I’ve decided that telephone answering has got to be the most requested service I am asked for as a virtual assistant.  Unfortunately, it is also a service I do not provide. It just does not fit into my work schedule, which is also tied to my family’s schedule.

However, there is a solution to all those telephone answering requests – Remote Reception.  Remote Reception  is simply that , people will answer your business telephone calls, remotely from their office. Better yet, I have just the company to help you out - SmileDog!

A business colleague of mine, Jeff Doyle, owns this business and his service is a must for anyone who has trouble answering their telephone.

SmileDog provides a variety of solutions at a very affordable cost. When you sign up with SmileDog, you arrange how and when the calls will be answered, and  what will be said.  It is all very customized to your business needs.

You arrange all the technical aspects, there are options for you to choose so if your phone line rings busy to a customer or if your line goes unanswered, it forwards to SmileDog and they answer. They can access your schedule and book appointments if you’d like or simply take messages. You can control these options in a variety of ways, but in my opinion, always having this back up system on and in place is the best option. It’s like having your own receptionist!

What does it cost?  Not as much as you may think.  When I first bring this option to people’s attention, they think it will be out of their league, but it is not.  Jeff charges a reasonable monthly fee for the service and then you pay for calls answered.

Unanswered calls = Lost Business, plain and simple. If this is a concern to you at all, then you have probably lost business because of your phone system, or lack thereof.

My recommendation to any business owner who has thought, “I wonder if I can get someone to help answer the phones when I can’t?” is to contact Jeff Doyle at SmileDog and setup your Remote Reception plan.  Get those calls answered and fill up your appointment book.

Hmmmm… and it seems to me when I checked out the website just now, there was special offer to new clients as well!  Better get it while you can!

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