Reason #7 - Why choose an off-site receptionist to answer your business telephone calls? Enhance your professional image. By Victor Mataraso, M.B.A. Enhance your professional image.  We've all heard the sayings, "Image is everything," and, "You never get a second chance to make good first impression."  In business, perception is reality and if you don't inspire confidence in your callers when they contact you, you run the risk of missing an opportunity. As an example, there is a societal expectation that certain professionals do not answer their own phone.  When you phone your doctor, an attorney or any other professional who bills out their time at hundreds of dollars per hour, it would not inspire your confidence in their practice if they were to answer their own phone.  The expectation is that a receptionist will be available to assist you or schedule your appointment.  In fact, it can present a somewhat awkward moment if the professional should answer their own phone, as one may feel they are interrupting. Clients want to do business with stable and established businesses and greeting your callers with a voicemail can make you seem small.  An automated attendent may seem more impressive, but customers are increasingly frustrated with these systems, and will press "0" looking for a receptionist some 80% of the time.  If you can't afford to hire a dedicated receptionist for your business, an off-site receptionist (sometimes called a remote receptionist or virtual receptionist) can present a great solution that will solve this dilemma and enhance your professional image.