Starting business and still working full-time

You could always set up a secound line on your mobile with a recorded message for your online customers, saying that you are busy and willendevear to get back to them within a coupld of hours and then call them back during breaks and lunch.

Or you could upload a customer helpdesk onto your website which would enable questions to be answered by another company. we have used this before and it worked well.

regards

Greg@theseodoctor.co.uk

www.gdtsystems.com

www.wickedtickles.co.uk

www.houserunner.co.uk

www.itsmydesign.co.uk

www.theSEOdoctor.co.uk

I would just get an 0845 number that diverts to a call answering service/your mobile when you are not around and to your home phone when you are.

A live answer (even if its simply to say they cant help you) tends to make a big difference - if you hit a answer machine you tend to hang up unless the call is important or you cant go elsewhere. It shouldnt cost an awful lot for this service and they will answer in the name of your business.

NB this is a really crowded marketplace so I would suggest you do make sure everything is very polished.

Regards,
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James Smith
Chartered Accountant
www.jamesesmith.co.uk
01235 536 773

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Your indispensable guide to Small Business Bookkeeping, Self-Assessment & VAT

We have a part time business online, and don't have a phone number for our customers. We  started selling our product through ebay - which we still do. Then we now sell through amazon and other bookshops as well as our website, but i guess as ebay never required one , it's not something that's ever seemed needed. Do your customers really need to phone you? Are they not just placing orders online? Surely if they have any queries they'd just email? I don't think customers always expect phone numbers especially with small companies. Remember a lot of companies mainly large ones are a nightmare if you phone them, and it is easier to email. As long as you give them the personal answers through emails. A personal email message sounds better than an answer phone. Although this is just my opinion.

As for time in regards to promoting. What  are you looking at doing? And what have you done so far?

I'd also encourage you to look into getting a answering service to take your calls in person. If your business is dependant on phone communications of any kind then you need your clients to know they can always get someone on the line when they need it.

It helps to build your credibility and will enable a better retention of clients without them getting frustrated at never getting a call answered.

TamaraLyster Online
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I am in the same position and have my mobile number on the website. I often get calls on my mobile which go to voicemail. If they dont leave a voicemail I often ring back and say I missed a call when I am on my lunch and a lot of people appreciate this. I get more enquiries via email. I must admit most calls dont result in a sale anyway! They tend to be for advice on how to use a product bought elsewhere or will such and such a piece of craft equipment work with what they have (dont sell either!)

I dont feel it has let me down at all. I am now selling my online craft store as I personally couldnt fit in the time needed, I set the business up whilst at a previous employers and was made redundant, my new hours dont allow me to fit it in at lunchtime, and am often not home before 7. Wouldnt be a problem if I didnt have a small child to entertain in what was left of my spare time!! The biggest help for me was using Royal Mail Smartstamp and printing my own postage, I no longer have to worry about getting to the post office each day, just walk to the nearest letter box. I do have to pay £4.99 month for it (rip off but couldnt do without it!) and it looks much more professional on the parcels as well.

I did have a couple of complaints that my phone number wasnt on packing slips by the way so have now amended them to include the mobile number.

I really dont think a mobile is a bad thing, even if you can only answer it during lunch or after work, think that waiting till you get home may be too late and the customer may have gone elsewhere!

Hope this helps and good luck with your online business.

Helen
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www.helshop.co.uk">href="http://www.helshop.co.uk">www.helshop.co.uk Your online card and craft supplier