Has anyone used/uses a virtual assistant to answer there calls? I’m tired of not being able to get to my phone every time it rings. had to let 2 employees go for failing drug test so I’m back to pulling the trigger for the time being.
Have been talking with April Dodson who runs bidslot. Thinking about using them…$180 for 5 hours (time only counts when there on the phone) they answer every time…say a personalized script, get info… end of day I would get a report of the phone calls. Americans answering the phone, not India
I let everything go to voice mail and check it nightly. If it is commercial i call back, or something I’m interested in. If they call back a couple of times they are serious
Yes, I do ransoms…usually only if there are signs of drug use. Showing up late, looks like they haven’t slept in days. Half the people I went to school with are addicted to speed, it’s sad.
Will do, I’m going to make the transition tomorrow if no one has anything bad to say about them. They work mostly with power washing and window cleaning businesses so they no lingo and terminology.
Debating if I should use sideline for a new personal number or just buy a cheap phone and switch my business number to that and then have it forwarded to bidslot. You use sideline correct? How do you like it? I would be doing the opposite, using sideline for my personal number
One thing i wish I had done different was not used a cell phone for my business line. If i answer the phone on weekends thinking it’s a neighbor where my kids are or something, its always customer. Wish it was a land line that i could forward to a cell phone when i wanted to.
I don’t know what a virtual land line is but I’ll search it. I’ve had the same number with nextel/sprint since 1994. I’m a creature of habit apparently
Same here, had the same number for the last 15 years and used it for both business and personal. Got tired of phone ringing all the time so I finally went out and got a second phone. Gave the wife the work phone and said have fun!!
Works great. No complaints except the caller ID always says Sideline Call instead of what it’s saved under which would be a problem for me if I used it as my personal line. Doesn’t bother me for the business line because I rarely answer it and call everyone back around lunch time or 6:00ish. I can see the names then. No big deal.
Oh and if you have to send pics you have to send them one at a time. First world problem.
I got tired of residential customers having my personal cell. Only my snow commercial customers have my personal cell. I added a line to my plan years ago and just have 2 iPhones in my pocket. It’s nice because if I’m not working I leave it at home and don’t get bugged!
I’m with Innocent. I rarely answer mine during the day. Heck don’t even hear it if my machines running. If it’s something I want, I’ll call them back but don’t have time for for anymore customers right now… Got about a dozen calls from a week ago that I haven’t returned. I’ll call them back in June and if they haven’t found anyone then maybe I can schedule.
I have two lines and phones from Verizon. The work line (on one of my old phones) is forwarded to my personal line and the caller ID and SPAM indicator still work. I use the work phone with a mileage tracking app so it does double duty for me. The only problem with doing it this way is that text messages are not forwarded so I sometimes forget to look for them. I hate doing things by text anyway.
If you need/want to know when you are getting a call you can get a Garmin or similar watch. It will vibrate on your wrist when you get a call and you can quickly look at it and see if you want to take the call.
Day 2 of using April’s business Bidslot virtual assistant. So far has been amazing, she is very knowledgeable and helpful in getting everything set up. What I’m having them do is simple, answer calls and if new customer get their info and tell them we will email a quote in the next 24 hours. They are also directing customers to my website to fill out the form if they want.
Prior customer calling with questions or complaints…the receptionist gathers a message and let’s the customer know that I will call them when I’m back in.
After each call an email is sent to you instantly with all of the details
Not having to worry about my phone during the day is awesome. By the time I see the messages from bidslot, that customer has already filled out the form on my website.
I know it’s backwards from what Josh teaches and others but I’ve found this way easier and affordable then myself transitioning into the office full time. I’ve had a few bad hires that have been unreliable lately
The only issue I’ve ran into is that I have to buy another phone…sideline and other apps forward to ur number so when u forward that number they all forward…if you get what I’m saying
Make sure you tell your significant other…I forgot to tell my wife and she called me and some girl answered…she was confused. Thought I hired a secretary lol
