Virtual offices as a concept sounded rather strange back in the 1980s when the idea began to float around. Fast forward to today, and the idea is relatively common. Thanks to advancements in technology that have made telecommuting and remote working possible, businesses no longer need to set up base at a traditional brick-and-mortar location.
Startups, especially, stand to gain the most from the flexibility provided by virtual offices.
The cost of renting a physical office space, buying furniture and electronics, and hiring a receptionist can be a bit too much for small businesses operating on shoestring budgets. They are much better off directing that capital into functions that provide more value, such as hiring better-qualified staff.
Cost efficiency is, however, not the only benefit to using a virtual office. Learn more about three key reasons why a virtual office can help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
1. Great Business Support at a Fraction of the Cost
A lot of office tools and equipment that exist in a traditional office are gradually going digital, and so has the office too.
By making various aspects available to freelancers and small businesses, virtual offices strongly support these enterprises so they cannot get a firm foothold in the market. For instance, services like customized voicemail, phone call transferring, and providing a corporate mailing address make businesses look legitimate and professional.
Remember, first impressions count, even in business. And sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Another way in which virtual offices support businesses is by providing furnished office spaces for business owners to have meetings with suppliers, clients, and their employees.
Sure, you can hold meetings at restaurants, but they don’t exactly have that much-needed formal touch that comes with holding meetings at an office. The conference rooms provided by virtual offices are equipped with the tools such as projectors and strong internet to make business meetings possible.
2. Employees Are Much More Efficient and Productive
Buffer’s 2019 research study into remote work found that employees who worked remotely are far more content with their work-life balance compared to those who have to report to an office every day.
This flexible arrangement of handling workloads empowers employees in that they get to spread out their to-dos across the day rather than spend too much time working on a single task. Employees are more invested in completing tasks rather than work just because they have to.
The outcome is a highly efficient workforce since employees are entrusted with the responsibility of managing their schedules.
Additionally, virtual offices spare employees from the time and stress of preparing for work and commuting to the office. Instead, they get to use these resources to become more productive in their work.
You’ll also find that job opportunities at your company will become highly attractive with highly qualified employees looking for remote work. Ultimately, you’ll hire the best talent that can propel your business to new heights.
3. SEO Geolocation
When you search for a service online, Google will provide a host of service providers within your location for you to consider. So, if you want your clients to find you just as easily, you need to register on Google My Business.
With the address location provided by a virtual office, you can register your business on Google so potential clients and business partners can reach out to you, even if you work from home or in a different town.
But that’s not all. Having your business address information on Google as well as your website will make the search engine’s algorithm score your business highly as far as SEO is concerned. This way, you’ll increase your ranking in local search results for people living within your locality.
Winding It Up
A virtual office is basically a service that provides entrepreneurs with the same business features they’d get by renting commercial space at a minimal cost.
All in all, whether you’re a small business owner looking to add some authenticity to your business or an established company looking to set up in a new location, you can expect the benefits highlighted in this article and more from a virtual office.
The future is now, and it is, well and truly, virtual.
