Originally Posted by slimthick2001
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Thank you for both of your responses and congratulations Office Goddess on signing a new client.
Did you let your clients know that you still work full time? If so, how do they feel about that? I was thinking that I'd have to train my clients to expect a 24-28 hr turnaround time, since I'd be working in the evenings.
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Sorry it took me so long to finally respond! I have been crazy busy due to tax season and, for the last week, a NASTY chest cold combined w/spring allergies.
No, my clients do not know I work a 9-5 as I agree that they will assume that means I have too much going on and won't provide them the service they deserve. I tend to call my 9-5 a "client" as well when talking to potential and current TVOG clients, explaining some of the deadlines I am working on when they want "immediate" assistance.
As far as phone calls, I use my cell phone as my business number. Since my 9-5 is not aware of TVOG, the default ring-tone is 30 seconds of silence
(custom built at
www.3guppies.com) so I can leave my phone on w/out my employer hearing it ringing constantly. (I have also built custom phone rings for my family, work, etc. so I DO hear the ring when they call.) I let clients know that I will return messages within 2-3 hours max. This allows me to call them back during lunch, breaks, etc. I tell my clients that if I am being constantly interrupted, it could be THEIR project that is being slowed down, and that is why I rarely answer my phone and often respond to phone messages via email...
Because I provide bookkeeping services, I email my clients a status report 1x weekly (Friday mornings) w/the prior week's data entry, bills paid, etc. Hope this helps!
