7 Great Tips for Hiring Your Virtual Receptionist Service
Having a virtual receptionist service to take messages, screen your callers, and transfer calls to an extension or cell phone is a great way to help grow your business. Not only will it free up extra time for you to handle the important facets of your company, it will also help maintain customer loyalty, get new customers, and make a good impression for your business – no matter its size.
That doesn’t mean that you should hire just any company that provides this type of service, though. When you are looking for virtual receptionist services, here are the right questions to ask to make sure you get what’s right for you.
#1. How much experience do they have?
There are always new, up-and-coming firms in the industry that can help your business, but getting one that is experienced is still the right way to go. Ask your virtual receptionist service provider how much experience they have in handling busy calls, screening clients, and helping to improve the customer experience.
#2. What do they think is the most important part of the customer journey?
Above everything else, your virtual receptionist team will be there to interact with your customers. This means that you need to know what they think is the most important part of the interaction. Do they think that it’s the way they are greeted, the selling point, or how quickly their call is returned? This could help you determine the level of service you are dealing with.
#3. How well do they work under pressure?
Your company is going to be a fast-paced environment where you need to be on your toes 24/7. You want a team that works well under pressure. Ask them how they handle pressure situations, and what experience they have in doing so.
#4. Have they ever solved a major issue at a company?
You can use this question to learn more about who they are as problem solvers. Find out how they have overcome challenges and how they responded to pressure. Use this to see if they could work in your business’ environment.
#5. What do they know about your company or industry?
After all, they are going to be working for you. They are going to need to know the ins and outs of the industry to help provide the best service. You want a virtual receptionist service that will act as an extension of your business.
#6. Have they had any training recently?
This will help you find out if they have received any training in the field on the latest techniques, and if they put emphasis on staying up-to-date. It will also help you determine how well they will fit with your particular needs.
#7. How do they handle difficult clients?
Most people are kind, understanding, and well-behaved in situations pertaining to business. However, there are going to be some that just won’t let up. You might come across these and you will want to know how your virtual receptionist team will go about handling them.
Getting an experienced and dependable virtual receptionist service can open up new doors for your business. Not only will it free up time for you and save you money, it will also help grow your business and give you a big-company feel. Make sure you get the right one by knowing the right questions to ask when the time comes. We always have the most qualified employees here at Image24, and this is in large part due to our rigorous interview policy and emphasis on proper training and development.