Looking for a way to bring the personal touch back to your phone service? Smiledog might be the answer. This new Canadian company is bringing the “smile” back to telephone customer service by offering virtual receptionists to companies that need help handling their influx of phone calls. Smiledog offers the personal service companies crave, without the expense of a full-time, on-site receptionist to handle the load.
Service with a Smile
Smiledog features a team of highly trained receptionists that handle the calls for a select number of businesses. The virtual receptionist has the task of learning about the corporate environment of each business she represents to ensure customers enjoy a seamless transition between the “virtual” staff and real transactions with the company. Receptionists handle all business from the Canada location, saving companies money and resources without sacrificing personal customer service.
Smiledog was started in 2007 by Jeff Doyle, with a small team of receptionists that embraced the Smiledog philosophy of answering every customer call personally, promptly and with a smile. The virtual front desk is now manning the phones for more than 100 companies across Canada and the United States. The company customizes its service contracts for each customer’s personal needs, ensuring their customer’s customers get the service they expect when they pick up the phone.
No Substitute for the Personal Touch
As technology has become more practical and cost-effective, many companies have been turning to automated phone systems as a means of directing customers to the right department for their needs. However, as any customer who has gotten caught in the voice mail maze has discovered, these automated systems can become frustrating and inaccurate in their service efforts. One of the top complaints among customers today are automated phone systems that never manage to get customers to the department they need to get their questions answered.
The personal touch on the telephone is far superior to automated systems, but small businesses often find it a stretch to fit a full-time receptionist onto their payroll. This leaves employees trying to field calls that aren’t necessarily trained to do so, or the company opting for the less-than-satisfactory automated service. Smiledog is hoping to fill this niche with the personalized service customers want at a price small businesses can afford.
Smiledog offers its phone services in packages, beginning with a basic package that costs $125 per month and includes 50 to 100 calls each month. Depending on the specific package, customers might receive the following services:
• Free option to talk directly with the remote receptionist
• Free voicemail
• Free text and email notifications
• Free email or fax options for calls after hours
The company has adapted its service to work with nearly any size business in any industry. Even large businesses have found the Smiledog option works well to handle overflow for their already swamped receptionists, without having to add a second full-time employee. Those who have used Smiledog have found the service relatively easy to implement and a boon to their service efforts by adding the personal touch for every customer who takes the time to pick up the phone and call.
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