3 Top Tips from eReceptionist to get your Virtual Office Ready for the Summer Holidays

LONDON, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Your business is important to you so you'll never want to miss a customer call but at the same time we all need to take a summer break, for a vacation or perhaps for enjoying the football, test match or the London games. 82% of entrepreneurs say that they feel refreshed and renewed after a holiday. But if your small business is like most, customers and vendors often call you directly - tying you to the company 24/7.  If a brief respite is what you need then the question is 'how can I take a break from the company'?

1. Plan ahead

As with everything in business, one of the most important things you can do is plan your schedule. Make sure you plan:

• When you are going to take that break
• When is optimal in your business cycle
• When do you expect less business activity?
• What can I do with my business calls?

2. Stop worrying about your business

If you think that you will experience 'separation anxiety' from your business - and most business owners will -  Psychologists recommend setting aside a certain amount of time each day to check emails.  It keeps you attached and no-one will object if you're checking in is on a reasonable basis. Build this time into your itinerary for the day and make sure it fits in with what you plan to do to ensure you enjoy that break:

• When do you plan to carry out activities or excursions of your break
• how does your daily 'check in' fits with your normal working day (morning? evening? office hours?)
• what you are going to do to ensure that while you are away you don't miss out on business

This can help you relax and enjoy your vacation instead of constantly worrying that you are letting your business down.  

3. Forward your calls and get voicemail as email

If you or someone else miss that call and it goes to voicemail, surveys show that almost 80% of customers, especially new ones, will not leave a voicemail message - they'll just call someone else.

Call Forwarding

A virtual receptionist can solve this issue by firstly answering all your calls and then directing them according to how you set it up. So if you know you'll be away; make sure to set up call forwarding (which works on any phone and can divert to landline or mobile) before you go and let a colleague take the call on your behalf. No missed calls mean no missed business.

Getting your voicemail as email

A virtual assistant can assist you on your vacation, getting your voicemail as email. It will send your voicemails to you as files that you can play out on your device or PC for free as part of the virtual office service. This means that you can listen to any voicemails that come through to your virtual number without having to pay the roaming fees that you'd normally get with international travel.

It all means that you'll get that holiday you deserve - without missing business - and your business gets you back refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated.

About eReceptionist

eReceptionist, the latest innovation from the company who brought you eFax, offers a virtual receptionist , the most advanced virtual, on demand voice communication service.

This unique communication system allows mobile professionals, home office workers, small businesses and independent entrepreneurs to sound more professional and function more productively.

With eReceptionist, customers receive the quality and professionalism of a Fortune 500 corporate telephone system without the costly equipment and fees.

For more information please visit http://www.ereceptionist.co.uk/