all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want iMost people starting in business are great at what they do – be that manufacturing, joinery, website design or whatever, but they aren’t that great at what every business needs to function – administration! As a virtual assistant I often get asked for advice from people setting up their businesses. I’m happy to offer a free hour-long consultation to anyone starting up full of sensible, low budget, high effect tips to get your office running smoothly. But one of the most frequent questions asked is: How do I sort out my phone lines?

There are a number of different options for business phone lines but here are some of the most common:
Install a new line – Get a separate number, separate billing and proper invoice for your business records.
Use a mobile – Not a great first impression for your business, and you can’t guarantee you will always be in range and able to talk. However you might team it with a non-geographical number to improve the first impression.
Non-geographical numbers – Available on a paid basis for easy to remember numbers, or alternatively free via www.ovaltelecom and others. Choose from 0845 (local charges apply) / 0870 (national charges apply) or 0800 (freephone).

Call answering service – These solutions don’t free you from being tied to your desk answering that phone, or fielding calls from offshore telemarketers! Using a call answering service can help you filter and direct calls effectively, freeing your time for doing the “important” stuff! Call answering starts from as little as ?50 per month and includes 50 free calls and a free phone number.

When I explain that I am a virtual assistant and that I answer client’s phones remotely, they often ask: How does it work? They often think that they would have to have a special phone number or expensive phone system but it’s really quite simple. There are a number of options for diverting your calls:
• Call Divert – BT offer a service for around ?5 per quarter which is billed on your normal phone bill. You can either divert all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want i

rt out my phone lines?

There are a number of different options for business phone lines but here are some of the most common:
Install a new line – Get a separate number, separate billing and proper invoice for your business records.
Use a mobile – Not a great first impression for your business, and you can’t guarantee you will always be in range and able to talk. However you might team it with a non-geographical number to improve the first impression.
Non-geographical numbers – Available on a paid basis for easy to remember numbers, or alternatively free via www.ovaltelecom and others. Choose from 0845 (local charges apply) / 0870 (national charges apply) or 0800 (freephone).

Call answering service – These solutions don’t free you from being tied to your desk answering that phone, or fielding calls from offshore telemarketers! Using a call answering service can help you filter and direct calls effectively, freeing your time for doing the “important” stuff! Call answering starts from as little as ?50 per month and includes 50 free calls and a free phone number.

When I explain that I am a virtual assistant and that I answer client’s phones remotely, they often ask: How does it work? They often think that they would have to have a special phone number or expensive phone system but it’s really quite simple. There are a number of options for diverting your calls:
• Call Divert – BT offer a service for around ?5 per quarter which is billed on your normal phone bill. You can either divert all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want i

n a paid basis for easy to remember numbers, or alternatively free via www.ovaltelecom and others. Choose from 0845 (local charges apply) / 0870 (national charges apply) or 0800 (freephone).

Call answering service – These solutions don’t free you from being tied to your desk answering that phone, or fielding calls from offshore telemarketers! Using a call answering service can help you filter and direct calls effectively, freeing your time for doing the “important” stuff! Call answering starts from as little as ?50 per month and includes 50 free calls and a free phone number.

When I explain that I am a virtual assistant and that I answer client’s phones remotely, they often ask: How does it work? They often think that they would have to have a special phone number or expensive phone system but it’s really quite simple. There are a number of options for diverting your calls:
• Call Divert – BT offer a service for around ?5 per quarter which is billed on your normal phone bill. You can either divert all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want i

ttle as ?50 per month and includes 50 free calls and a free phone number.

When I explain that I am a virtual assistant and that I answer client’s phones remotely, they often ask: How does it work? They often think that they would have to have a special phone number or expensive phone system but it’s really quite simple. There are a number of options for diverting your calls:
• Call Divert – BT offer a service for around ?5 per quarter which is billed on your normal phone bill. You can either divert all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want i

all your calls by dialling * 21* then the number you wish to transfer calls to, or select to have your phone only answered when you are engaged or when you don’t answer the phone after 15 rings (*51* and then the number to divert calls to). You’ll pay for the cost of the call from your phone to the number you are diverting to.
• Use 0845 / 0870 – Many non-geographic number providers offer an option to divert calls to specific numbers. Simply choose your non-geographic number and the number which you want it routed to. If you need this changed you just log in and re-divert the number. Lots of these non-geographic numbers are also available free (try www.opaltelecom.com), however several will disconnect the number if it is not used for over a month, so remember to check how many calls you’ve received!
• VOIP providers – Many VOIP providers offer special routing for calls – check out the different options on www.skype.com, www.vonage.co.uk or www.voipphone.co.uk