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Economic times are tight for many businesses these days. Many small businesses cannot keep up with the costs of renting a brick and mortar office and paying the salaries of a secretarial staff. Unfortunately, there is still a real need for to have a live human on hand to answer the corporate phone, and for closely related clerical work. In the face of these issues, many businesses are turning to a virtual office solution to meet their needs.
One of the best ways to save money while maintaining an adequate level of service is to use a live virtual receptionist as a professional, pleasant point of human contact for your customers. Reputable virtual offices limit the number of businesses each receptionist takes calls for, so customer service will always be available in a timely manner. If customers must be briefly placed on hold, they will hear soothing music instead of being left to cool their heels in a blank silence. A quality virtual assistant will screen, prioritize and forward your calls by the criteria you set, so your highest priority calls can always be forwarded to you immediately.
In addition to the human touch of a live phone answering service, virtual assistants can forward both faxes and voicemails to your email inbox, where you can deal with them at your convenience. A virtual office solution can help manage your calendar and schedule your appointments. A live virtual receptionist may make calls for you as well as receive them; reminding your contacts to keep their appointments and helping you find new customers.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
How can my business benefit from a New York Virtual Office?
In a competitive market environment, image, presence and reputation of a company is what distinguishes it from another. To help create all of that, many companies are choosing to rent New York virtual offices.
Regardless if they want to establish relationships with local firms, present themselves to nationwide companies or even impress those companies that operate internationally, clients can now choose to have a prestigious New York City presence. All of the available addresses are well known and highly respected in business circles. All of them come with highly respected main lobby receptions. Also, the company name will be included on the main building directory listing, which can further certify business prestige.
Under its basic service, virtual office in New York includes mail forwarding. This will include forwarding of all or selected mail through desired mail carrier including UPS.
Furthermore, the client can choose to have live answering of inbound telephone calls by a real person in their own business name. Many businesses prefer to have it done this way, as they want their clients to know there are real people behind their company. Clients can also set up an automatic answering system that comes very handy during off business hours.
The company also offers a premium service that includes access to its impressive conference rooms, which include state of the art technology. Clients can be thus met in the most optimal circumstances.
Sincerely, using virtual office space and having a presence in the financial capital of the world will not only bring new clients, but will keep existing clients satisfied knowing you are right there ready to take care of their needs. In reality, setting a front office in New York on these addresses can be prohibitively expensive and out of reach of many growing businesses. Now with virtual office, that prestigious presence has been made affordable to almost any business.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Using Virtual Office Solutions
Economic times are tight for many businesses these days. Many small businesses cannot keep up with the costs of renting a brick and mortar office and paying the salaries of a secretarial staff. Unfortunately, there is still a real need for to have a live human on hand to answer the corporate phone, and for closely related clerical work. In the face of these issues, many businesses are turning to a virtual office solution to meet their needs.
One of the best ways to save money while maintaining an adequate level of service is to use a live virtual receptionist as a professional, pleasant point of human contact for your customers. Reputable virtual offices limit the number of businesses each receptionist takes calls for, so customer service will always be available in a timely manner. If customers must be briefly placed on hold, they will hear soothing music instead of being left to cool their heels in a blank silence. A quality virtual assistant will screen, prioritize and forward your calls by the criteria you set, so your highest priority calls can always be forwarded to you immediately.
In addition to the human touch of a live phone answering service, virtual assistants can forward both faxes and voicemails to your email inbox, where you can deal with them at your convenience. A virtual office solution can help manage your calendar and schedule your appointments. A live virtual receptionist may make calls for you as well as receive them reminding your contacts to keep their appointments and helping you finds new customers.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Serviced Offices for Your Business
A serviced office is an office that is at another location but allows the users of this service to limit the need for traditional office costs but still maintaining a professional business image. The serviced office works well for small businesses that are looking for a short-term office space solution or for a business looking for a flexible lease. In addition, serviced offices also work well for businesses that are growing quickly, branch offices for larger companies, foreign companies and other businesses looking for short-term business solutions.
There are many reasons why some businesses find a serviced office beneficial such as: an increase in employees, a business growing unpredictably, relocation is needed soon, wasted space in a current location, the need for a more professional looking office and not having enough money to rent a conventional office.
There are many benefits in obtaining a virtual office such as: they are ready to use quickly, flexible leases, little worry about managing the serviced office, flexibility, internal branding and no maintenance of equipment and furniture.
In addition, there are several types of serviced offices such as long-term offices. Long-term offices have 1-2 person executive suites and large open-plan offices that can easily take care of 6-9 people. And, all offices are modular. There are also short- term offices. Short-term offices are offices that are used 1-3 months, are fully furnished and are often available to customers any time they need the space. The branch/ representative offices are used by new businesses and need business services quickly, along with a qualified, professional team. Other types of serviced offices are Start-up offices, Project offices, Team room offices, Disaster Recovery offices and Day use offices.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Working From Wherever You Want
Some people imagine themselves sitting on a beach as their mind daydreams away from work. The idea of work may not seem so bad, however, if you the same beach could be a work site. This is the power that comes with working from wherever you want.
The beach sounds great, but few people would attempt to do all of their work there. Many people do not really like to mix work and play. It is true that most people would probably want a much better view than they have now. The majority of individuals that are employees in big cities would probably get an office that gives a skyline view of the city. The average worker would probably want any office with the great window view.
Luckily, virtual offices give people that opportunity to be anywhere they would like to be. A virtual office service can cut down on traveling and actually improve revenues. There is no office space to rent and the office can essentially move beyond one with a physical location.
It really doesn’t get better than this in the world of business. The live virtual receptionist, for example, can type letters from anywhere. Many retail stores are ditching their brick and mortar buildings for cyberspace. It only makes sense for businesses to implement the same productive measures in efforts to increase revenue.
The role of virtual offices has become important because companies are able to compete for more business. It no longer matters where an office is located anymore. Obtaining clients in New York is no longer out of reach for companies with employees in Alabama. The virtual office goes to places that employees don’t have to go to. The business has a chance to flourish simply because they are no longer limitations on the geographic location.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Virtual Offices: Web Conferencing Solutions
Web conferencing has become a part of the world of vocational technology. With more and more people opting for a virtual office as compared to the traditional office set ups, telecommunication has become very important. For those that work from a virtual office, they have to communicate through video, audio, text, live virtual receptionist and live phone answering services. Files, your desktop, a browser or even a power point presentation over the Internet can be shared. Thus more IT companies have been inventing newer and more efficient ways to allow this communication to flow with ease.
International communication is the biggest advantage of video web conferencing. For those working in a virtual office, web conferencing is important to bring together the various clients and employees around the world. Due to the rapid globalization of our markets, every firm has employees that work from abroad and clients from various countries.
Online training and support can be provided to employees through a ‘webinar’ or a web-based seminar. A presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar can be transmitted over via the Internet, which can be one or two-way. Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS), which provides online facilitation, tools to help in the web conference. Voice over IP (VoIP) can be used for real time audio communication.
All these products that web conferencing gives us are easy to use and do not need software and external installation; it can all be done at the touch of a mouse. They cost less than hardware-based video conferencing and are available anywhere. Other benefits include increase of employee morale after using advanced technology, improve safety and reduce travel risks. With the world growing leaps and bounds, we should too should get on the bandwagon and make use of the gifts the IT geniuses have given us.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Save Money: Go Green at Work
A virtual office has now taken over traditional office spaces in the form of working from home and thus opting for your personal office at home, telecommunication and live conferencing, which still holds the integrity of the business professionalism. With increasing costs for non-renewable resources and growing global population and demand, the need for virtual offices has become a norm.
By using a virtual office space instead of a traditional one you can eliminate over 13,000 pounds of CO2 that is released into the atmosphere during the commute every year. It helps in reducing individual or an organizations carbon footprint. The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases used by any individual or association. On average American workers spend approximately 47 hours per year commuting during the rush hour. This is equivalent to 23 billion gallons of gas used during the traffic hour. Since you work from home, there is less time spent on the road, which reduces the time CO2 is getting pumped into the air. This also reduces the dependency of humans on oil and the crazy prices that come along with it. Other ways to reduce our carbon footprint is by using carpools, electric and hybrid vehicles etc.
Traditional costs can be reduced by simple organization. Go Green with Virtual office spaces! Use energy-saving computers and settings rather than desktops that take up more energy. By digitalizing, the usage of paper is reduced and when needed recycled paper should be used. This office set up helps to cut back on energy and money used for business trips as telecommunication takes care of them. The costs of afternoon lunch and also amount spent on office attire can be saved.
After looking at all the benefits of a virtual office, the most important has to be a balanced-life. As people work from home and have more time from their eliminated commute they have more time to spend at home with family and more time for extra-curricular activities. This keeps the employee stress-free as time management is left up to them. With the increasing world population, climate change and natural disasters we all should sincerely make efforts to change our lifestyles and contribute with a virtual office!
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
4 Steps to Reinforce Your Sales Strategy
One of the best ways to help your customers, especially in their eyes, is to start with pricing.
1. VALUE PROPOSITION & PRICING
Short and long term pricing is fairly complex.
- You have to consider the value as opposed to your competition.
- You have to think about what the consumer will truly pay for your product.
- You have to be able to reach your revenue and market share goals.
- You have to maximize your profit.
- You may have to think about what customers would pay for other solutions you offer.
- You have to think about whether your price should fall in relation to the competition.
- As soon as price, value proposition and competitive position are aligned, you’re in the best possible scenario to maximize revenue and profits.
Pricing strategy verses your value proposition
Your price on a product sends a strong signal to your market; it needs to be in-line with the value you’re delivering.
- It just makes sense if your value proposition is in operational efficiency, then your price needs to be extremely competitive.
- It really sends the wrong message if your value proposition is product leadership or customer intimacy. After all, if a luxury item isn’t expensive, is it really a luxury?
2. DIFFERENTIATION
Differ From the Competition Based on Consumer Needs
At this point you should have a sound market strategy in place one that has came from the answers to these two key questions:
Where and how do we compete
That is, what products or services do we sell, to what kinds of customers and in which markets” How do we organize our assets and use pricing to back it up? The challenge is to extend that understanding to ensure that your entire company focuses on the practical implications of that differentiation strategy. In simpler terms:
- Customer touch points
- Product and service variety
- Operational configuration and cost structures
3. TARGET MARKET
Target your particular market
You might consider the first plan of listing those people that sales aren’t currently reaching their goals and reaching out to them. Also, using tools like LinkedIn can be valuable assets. Checking facts with Jigsaw and LinkedIn can save time and energy, at a rate of 10 or so prospects entered per day. It should only take 3 to 4 weeks to make your list. Use an introductory email as first communication with these new clients.
You might also want to create a content marketing program to help your list and qualify leads. It is true that a content marketing program can come in many forms; start thinking about a blog and post articles with information and tips that coincide with your product.
In order to pass on more content, your list can be built with a monthly or weekly newsletter, with summaries of and links to the articles on your blog. Including links within the articles is also a good lead tactic.
After you have built your list and a content marketing program in place to help that list, it is a good idea to start on a larger scale to create demand beyond the contacts in your database. Another great thought would be to promote what you are offering with a targeted paid search program or content syndication program. These strategies will not only help brand your business but help build your list and provide leads for your sales.
Keep in mind if the contacts in your database happen to come across some of your content outside of your nurturing program that will only reinforce your company.
Communicating well is the key
A sales message not only intrigues, informs, persuades, calls to action, but will also close the final sale. You will soon realize not all sales messages will make a direct sale, but your goal must remain the same. Even if your sales message is embedded in a letter, represented in a proposal, or broadcasted over the internet.
4. COMMUNICATION MODEL
A Guide to a Basic Sales Message
You have to use humor, novelty and surprise to get attention. Also build customer interest by appealing to general needs and wants, including a statement to set up expectations.
You have to establish your credibility, discuss attractive features, and compare with competitors, addressing potential questions before they are asked.
Summarize and offer solution steps while motivating the audience to take the next step. The smaller the step, the more likely the audience will be responsive. Try to make an effective closing. Make the sale, try to be memorable, and make sure your last thoughts relate to the most important information, like a consumer phone number.
Last but not least, just remember every product or service you bring to the market creates a customer experience. Is it the experience you intended? Does that experience fulfill the promise you’ve made to the marketplace?
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
The Key To Enhancing Your Selling Skills: Self-Confidence
Bill Brasky started small when he decided to start his own business.
You see, Bill wanted to open up a donut shop. Yep, just a regular old donut shop.
It turns out, though, that Bill had much bigger plans.
Although he started small, it didn’t take long for Bill to quickly begin making a name for himself. In fact, it didn’t take long at all.
Why?
Well, Bill wasn’t afraid to take chances when he first got started. He understood that in order to grow his business into what he wanted it to become, it was going to take hard work, confidence and the drive to not quit.
After about a month of being in business, Bill immediately began to go after and develop a business presence on the Internet, and it was one of the best moves he ever made. After a few weeks, he began to notice he was quickly moving up in search rankings. His phone also started to ring off the hook.
Today Bill goes to great lengths to maintain a top-notch business presence for his donut shop online. While he started small, his hard work ethic and desire to succeed has led his donut shop to become one of the largest in the country. And it all started with a little modest business plan and a very strong work ethic.
Bill’s Donut Shop continues to grow at a huge rate. To this day, Bill attributes his success to having a great business plan in place. Through having a quality plan, he was able to attack his goals without fear of failure. After all, he had taken such possibilities into account in his business plan.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +
Customer Satisfaction: The Best Way to Boost Your Business
The best way to boost your business is through customer satisfaction. With today’s increasingly competitive marketplace, it is imperative that a business sets a new high for the overall customer experience to make a name for itself and outdo its competitors.
Companies in today’s business world heavily rely on repeat customers’ as well as referrals for one of their main sources of revenue. Being able to meet and exceed consumer expectations is paramount to the survival of any business.
The more value you add to your customers lives, specifically new information that benefits them, the more likely they will come back for seconds and tell their friends. These repeat customers and the referrals they provide act as a domino effect, reverberating rampantly through social circles and inspiring more people to test you out. This is especially true for small businesses, and especially true with the pervasiveness of social media in our lives. People go on the Internet to talk about their experiences with different businesses, and if you have a circle of advocates for yours, other people will take note and are more likely to contact you. Here are a few pointers to help fulfill your customers needs and establish yourself as a great company.
- Respond in a timely manner. Answer your customers questions, comments and concerns personally and quickly, either by phone or email. It is important to cater to a customers schedule and be available when they are.
- Allow your customers to give feedback. Always communicate with your customers to find out their needs. What’s working “What’s not working” Provide a way for a customer to leave feedback so they know you care and so that you can learn from what your target market likes and dislikes. This will help you in the long-run, as you are tailoring your business towards your niche.
- Customize and personalize your website. Your business website should always be user-friendly and personalized. Avoid pop-ups and excessive advertising because this will deter a customer very quickly. Make your web page pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate.
- Go social. Social media is a very powerful tool for referrals, marketing and advertising. Effective social media campaigns provide a direct link to your website as well as customer feedback. Make sure to respond to inquiries and answer questions directly.
- Create a rewards program. Customers love a rewards program and ways to save money. A rewards program will promote a long-term rapport between you and your customer and establish repeat business. It will also inspire them to Friend you on Facebook and Follow you on Twitter, two key avenues for a strong business-consumer relationship.
These are just a few tips to help exceed consumer expectations and create a true sense of brand loyalty. It’s very important to stay human, especially on the online channels, and personally communicate with your market. Don’t be a company on social networks, be a person; people will definitely notice and be more motivated to respond. People want to talk to people, not logos and robots.
About Jim Jacques
Jim Jacques is the President of United Virtual Office, a leading nationwide provider of virtual offices for entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. A virtual office includes an address at a prestigious business location in the US, live virtual receptionist, courier services and more. Google +