The Virtual Office Group Blog

Instinct & Planning

2011-07-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

According to The Telegraph Online most entrepreneurs rely on instinct to make business decisions.

This is not a surprising statement as it is the general business savvy and passion that drives entrepreneurs to success.

The report, commissioned by T-Mobile, goes on to state that many entrepreneurs are too busy to or even nervous about making positive changes in their business.
This is a saddening side effect of the recession. It shows that some entrepreneurs are overworked and overstretched causing their confidence to falter and their business to suffer.

The unstable economy has driven businesses to cut or downsize the services and employees they introduced to allow them the freedom to grow their business. The sustained fear coupled with the extra work load has damaged creativity and confidence.

However this will not always be the way and when the economy does improve will your business be in a position to make the most of it? Will you have the staff and support available to move quickly and make the most of opportunities?

Finding a balance between instinct and planning will help ensure your business not only survives but is perfectly positioned to thrive when the opportunity presents itself.

Take a minute, take a deep breath & force a smile

2011-07-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Grumpy or moody colleagues annoy UK office workers the most

Are you grumpy at work? Do you spend most of your day gossiping about colleagues? Did you know that these office traits may have forced an ex-colleague to look for a new job?

Grumpy colleagues, slow computers, gossip and office jargon are all commonplace in most UK offices, but these are the daily occurrences that annoy and stress out office workers the most according to a survey out today from Opinium Research.*

The top 10 UK office annoyances are:

1. Grumpy or moody colleagues (37%)
2. Slow computers (36%)
3. Small talk/ gossip in the office (19%)
4. The use of office jargon or management speak (18%)
5. People speaking loudly on the phone (18%)
6. Too much health and safety in the work place (16%)
7. Poor toilet etiquette (16%)
8. People not turning up for meetings on time or at all (16%)
9. People not tidying up after themselves in the Kitchen (15%)
10. Too cold/ cold air conditioning (15%)

These office aggravations are so severe for some that they increase stress levels for two in three (62 per cent) people, and one in 10 (11 per cent) office workers have left a job because of overwhelming irritations.
A further two-fifths (19 per cent) say they would consider moving jobs due to workplace annoyances.

James Endersby, Managing Director of Opinium Research, comments, “These annoyances will ring a bell with most people who have experienced office life.
It’s amazing to see how much of an effect they can have, with a significant amount of people saying that these irritations make them more stressed or even cause them to leave their jobs.”

Managing Stress - Part Two

2010-11-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

Time management is an essential factor in managing stress. Often the feeling that you don't have enough time in the day increases your stress levels before you've even started.

If you manage your energy, attention and commitments you create an effective daily management of tasks leaving you feeling more focused.

Mark Walsh shared his top tips for successful time management on BusinessZone.co.uk.

Here is my adaptation:
1. The first step is to record and analyse how you spend your time for a week. This includes times when your energy levels slump and times when you are most productive or creative.

2. Next make a list. One list of everything you want to do from 'call the hairdressers' to 'write blog on stress management'. With everything you want to do on the list you are less likely to be distracted by other matters not listed. If there are time-sensitive items on it, set an impeccably reliable reminder system - high or low tech (a Blackberry alarm or a laundry basket in front of your door to remind you to do the washing for example). If you are on the move Mark suggests a colour system based on locations such as 'Computer', 'Computer no net', 'With secretary', 'In town', 'On phone – private', 'On phone – public', etc.

3. I always include a wish list, important things you need to do or read for long-term development or inspiration but that are not urgent. Preferably with a expected time scale so when you know you have a period of time before a meeting or on the train you can fit them in.

4. Don't make the list a must-do-today list as other stuff will always come up pushing things off the list and onto the next day which can leave you disheartened. It's better to have one overall evolving time management. list including sacred time for important

5. Empty your email inbox using the framework
- 'do it (less than 2 min),
- drop it (not important),
- delegate it or defer it (with time frame and reminder)' method.
Differentiate between reference/storage and 'to do' areas and don't use one for the other.

6. Unfortunately multi-tasking is often only dividing attention and switching quickly between tasks. This is an ineffective way of working causing you to make mistakes and need to repeat things. Often switching your mind from one job to another will make you less efficient. Where possible do one thing at a time and chunk together similar tasks in a given period

7. Do the hardest most important thing first to get your day going and give you a sense of satisfaction that you can do anything with your day.

8. And finally, relax. Sounds simple but a five minute walk around the block, just a few seconds breathing and clearing your head or just listening to an upbeat song will really help.

Managing Stress - Part One

2010-11-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development time off through stress has increased, with the recession blamed for elevated stress levels.

Factors such as extra workload, worries about company reorganisations and domestic problems have led to higher levels of anxiety and depression, employers reported.
The research also found that more employees were struggling into work even when they were ill, because of concerns about losing their jobs.

But how do you manage stress & strain if you cannot take a day off? As a business owners or entrepreneurs it can be a lonely existence where no one is available to share the strain of your business struggle. As Julie Meyer recently said, in an interview with StartupTV, running your own business is not glamorous but requires you to be 'obsessed and addicted' to succeed in order to continue when times are hard. Such obsession can be overwhelming for anyone.

Business solutions, like The Virtual Office, can relieve some of the immediate pressure by providing administrative support and managing your telephone calls allowing you to get your head down and finish projects or to take a well deserved day (or two) holiday.

Although some find it hard to justify such as service, for less than the cost of a sandwich you can get some R&R making you more productive and more focused when you return.

There are also many online tools and communities available to help entrepreneurs feel less isolated such as Enterprise Nation and UK Business Forums. However you cannot underestimate the importance of networking groups such as Sister Snog and Business Junction for sharing experiences and building relationships with like-minded individuals. Discussing your business situation or just having a chat with people who are in the same boat with the similar worries can be reassuring.

To quote Julie Meyer, there are lots of 'other people climbing the mountain'.

Let's help each other to the summit.

Five obstacles for the small business owner to overcome

2010-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Entrepreneurs are the foundation of any economy and have been around since there was profit to be made. However Rome wasn't built in a day and the company founder didn't start out working from a top floor, corner office. All entrepreneurs have obstacles that need to be solved.
Below are some points gathered from successful businesses for you to consider.

New businesses need capital
The rule of thumb is that the entrepreneur should have access to a sum of money at least equal to the projected revenue of their first year plus anticipated expenses. Without this sum, a new business runs a high risk of failure.

Costs of Marketing
It's no secret that traditional forms of marketing can be quite expensive. However, with the evolution of social media marketing, marketing and promotion are easier cheaper and arguably more effective thanks to the wide and integrated audience at one's disposal. A company website has the ability to project a business owner's vision with companies operating from a bedroom able to look as competent, and often more professional, than larger corporations!

Juggling priorities
Things go wrong and multiple small tasks need to be completed. Whatever the business, the phone needs answering, the printer needs mending, the post needs sending, and the clients have to be invoiced. Whereas in a big office there is an employee for every role, working from home means answering every call and dealing with admin as much as building the business. Expect this and either budget the time or calculate how much this is costing you and outsource where possible.

Starbucks is not ideal
The struggle for the small or one person business is to appear credible against larger more established competitors. An account with a virtual office offers access to meeting rooms, receptionists, admin support and more on a pay-per-service basis. It projects a professional image for a new business economically.

Fear of the unknown
Choosing an unknown name presents risks for the buyer if things go wrong so you will need to build relationships and a trustworthy reputation. Monitoring feedback enables you to respond promptly and show growth. Unique selling points, case studies and testimonials can all help.

Successful entrepreneurs will admit to having faced a variety of obstacles along the way. In fact they take pride in having overcome those obstacles. Success in business is a process. There is no beginning and end. There will always be hurdles to overcome. Don't feel discouraged. Running a small business has a lot of advantages, so hang tight. With patience, creativity and resourcefulness, that big mountain will soon look like a little bump.

Five questions to ask yourself before you start your small business

2010-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Starting a business is a daunting and exciting prospect. Before you jump in here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What do I enjoy doing?

Consider what you love to do, your passions and skills. It will be your passion that drives you forward through the tough times when you are building your business.

2. Can I improve on current offerings?

Look at the current market and evaluate your future competitors. Develop and define a unique selling point for your business whether it's a personal mission statement, green ethics or innovation.

3. Is there a gap in the market that I can exploit?

Maybe you have tried to find a service or product that just doesn't seem to exist. If you are looking for something it is possible that others are too. Research the idea and potential market thoroughly and gauge how much people would be prepared to pay for it.

4. Does my business have a niche market? And how do I access them?

If you can find a niche market for your business then this can reduce the barriers to entry by reducing competition. However consider how you are going to access the niche market and it's potential for growth.

5. Am I making all possible profit from my business idea without compromising the delivery and my ideals?

Consider other ways to deliver your service or knowledge, online, in print or in person. Also, if your website performs well, can you make extra money from advertising or paid for content. Make sure all actions are consistent with your brand and don't diverge from your ideals.

Back to School, Back to Work

2010-08-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

As the new school term starts we can all get back to concentrating fully on our business.

To help you get back in the swing of things The Virtual Office are offering a fantastic deal on meeting rooms.

Buy one hour get one hour free on all meeting rooms at all 3 of our excellent central London locations until 30th September 2010.

Just give us a call on 020 7917 9922 or email at info@voffice.com mentioning this offer.

For more information on all our meeting rooms visit www.voffice.com/london-meeting-rooms/

Take a Complete Holiday

2010-08-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

For many small businesses and business owners the summer holidays are less a holiday, more the ultimate test in juggling priorities.

Taking a real holiday can mean a choice between missing important telephone calls or answering the client's call whilst on a family picnic. Neither ideal and both applying additional pressure to your time and resources.

So you end up not spending quality time with your family and potentially damaging client relationships.

The Virtual Office offers a temporary telephone answering solution that can relieve your stress and allow you to relax.

Simply divert your business telephone to The Virtual Office and our receptionists will answer your business calls in your company name and manage your client calls for you.

Our unified voicemail will alert you to messages and allow you to check them at your convenience.

If you are expecting very important calls, these calls can be introduced and transferred to you. No need to answer every call just in case. The added benefit is that you have a moment to move your brain back to business, before speaking with your client.

So enjoy a well deserved break - safe in the knowledge that your calls are being answered efficiently and professionally by our receptionists - for the day, the week or the month.

Visit www.voffice.com or call us on 0207 917 2917 to find out more.

How do these changes effect your business?

2010-07-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

General opinions of the Mr Osborne's budget are that it recognises the role of small businesses in the continued growth of the economy. The internationally competitive Capital Gains Tax and reduction in Corporation Tax for small businesses both encourage entrepreneurism.

However there are mixed responses to the new immigration laws introducing further restrictions on the number of skilled Non-EU workers entering Britain.
The Virtual Office team is reliant on International English speakers in creating a uniform voice with no regional dialects for our clients. Our small team currently includes British, South African, Australian and Canadian all with excellent telephone voices and extensive customer service experience.

How will this change effect your small business? Do you see it as a positive step to increasing British employment or damaging to your business?

It's not where you work, it's how you work

2010-06-22T03:40:00.000-07:00

Online articles for new businesses and entrepreneurs often emphasise the pro and cons of home working and home offices disregarding the fact that many entrepreneurs are constantly mobile. Their average day is rarely typical and often rely on smart phones and instant messaging to manage their business day.

To succeed as a mobile entrepreneur requires effective daily management and organisation whilst focusing on your clients and business needs. the growth in Virtual Offices can be explained by the number of businesses performing this juggling act.

Outsourcing telephone answering plus administrative and secretarial duties can free up time to concentrate. Many virtual office companies also have bricks and mortar locations for you to meet clients or pitch for new business, removing the need for business insurance or provision of additional space at your home.

Depending on your business the benefits of presenting an impressive business address via a Virtual Office (incorporating mail forwarding and a central ‘0207’ telephone prefix) may be a crucial component of a business plan and this value may outweigh the monthly costs.

However with such variety in quality there are a few questions to ask yourself to ensure the virtual office you choose will represent your business appropriately for many years.

1. How do you feel about clients knowing where you live and having access to your home number or mobile?
Consider whether an 0207 telephone number with a live virtual receptionist would help you manage your day by screening out time wasters and allowing you to focus on your business.

2. Do you need to project a professional image from the start or is this an aspect that can be deferred until your business is more secure? Is a business address going to help secure clients?
Some virtual office providers allow you to pick the services you need and add and remove as your requirements change. Check the terms for this, can you only do it at the end of your contract? If you want to reduce your services are the terms different.

There are some budget virtual office providers in the market that may suit your current requirements of simply an address for your website but consider all the future trajectories you can take your business. Visit the location of the virtual address, meet the staff handling your mail and telephone calls, inspect the reception area, meeting rooms and the areas that interest you now and in the future.

3. Is your plan to one day have a physical office?
If it is make sure the virtual office you have chosen can offer office space and check the flexibility of the terms. This will allow you to keep the same contact details and, if the office doesn't work out you can go 'virtual' again with no drama or inconvenience.

4. Do you ever need to meet your clients face-to-face either now or in the future?
You and your current clients might be happy to use free coffee shops at the moment but consider your prospective clients and how they will perceive your company. Also if you choose a virtual office with a business address then you may prefer the consistency of meeting rooms at your business address.

It's important to visualise the future of your business and be sure not to undersell yourself.

What is the etiquette of mobiles in meetings?

2010-05-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

A new article on BBC News discusses the ethics of using your mobile phone in meetings.
It makes you think - if you're growing your business it is likely you'll be attending more client meetings so do you excuse yourself and answer your mobile, potentially upsetting your client, or let the call ring to voicemail and risk losing the new business?

There is another option.

The Virtual Office is designed for predicaments like this.

For example with a VO Response service you can choose from programmed call options and divert your calls to the receptionists as you enter your meeting and back to your mobile when you finish.
The team of friendly receptionists will know that when they receive calls you are in a meeting and can relay this to your caller.

Or you can divert them to your colleague.

Alternatively you can choose for all calls to answered by the receptionist in your company name, allowing you to screen out sales and provide diaries to prevent disturbances during meetings or times when you just need to concentrate.

The options are virtually endless.

Find out more at www.voffice.com/virtual-office/

New Look for The Virtual Office Group

2010-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

As spring finally arrives in London, The Virtual Office® Group launches a redesigned website.

VOffice.com communicates the message that The Virtual Office® are the original, independent virtual office, serviced office and meeting room provider in London.

This redesign of voffice.com aims to create a more useable customer experience with true transparency and portray the professionalism and personality of The Virtual Office®.

Do you have any feedback on our achievement of these objectives?
Did you experience any usability problems?

I would be very interested in your responses.

Meeting Room Discount

2010-03-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

To celebrate The Virtual Office® Group's recent relocation to 180 Piccadilly we are offering 15% off all meeting rooms booking on Mondays & Fridays.

With views over Piccadilly or Duke Street these meeting rooms are the perfect venue for your meetings.

All benefit from air conditioning, classic decoration, natural light & exceptional onsite support.

Visit www.voffice.com for more information about The Virtual Office® Group

New Decade means New Home for The Virtual Office

2010-02-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

At the start of this year The Virtual Office Group relocated its operations & clients from 211 Piccadilly to 2 fantastic new locations: 180 Piccadilly, W1J & 50 Jermyn Street, SW1Y

The office space, meeting rooms & communal facilities were designed based on the results of a client questionnaire & have been received positively.

We are still listening to feedback & adapting the spaces to provide facilities tailor made to our client base.

Situated opposite the Royal Academy of Arts & adjacent to Fortnum and Mason, The Virtual Office provides tranquil spaces close to the peaceful havens of Green Park & St James's Park.

Visit the new website

Is work/life balance a myth?

2009-08-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

Is work/life balance a myth? Or is it still achievable in a struggling economy?
What are your experiences?

Access to New Markets

2009-07-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

There are a multitude of support services available at the moment to support small businesses,
from Business Link to The Virtual Office.

Now Google has joined forces with HSBC, alibaba.com and others to create a support package for businesses looking to export their products and services.

More information can be found at http://www.exportbox.co.uk/

Go Ahead - You Deserve a Break!

2009-07-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again... and for the first time in a long time, it seems like summer has FINALLY arrived in the UK, which means thoughts will be drifting to holidays...

Whether you fancy a trendy recession-inspired 'stay-cation'; have children who will be unleashed by their schools and therefore require some extra attention; or would love to indulge in a proper long-haul holiday, if you run your own business taking time for any or all of these reasons can be daunting. But, it is so important to remember that everyone needs a break sometimes in order to maintain their sanity!

So many people who run their own businesses struggle with taking time off. There is concerns about losing money or customers if they take a break, plus stress about who, if anybody, can be entrusted to take on tasks in their absence. Still another hurdle is the guilt that business owners feel when they take time off which is often overcompensated for by spending the duration of any time they do take off working and forgetting to actually relax!

Believe it or not, there is a solution to this problem... The Virtual Office Group. Part of our range of virtual office solutions specialises in holiday cover. Just arrange to forward your calls to the Virtual Office, where our friendly and professional live receptionists will personally answer your calls for you and manage them according to your specifications. We can arrange to have certain calls (or all of your calls) transferred to you wherever you are so that you can choose which ones you want to deal with. Alternatively, we can have the callers greeted and given an explanation of your choice for why you are unavailable, and put through to your voicemail which can be checked at your convenience via SMS, email, or on the phone. This means that you don't have to answer and deal with every call yourself, which gives you the freedom to actually relax and enjoy your time off. We can provide this service for a period of a few days, a fortnight, a month, or whatever you require! If you would like more information, please feel free to contact Kat on 0207 917 9918.

The Redundancies Keep on Rolling!

2009-06-17T09:29:00.001-07:00

Today, we heard the announcement that redundancies in the UK have reached a 12 year high at a staggering 7.2% of the population or 2.26 million people finding themselves out of work. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much sign of this trend stopping anytime soon, with Management Today stating an assumption that another three quarters of a million people will lose their jobs in the coming year.

With thousands of jobseekers vying for a single role in some cases, many who have already been made redundant have opted to try their hand at starting up their own businesses. A Virtual Office can really come in handy for those taking the plunge into the world of the self-employed. A Virtual Office can give you the impression of being more established than you might actually be and provides the perfect platform from which to grow your business by supplying assistance in support areas including post handling, telephone answering, voicemail, hotdesking space and much more. With a prestigious address and a central London telephone number, you can work from anywhere whilst maintaining the impression of a London Presence.

Please contact us whether you are a new start-up looking for a foothold or an established company looking for a way to help reduce your financial burdens; The Virtual Office has options to support all types of business requirements.

The Original and the Best!

2009-06-10T02:42:00.000-07:00

If you met Richard Nissen, you would probably not instantly guess that he was the mastermind behind developing the Virtual Office Concept in the UK; especially if you tried to ring him on his mobile phone. This is particularly surprising since Richard is responsible for developing the first telephone call handling platform that could fully support flexible working practices by placing calls through to individuals wherever they were.

Richard is the founder and Chairman of The Virtual Office Group and was inspired by American Business Centres he encountered while working in the United States of America in the 1970’s. He brought the idea back to the United Kingdom and started the concept here. Although several other companies have grown and expanded on the original idea, The Virtual Office Group still prides itself in offering the best product available even after all of these years.

Richard Nissen and his relationship to the virtual office concept has been featured in a recent edition of Property Week. Follow this link to view the whole article.

The Unexpected Side Effects of Swine Flu - On Businesses

2009-05-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

If Swine Flu turns out to be the pandemic predicted by officials and journalists alike, then be prepared to see incredible alterations to life as we know it.

It is suspected that as many as half of London’s seven million inhabitants could catch swine flu and that 94,000 could die in a worst case scenario. If the virus proves itself as communicable and if it evolves to be less reactive to the anti-viral treatments being used to keep it at bay presently, then many lives will be at risk, not just in the capital, but around the world.

Employers do have a duty of care to ensure that their employees are kept as safe as possible from any threat to their health or well-being. There is lots of buzz at the moment about the adoption of teleworking on a much grander scale across the business world in order to minimize the amount of time people will have to spend in close proximity and hopefully aid in slowing or eliminating the spread of the virus. Also, with nearly half of employees expected to take at least two weeks off of work over the coming months due to personal illness or to care for a friend or family member, working from home may become a necessary part of everyday operations for most companies. It is suspected that if the flu spreads as is predicted, then workplaces and schools alike can be expected to be shut for long periods of time. Many businesses will need business support networks to cope with this reality as they become more and more dependant on teleworking.

With so many employees set to be displaced from main office headquarters, a Virtual Office can help you to maintain a unified front and provide personalised telephone answering and call forwarding to employees no matter where they happen to be working from. A single telephone number for your company and the ability to reach any of the employees helps keep communication simple for you and your clients if much of your operations are switched to a virtual office concept.

Though the prognosis may be upsetting, it is still best to be prepared to continue business as closely to normal as possible throughout the next few months because much as there is no guarantee that we will make it out of this episode unscathed, there is also no guarantee that doomsday is upon us just yet.

Image Is Everything

2009-04-30T02:42:00.000-07:00

Last week we talked about how using a Virtual Office can save you money and help when you launch your company as well as during the course of its life. This week, we explore how a Virtual office can give you the impression of a larger and more established company and how that impacts your clients' and potential clients' perception of your business.

Many people are now starting businesses from home to avoid lots of the start up costs, but it can be difficult to maintain a professional image. There are ways to mitigate risk while making every pound count! By using a Virtual Office, you can have the impression of occupying a prestigious prime location office at 10-20% of the cost because you are sharing the overhead with other businesses. With Virtual Offices, you can sign up for an address, a telephone number, and have a receptionist personally answer and transfer your calls to you so you can prioritise your work and be prepared for each call. All of your faxes and your mail can be forwarded to you and you can have access to meeting rooms and hotdesk space if you don’t need a whole permanent office for your company. Virtual Offices also have options for growth – eventually your company will prosper and when it does, you can have the opportunity to take up permanent serviced office space on the premises or to add employees to your package.

Having your client facing operations in impeccable order is important because clients may feel more comfortable working with someone who looks quite established and accomplished. A great central London address and telephone number is also very powerful to anchor your webpage, whether it be as a main address or as an international branch for companies trying to startup on a worldwide scale.

Really, people starting businesses should seriously consider the options and flexibility associated with a virtual office. It is a complete toolkit to help you get on your feet quickly and gives you what you need to forge ahead of your competitors.

Cheryl

Virtual Offices - Cost Cutting for Entrepreneurs

2009-04-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody!

So nice to have my own picture up... its really starting to feel like my blog now!

Today I want to mention how a Virtual Office really is part of an essential start-up and small business tool kit. This is Part One - about the cost savings associated with a Virtual Office.

Entrepreneurs are a different breed. They have a dream or an idea and they have the personal confidence and enough know-how to run with it! People are losing their jobs and opting to start their own companies to support themselves. This is as risky a time as ever to begin a new company, especially on your own! You know you need money to make money and at a time like this, finances need to be stretched as far as possible.

When you are starting out with the intention to impress your clients, you need an office, which in the city of London will cost you approximately £15,000 per workstation per year to maintain when you factor in rent, overhead, technology, and telephony costs. Plus, if you want to employ a receptionist to be the face of your business, you will be looking at paying a salary in the ballpark of £18,000 or more per year. Of course, there will be the unexpected expenses for things like fixing and maintaining your office. All of this could be enough to cripple a new business even under the best of conditions!

There are so many benefits to using a Virtual Office. Our prices are competitve and as the original providers in London, The Virtual Office has the best packages to give all you entrepreneurs out there what you need at a price that you can afford. Keep watching this space for next week's advice on how image plays a big part in how you are percieved by your clients and potential clients.

Cheryl

Some People Seem to Have it All!

2009-04-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, undoubtedly, you know someone who runs their own home business with the greatest of ease; painting an illusion of the blissful freedom they experience whilst pursuing their life’s passion from their kitchen table.

If this same person’s entire existence seems perfectly orchestrated in every aspect from their impeccable home and family life to their impressive business success, chances are, they have a little secret. They may be using a Virtual Office…

Small business owners know that when running a company from home, priorities can be difficult to keep straight. Juggling family, life, and work can create problems that may compromise relationships with clients. By employing the Virtual Office as an aspect of your business strategy, you can maintain your professional image while making time to deal with the most pressing issues of the moment; whether they are business or home related matters.

Nothing can throw a spanner in the works like a phone call you are unprepared for or are unable to deal with at the time. With the Virtual Office, you can have a professional receptionist answer your calls and introduce them to you. If you do not wish to take the call, the client has the chance to leave a message on your personal voicemail after being assured by a real person that the message will be passed on. Your phone will never ring engaged and clients will feel that you are always accessible to them.

You can also advise the office of your daily diary so that you won’t be interrupted with a phone call when you don’t want to be, which gives you the freedom to manage your life and the peace of mind that you will not miss an important call. If you do receive messages when you are unavailable, you will be notified instantly that the message is waiting for you.

Telephone answering and call forwarding are just a few examples of what the Virtual Office provides, as there are also solutions to deal with office space, meeting rooms, prestigious business addresses, hot desking and much more.

So now you know how the other half do it all! In the dog-eat-dog world of business where only the strong survive, why not take every opportunity to make your business the best it can be?

So Much To Do, So Little Time!

2009-03-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

If people could have one wish granted, I think many would wish for more time in the day! As the director of the Virtual Office and a mum with hectic business and home schedules, I too am constantly on the go! Really, I have the same obligations and committments as many other professionals, though the company I help run is dedicated to making the lives of busy business men and women simpler. Over the years, I have learned a great deal about businesses and the people who make them work and I have decided to start this blog to pass on some of the knowledge I have acquired.

The reality is that Virtual Offices do buy people more time! Every administrative duty you pass to a Virtual Office to take care of is one thing you can scratch off of your to do list. Because someone else is taking care of it, you can have peace of mind and use your time to be more productive. This is a simple idea that really really makes a huge difference in your professional (and personal) life. Believe me! Read on to discover how using a Virtual Office can really make life .... well virtually stress-free!