Virtual Assistant/Office/Receptionist - Research

[14A]

Hello all

This is aimed at people in the above industry, I'm just doing some research on what you offer your customers in terms of cost per call, duration and call content - basicly the things you had to work out when you first offered your service.

Also, when not answering the phone what are you doing? Other work for customers or do you put your time into your own work and spreading the word.

Would love to hear from people in this industry.

 

[14A]

Sunday Bump

 

[cjd]

I suggest you say why you're asking - this could sounds like a potential competitor fishing for info.......You also have to ask yourself whether anyone would post this info where their competitors can see it....

 

[14A]

That's very true - I'm thinking of setting up within my local area as there is a shortage of VA around here and I think it could work.

If someone doesn't want this info public, by all means PM me it.

Thanks

 

[No Missed Calls]

We answer inbound calls - nothing more, nothing less.

We provide a pay as you go telephone answering and message taking service.

We charge a flat rate of £1 per call.

The volume of calls we handle on a daily basis for our clients keep us busy, so we don't feel the need to provide any other services.

Good luck with your new venture!

 

[FoneAlone]

We do a telephone answering service at £1 PAYG minimum £10, and then a few packages such as 400 calls a month for £200, 150 calls for £100, 70 calls for £50, and anything over £200 a month is priced up individually. The price is all-inclusive so no extra costs to send by email or text, no set up cost, no minimum contract period. We just kept it simple. We found it confusing enough when we were checking out what others charged so we thought it must also be confusing for the customer.

 

[14A]

Does anyone wish to share how many customers/calls a day they are currently getting? Send info via PM I you wish.

 

[stugster]

The company I use don't p1ss about with the charge per call scenarios. They just charge a flat monthly fee after an estimate of how many calls you'll receive. The simple understanding is that sometimes you'll be over that number per month, sometimes you'll be under.

As long as you're not taking the p1ss, the flat monthly fee is the same. They will simply write giving lots of notice if your calls increase significantly.

Love it.

 

[Seamless-Outsourcing]

Out of interest, what kind of businesses are using this service?

 

[virtuallysorted]

if you are looking for info on the UK VA industry you can download the annual survey here (for a small fee, of course!): www.justtoobusy.co.uk/products

It'll give a more accurate range of the industry overall - although obviously it includes everyone doing hourly services too as well as call answering etc. For better call answering info SVA offers free advice here: http://www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk/category/call-answering-telephones-receptionist/

Think that should sort you out!!!

Caroline

P.S. Please DON'T call up pretending to be a client etc. as most VAs earn their money by trading their time - so you wasting it by pretending to be a client is effectively stealing. Be honest and you will be surprised how helpful most people in the industry are - there's no need to be underhand!

 

[14A]

Caroline, many many thanks!

Don't worry I won't hoax anyone.

 

[virtuallysorted]

No probs - glad to help!

 

[Officebird]

That's very true - I'm thinking of setting up within my local area as there is a shortage of VA around here and I think it could work.

I don't think you will find that there is a shortage of VAs in your local area as VAs work virtually and are therefore not restricted by geographical boudaries. There are approximately (although the source of this figure is unsure) 20,000 VAs in the UK so you shoul dfind some in your area that will be able to offer you some support.

Don't get being a VA confused with call answering. A VA does a whole lot more than call answering. There are call answering only companies but these don't offer the same type of services as a VA does. The terms are becoming more and more blurred though.

Check out www.societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk as Caroline said as there is a wealth of info on there.

I would echo what Caroline said about being upfront with who you are. I saw this question earlier and didn't respond as I thought you were a bit sneeky in the way you were asking for info. You will see on SVA I answer these questions all the time so I'm not sure why I got so cagey lol.

Anyway, welcome to the VA world.

 

[virtuallysorted]

Also - should you choose to specialise in call answering - you aren't just competing with VAs who offer call answering but also call centres, the clients themselves, employees/temps, family who will often help small business owners for free on an informal basis, the dreaded answerphone, even the lovely CJ whose system is pretty flexible when it comes to diverting calls... You get the idea!