In history we read about the various names that have evolved with the progression of mankind over the centuries which often are referred to for a particular era of past cultures. From the cave man to the dark ages thru the cold war era, things have changed dramatically in our society and the business world.
With the advent of the internet, we now live in the information age and business is conducted in a totally different environment than even a decade ago. The traditional business in my lifetime has changed from a regular 9-5 job. Right out of high school you would look for a job in or close to the town you lived in. Work at the same job for 30-35 years and then retire like the rest of the old folks. Things sure changes from one generation to the next don't they?
In business the normal high rise office building with your own office, a secretary and salary has changed to more and more companies outsourcing to various parts of the world in an effort to cut the overhead and try to generate higher profits for their investors. Many people haven't accepted this change with open arms. Change is extremely hard for most people to accept.
With the rapid changes in the work force and business in general it was imperative that some companies offer the opportunity for some of their employees to work from home in a virtual office setting. This was a way for the companies to continue their growth cycle without huge cash outlays for new, bigger and better facilities. Thus the idea of the virtual office was born. Combining the innovations of technology plus the information on the internet today has made the growth of business what it is today.
With the viral office concept, anyone can now operate a successful business from anywhere in the world. I visited with 2 young men yesterday that were taking full advantage of the viral office concept. They had an 800# which was answered very professionally, a voice mail with forwarding services, good looking business cards, however, there preference of a meeting place was in the back booth of the local Denny's restaurant. They had a wi-fi for their computer the waitress was very cordial and kept the iced tea glass full at all times. Our meeting lasted about 2 hours and was very profitable for everyone concerned.
There are many different features one can get involved with to enhance a virtual office operation. The first would be the remote receptionist which is rather easy to implement. This is a group of workers who normally work at a given location, using the latest in high tech Integration software. In many cases it's difficult to tell the difference between this remote computer telephone and a regular person transferring your call to the proper extension. This has replaced the traditional receptionist for many companies.
Then you can expand your virtual office a little bit and have what is known in the business as a virtual assistant. These are hard working people who work from home and never actually meet clients for a face to face visit. They don't have access to the Computer Telephone software and charge a small hourly fee for their service. Fees start at around $15.00 per hour and rate can go up from there depending on the level of service you require.
Answering services have been around for awhile and have become very sophisticated regarding the services they can provide. Basic services can be very affordable, however, depending on the level of service the rates will increase. The purpose of the answering services is to handle a large volume of incoming and outgoing request via the telephone. Security issues are prevalent and your service will be totally impersonal.
Most people now days carry a cell phone and can be reached virtually anywhere they go. Thank you in advance for putting your cell phone on vibrate mode while you're in church. Most cell phone service has voicemail in their calling plans.
It's a good idea to secure the services of a reputable mail box service that can provide a prestigious business location address. This will also solve your personal privacy issues that are inherent to running a home based business. Avoid using a Post Office Box at all cost. There is nothing that turns me off quicker than a PO Box especially if there's money or important documents involved.
A virtual office can be extremely efficient for a home based business or with the virtual concept. Your overhead is low while still maintaining a professional image. The savings every month can be calculated rather quickly when you consider the factor of no rent, no secretary expenses, payroll, insurance premiums and the list is endless.
Almost any segment of the workforce can take advantage to some degree the virtual office concept. Just to name a few: The Home Based Entrepreneur, Accounts, Lawyers, Salesmen, Consultants, Real Estate Sales People, Collection Agencies and you can probably add many other vocations that this method of doing business would appeal to and would accommodate.
Virtual offices are becoming more popular as our economy continues its downward spiral around the world. Any business who is looking to cut expenses yet maintain an appearance of being a successful business entity should consider the values of the virtual office idea. This concept is being utilized and enjoyed by businesses of all sizes around the globe.
As the virtual office concept becomes more and more acceptable to the general public, you will witness an exodus of workers from the big cities into nearby rural communities. If your business can be conducted from virtually anywhere, the masses will soon force this concept on the business world in general. The impact this transition would make on the pollution problems that are getting worse by the minute would be worth any sacrifice you and I would have to make in our lifestyle.
In Conclusion: The values of the virtual office are unfathomable to our economy both domestically and internationally and should be consider by home based businesses, small business and major corporations alike. Knowing how to set up a virtual office can be intimidating if the concept is new to you and your surroundings. Let the professionals help you in your "quest for a better tomorrow."
The eBiz Solutions Team is standing by to assist you in your virtual office transition. Call today for your free 30 minute "No Obligation" consultation.
"Let's Build Your Business Together"
Larry L Miller SEM/SEO Consulting
Private Line: 321-594-4405
Skype: larrylmiller121
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