No receptionist

[stormgale]

I'm going to be working one day a week in a clinic carrying out reflexology treatments. There is no receptionist therefore when I am (or another therapist) with a client I will not be able to take calls. There will be an answering machine on saying something like "all our therapists are busy at the moment but please leave your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible" My slight worry is that people will not leave a message with their details for us to call them back, which in turn will lose us clients. Is this a silly worry? How do other people get round this? [sm=scratchchin.gif]
Thanks folks

 

[Gloss]

Hi Yala,

You can buy a techno gizmo from most phone shops or Argos type places which will display about 50 'last number called's. Then if the caller doesnt leave a message, in most cases you can see their number and ring them back.

Of course, the 'real' answer is in your signature: "what's for you wont go by you", so try to enjoy the time with the client you have and don't worry about the ones you don't have yet.

Good luck with it.
Love and Light

 

[Melyssa]

Sue I think you have hit the nail on the head!
Thankyou

 

[6fleriniaphattasken237]

Hi Yala, you have all my sympathy. I co-own a holistic centre and we have no receptionist either as we can't afford one. It is catch 22, if you had one you would get more clients and be able to pay them.....

We do miss calls. People mostly don't leave messages, but some do. I worry that with some they don't get us and then ring the next clinic in the Yellow Pages. We also have to lock the door when with clients and I don't like doing that either.

If anybody has the answer PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!!

 

[Govronnicky]

Candie,

We have the same problem our door will be locked. And even if we could afford a receptionist there is no room for one. The phone is in one of the treatment rooms, there is a small waiting area, a loo and two treatment rooms.

 

[imamidnightlover]

Hello[sm=wave.gif]

I used to work for a nursing agency and any out of hours or weekend calls were diverted to our home numbers, and we did this on a rota system,
I know you are saying but we would have to pay some one, well if initally a kindhearted friend(s) would take on this chore, if you found it increased your income, you could be in a postion to actually employ someone. I know this would be a big ask, but we used to have a lady with ME who didnt really get out much, and really enjoyed answering the agency calls when someone was on hoiliday.
If Iremember righty it was called call divert, and you typed in a set of numbers to the works phone and this made the calls divert to any phone you wanted.

Just a thought

 

[HeavyNinja92]

Thanks Hopefull. You have got my brain ticking!

PS I know I should have posted this in the business section...oops! I've started so I'll finish.

 

[Bebo]

we divert calls to our mobiles when we are not there and it does help, but it doesn't solve the whole problem.[]

 

[AceOfJambos]

Hello!
Have you heard about "virtual receptionists"? This is not a joke - I've recently discovered that such a thing certainly does exist & could be the answer to your "problem". I recently bought & set up an alternative health clinic & in an effort to keep rents low, have decided not to employ a receptionist (also realistically, clinic is quite small & wouldn't generate a very exciting job for anyone!). Virtual receptionists are provided by companies who provide you with a phone number which is answered by a real person - a receptionist who will professionally answer calls in your centres name, take your calls and send on messages. Charges are very reasonable - especially if divided between a number of therapists. Costs I have are £20 set up cost + £25 for answering up to 100 calls & 20p per call beyond this. From this service there are other possibilities such as a message or fax service. I'm sure there must be others like this in various areas of the country.
Hope this helps. Good luck but enjoy the rest without the phone ringing!!

 

[AmberLynn]

What a great idea Bellis! I have never heard of it. Thankyou to everybody for your help on this one. I'm sure you'll hear how I get on over the months ahead. You're a brainy lot aren't you!

[sm=wave.gif]