people trying to access it. I am limited to downloads, if I "go over" then I have to wait for 24 hours until the "new day" begins.

Where do you live?

 

[padthaiforlunch]

I like the idea of having the use of the "professional address" and having all my mail sent to such a "virtual office". I like the idea of having meetings held there for a small hourly fee (usually $25-$35/hr in a conference room). Then upgrading my services to include a full-time lease in the future.

I've had a virtual office for five years, but without the phone. It's my professional address and I get a lobby listing. I've had a potential client drop by the building see view my listing to confirm I'm legit (meh, Craigslist shopper).

I can't imagine putting my home address, or a po box on my card.