All posts tagged virtual office

Why Videoconferencing Is For You

In many different situations a live video conference is much more effective than a phone call or web conference. For example, you may need to visually demo a new product with a sales team that is spread out over many states or even countries. Or maybe you need to troubleshoot an issue with a client which requires sharing information visually. Literally seeing what you are discussing is far more effective and meaningful than other methods short of actually being there. Listed below are the some of the top benefits of video conferencing.

Reduced Travel Costs

The ability to be in several places at once without leaving an office is a proven driver of business productivity. Though face-to-face interactions with your customers, partners and colleagues are always important the huge leaps in quality, availability, and ease-of-use make videoconferencing the next best thing. When you calculate the number of trips taken annually and determine the associated costs (transportation to and from the airport, the cost of plane tickets, meals, time lost in travel, etc.) it is clear why videoconferencing is such an attractive alternative.

Increased Productivity among your Customers and Teams

Today it’s not unusual to have satellite offices across the country, or even the world. Most methods of communication will be limited to phone calls, email, or instant messages. The lack of face-to-face communication can cause misunderstandings within your teams. When video is implemented, participants are more likely to stay alert and focused on what is being discussed. As a result, projects are completed faster, productivity increases, and participants feel more in synch with each other and the message you want to convey.

Improves Communication & Reinforce Relationships

During a videoconference you can see the facial expressions and body language of conference participants, leading to faster and more effective collaboration. You can actually discern how your message is being received. These are both important aspects of communication that are lost with a basic telephone call.

Competitive Advantage

There is no benefit for being second in bringing new products or ideas to market, and video communication creates and maintains competitive advantage for your business. Teams that communicate through video, will share knowledge faster and will be more informed, which reduces the time required to bring a new product or service to market. Support departments using videoconferencing can establish more personal relationships with their customers, which encourages a much deeper loyalty than just speaking on a phone. You can accomplish in less than an hour, what it takes your competition to do in a week via shipping the product for review.

Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch is your preeminent provider of videoconference service in the Sarasota/Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch area. Be there without the hassles or expense of actually being there. For more information contact us today!

Virtual Office: What are the benefits?

A virtual office offers all the advantages of an office address and office communications and technology without requiring the business owner to set up a physical office. A virtual office can provide phone, email and other amenities needed to run a successful business.

Here are some of the advantages of A Virtual Office:
• Professional business address – Organizations can have addresses at professional buildings without actually having to rent office space there. The service provider forwards all mail sent to this address to the client or handles it per the client’s instructions. Compared to simply having a PO Box address, the business address at prestigious buildings allows the company to maintain a professional image at relatively low prices
• Reception services – A reception service greets any visitors to the business and then manages that contact per the client’s instructions. Additionally they can receive and sign for any parcels or overnights received on behalf of the client.
• Communication services – The virtual office service can provide live phone receptionists, fax services, answering services, voice mail and other communications options.
• Meeting rooms – A virtual office service providers offer rental meeting rooms and conference rooms to clients that are available on-demand. This meeting space is available at the same building as their professional business address.
• Office space – The virtual office service can offer temporary office or work space to clients.
• Amenities – The virtual office service may also offer amenities like video conferencing, lounges, kitchens, break rooms, broadband Internet connectivity, wireless Internet connectivity and parking facilities.
• Low start-up costs – The virtual office space offers savings as compared to starting up an actual office since customers share costs for most of the services and infrastructure.
• Immediacy – Most (if not all) virtual office services can be set up on the same day that they are needed.

In conclusion a virtual office creates an opportunity for clients to conduct business in a professional manner with their clients and prospects and develop a great impression while networking.

Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch offers a complete line of virtual office services. Our standard service products can be tailored to meet your unique preferences and needs. Contact us today to learn more and be in business tomorrow!

Is A Virtual Office Space Right For You?

Many working individuals do not need to be in a professional office space every single working day of the week. They may prefer to work from home or are immersed in the wheels/smart phone/hot desk world of the nomadic worker. Yet even these individuals may find that Virtual Office service has many benefits to offer them.

For anyone who wants to protect a home address, provide the appearance of professionalism over a home-office or a wireless hot spot or wish to have someone answer their phone for them (while not having to pay for a full-time staff member to do so), then a virtual office is the perfect solution.

For some, increasing lease rates and maintenance costs, coupled with lengthy lease terms, make physical offices less affordable. Virtual office space is a great alternative for maintaining a professional appearance with the flexibility of working from a remote location. Here are a few reasons that virtual offices may work for you:

Virtual office space provides you with a physical address where you can receive mail and have packages delivered without worrying about delivery to a PO Box or sacrificing the privacy of releasing your home address. And you don’t waste your valuable time waiting around for a delivery that requires a signature.

Conference room booking means no more meetings at public locations such as the library or Starbucks. Work from anywhere and still have the option of meeting your clients and prospects in a  professional executive conference room. Many Virtual Office services include video conference capability as well. This lets you meet anyone, anywhere in the world, with no travel time and at immensely reduced expense.

Get the appearance of an additional physical location anywhere in the U.S. for a fraction of the cost of a full service physical location. Create branch office opportunities with ease and minimal cost.

Virtual offices provide small businesses with all of the above, and more, at low monthly rates. Service plans can often be tailored to meet your unique needs providing you with total flexibility. Varying term lengths are available as well.

Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch is your one-stop destination for virtual office services. We also provide executive suites and support services should you need them. We support you and the growth of your organization, both literally and virtually. Contact us to find out more.

Are You Running Your Business By Your Cell Phone?

When you’re first starting out and trying to keep your costs low it’s tempting to run your business from a cell phone. It also gives the illusion of being connected with your clients whenever and wherever they need you. This illusion, however, bears no semblance to reality.
The problem is that most small business owners have made accessibility a core differentiating value of their business from the beginning. They ask, ”Why use me and my service over any other competitors?” And they answer with, “Because you can reach me whenever and wherever you need me.” That’s just good customer service, right? After all, you don’t want to run your businesses like some giant, impersonal corporation.

One large problem with using accessibility as a focus of a brand promise is that it’s too hard for one person to sustain over the long-run; and your customers know that too. “Rely on me, call me on my cell phone” is not nearly as compelling as “call my company – trust my company.” Customers want to know that they are purchasing your goods or services from a company or reliable and professional organization, not just you.

Your business is going to grow and you are going to need help. Finding ways to manage this growth with part-time help, virtual assistants, and virtual receptionists is a proactive way to position you for continued growth. And it positions your business as a totally professional one that proves to your customers that they can rely on your company.

Many new business owners do not include staffing costs in their initial budget because they think they might not need to have a support staff or don’t know the real costs but still think they can’t afford it. But with virtual assistants, shared receptionists and virtual services they can afford the help they need to really make their company stand out. Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch offers more than furnished, on-demand offices and conference rooms, we offer shared help at reduced costs. Our receptionists can answer those frequently asked questions posed by your clients and prospects. Our services assure your clients that their needs are handled and their problems will be resolved by your company. We do the things that keep you from growing your business. That’s something that you can afford.

For more information on ways we assist your business simply contact us. It’s OK, just use your cell phone and call 941.373.1400.