New Hours for Halo Secretarial
Posted by Laurie on Oct 7, 2009 in clients, Home Office | 3 comments
I’ve talked before about how challenging it can be to run a business from home, especially when it comes to taking phone calls! Currently I have an intentionally vague listing on my website for my availability, but I encourage clients and potential clients alike to contact me by phone.
A year in business has taught me a lot though, and I think it’s time to put a small clarification in place. I am still going to be easily available by email and I will still work somewhat irregular hours, but as far as phone calls go I will only be available from 9am to 3pm MST. I also prefer to arrange telephone calls in advance (via email) whenever possible, otherwise calls may go straight to my voicemail and be returned within one business day.
If you are just starting out with a home-based business, whether you are a a virtual legal assistant like me, a lawyer, or any other small business owner, I highly recommend you think carefully about what hours you will make yourself available to clients. It’s easier to start out with a clear policy than to change in mid-stream! And whether you have children or not, phone calls can be very distracting and take away from your focus on your current and much-valued clients.
Laurie…This is a terrific idea! Constant interruptions keep us from getting our work done. By taking calls from clients during certain hours, you’ll increase your productivity AND you’ll protect that precious personal time when you’re not working.
Thanks Vicki! I think it’s far too easy, especially when starting out, to feel we have to be on-demand and available as much as possible. But the clients that need that type of constant access (like weekends or evenings) may not be our ideal clients anyway!
Laurie – just found your blog and your comments really hit home! I’ve been working from home for several years now. Particularly for anyone transitioning to freelance work, it can be hard to set boundaries (you don’t want to miss out on any potential work, right?!) But I think establishing set hours and following them just adds a sense of professionalism to your business in the long run.