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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

How a Virtual Phone System Helped my Home Daycare Business

Running my home-based daycare business has never been an easy task, but with the help of my virtual phone system, it has certainly become much more organized. These days, I can keep track of all of my telephone calls and ensure my scheduling is correct and that all of my clients are happy.

The Cycle of Telephone Calls
Before I enlisted the help of a virtual phone system, most of my communications took place through my landline telephone and my mobile phone. Although this worked to an extent, it was difficult for my clients to know exactly how to contact me at different times of the day. A few of the clients actually mentioned this to me, making it known that they would appreciate a single telephone number that would always reach me. A second landline with call forwarding was going to be incredibly expensive, so I researched my other options. The virtual system turned out to be the most economical and it was packed with features to help me stay organized and better manage my calls.

Getting Organized
Before the virtual phone system, I had telephone calls coming in on my landline and my mobile phone. Since I could not always answer each individual call, the ones that went to voicemail were difficult to track down and return with any amount of organization. The virtual system features an easy-to-use desktop application that keeps track of every call I receive, and this makes it easier for me to know at-a-glance which calls I answered, which ones I missed, and which ones are in need of a follow-up. My clients no longer worry about unreturned telephone calls because I can return them quickly and with ease.

Giving Information to Callers

On days when school is cancelled or delayed due to snow, many parents contact me to find out whether or not they can bring their children to my home for care. As a small business, there are only so many children I can accept. Answering the telephone over and over again can certainly become tedious—particularly when there are small children who are in constant need of supervision. The information hotline and auto attendant features included in the virtual telephone system are great solutions to this issue. Every caller hears a friendly greeting and can select the option that best fits the reason for his or her call.

Happy Customers
The best thing about a virtual phone system is that it helps me make sure that all of my clients and customers receive the customer care experiences they deserve. When they call to find out if I can accept new kids, if I am open during inclement weather, or if I am willing to provide care after-hours on an emergency basis, these questions can all be answered quickly and simply. I can also change the information contained in the recordings easily when the unexpected occurs.

A daycare is a very time-consuming business to run, and with small children to observe during all hours, answering the telephone can prove to be a difficult task. With the help of a virtual phone system, I no longer have to worry about calls going unanswered or unreturned.

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