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Q: <\/strong>Are business calls important for growing a small business? <\/p>\n\n\n\n A: <\/strong>Business calls are absolutely crucial to growing your small business. Incoming calls can be converted to customers or may present networking opportunities that can seriously boost profits. This article explores the best way to improve the quality of your business calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Small businesses are thriving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the nation, entrepreneurs are launching their own small businesses, capitalizing on the ubiquity and widespread acceptance of remote work<\/a> and e-commerce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This surge of small businesses is significant for everyone. People are more empowered than ever to chase their dreams and pursue financial freedom, while consumers are met with innovation and a plethora of unique options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But it isn\u2019t all smooth sailing. There\u2019s a learning curve for small business owners as they learn to handle things like business calls, marketing, accounting, and business registration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this is insurmountable, but it can be relatively daunting. As a result, it\u2019s tempting to put off finding solutions for these tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, such procrastination seriously backfires, especially when it comes to business calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having the proper business call etiquette can make or break a small business. It\u2019s absolutely crucial to your business\u2019s success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This article explores why by exploring two different approaches to handling an important call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we jump into the hypotheticals, let\u2019s explore why business calls are so important to your small business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Pew Research Center, 79% of Americans believe we have too little trust in one another<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve grown skeptical about the authenticity and honesty of people\u2019s claims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially true in business settings. Consumers are increasingly hesitant to trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Earning that trust is the key to winning them over and ultimately growing your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is arguably even more true of networking opportunities. Other businesses have a lot at stake when they partner with you, meaning they need to trust you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But building trust is a deeply personal thing. It requires both logical reasoning and <\/em>positive feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Business calls are one of the few ways to personally connect with someone. With so much of our interaction moving to text-based communication, hearing a person\u2019s voice provides a rare touch of humanity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent article by Forbes highlights this when it states that consumers still deeply crave human-to-human connection<\/a>. Even in the digital age, we want to feel personally connected to businesses and their owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why business calls matter. They forge the human connection that opens up new opportunities for your brand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try as you may though, it can be hard to nail every business call as a small business owner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a small business owner, you\u2019re responsible for a lot more than just your incoming calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re also dealing with: <\/p>\n\n\n\n And the list doesn\u2019t stop there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All of that means when it\u2019s time for a business call, things can go off-script. You might end up missing important opportunities, forwarding them to voicemail if you\u2019re lucky, or missing them entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also be stressed or unorganized because of your workload. While this is incredibly understandable, it still negatively impacts the outcome of your call and, ultimately, your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To highlight this, let\u2019s look at an example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This could be a huge partnership, one that would not only move a ton of product immediately but set you up for a consistent increase in sales moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re sitting patiently by the phone, going over your notes in your home office, when the phone rings. You answer ready to put your best foot forward and close the deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, you aren\u2019t home alone. The kids are in the other room. They\u2019ve been quiet all afternoon, so you\u2019re hoping you\u2019re in the clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The prospect calls. You pick up the phone and give a cordial, polite greeting. Just then, the walls start to shake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t tell what you\u2019re kids are doing, but whatever it is, it\u2019s loud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The prospect just asked you a question, but you couldn\u2019t focus on it through the repeated crashes echoing through your office. You ask her to repeat the question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She does, but you miss it again as your brain tries to analyze what the kids could possibly be doing. You deduce they\u2019re throwing a basketball against the wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n You realize you\u2019ve missed the question again. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The call continues like this, leaving you helpless to solve the problem. The prospect thanks you for your time and says they\u2019ll be in touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But deep down, you don\u2019t believe them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine instead that you\u2019re at the end of the workday. You just finished up some work and you\u2019ve left yourself 20 minutes prior to the call to brush up on the details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You sit and begin flipping through your notes, ready to impress whoever is on the other end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the phone rings 12 minutes early. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019d barely scratched the surface. You don\u2019t remember a few very important details about the prospect\u2019s line of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can\u2019t not<\/em> answer though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You start to panic. The phone is on its final ring. You answer it, unprepared, and hoping for the best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the call progresses, your nervousness builds. You\u2019re unable to maintain your composure, making it even more difficult to remember the important personal details you need to close this deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You stumble through the call, either answering too slowly or cutting the prospect off out of anxiety to answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They say they\u2019ll get back to you, but you know what the actually means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A virtual receptionist<\/a> is a professionally trained receptionist that connects to your business phone from a call center. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This simple addition to your business can make a world of difference. Let\u2019s revisit the above scenarios. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The prospect is set to call, but you\u2019ve ensured they connect with your virtual receptionist rather than with you directly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re in your home office. You look down at your phone, see the time is 4 p.m. – right when the client was scheduled to call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly a loud thud rings from the wall. You smile, lean back in your chair, and think about how stressful the call would have been if you didn\u2019t have a virtual receptionist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s imagine you do have to speak to the contact directly. Your virtual receptionist has already worked things out so that the call happens when you\u2019re completely prepared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the scheduling software that comes with every virtual receptionist plan, you\u2019ve scheduled the call at a time when you\u2019ve been able to prepare and give yourself room to breathe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The call comes in 12 minutes early, but it doesn\u2019t matter. You\u2019ve already had the time to go over your notes last night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You answer the call confidently and proceed to land the deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, it should be clear why a virtual receptionist helps you perfect your business calls<\/a>. They free you up to handle calls professionally every single time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, you provide the caller with a human touch, unlike most software or recording-based business phone<\/a> solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Best of all, virtual receptionists are a fantastic way to avoid burnout<\/a> as a small business owner, as they keep you from unnecessary stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nail your business calls and grow your business with a virtual receptionist<\/a> from Alliance Virtual Offices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Further Reading <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy Business Calls are so Important <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nLife Gets in the Way Sometimes <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019re Waiting for a Call from Your Biggest, Most Important Prospect\u2026 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Kids are Too Noisy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They Call Early <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now Imagine You Have a Virtual Receptionist <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Kids Can Be As Loud As They Want <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No Unexpected Calls <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nConclusion <\/h2>\n\n\n\n