Increase in Virtual Office Use Shows the Importance of an Offline Presence

Bill Gates predicted a lot of things about the internet, including that any business without a website in the 2000s would be doomed to fail. This has pretty much come true – with hundreds if not thousands of new online businesses starting every day, the internet offers an incredibly cost-effective way to advertise and sell their products and services.

Even for well-established companies, in the past decade there has been a lot of focus placed on boosting their online presence. However, despite the meteoric rise of the internet, businesses still recognise the value of bricks-and-mortar premises, and in recent years there has been a slight reversal in trends with previously online-only businesses building up their physical, offline presence through acquisition of premises, renting virtual offices, and other means.

Cost-Effective Option

The changing methods of communication in a digital world, the state of the economy, and many other factors mean that traditional ‘office jobs’ do not have to be limited to the office. Email and Skype have replaced the need for as many face-to-face meetings, meaning there’s less need for everyone working together to be in the same room.

Virtual offices with meeting room hire as part of the package can provide a cost-effective option for many businesses which don’t need an office all the time. Rooms can be rented out on an hourly basis for important meetings without the excessive rent and overheads, which can cripple new businesses before they get off the ground.

Professional and Trustworthy

Having an address in a high class business area or building instantly gives off a professional and successful impression to potential investors and clients. Using a virtual office allows this along with providing a phone number and virtual receptionist who will forward on all your calls and mail.

This presents your company in a far more trustworthy light than having a mobile number and no address (or a home address) listed on your website. It gives anyone contemplating using your business the chance to meet in person and give them confidence that it is a reliable and genuine business.

Better Brand and Connection

A physical presence is a great way to expand and build a company brand too. It exposes your business to those who may otherwise have missed it online, allowing you to tap into new customer niches, and shows your willingness to grow. Despite the use of online technology for much communication, there is still a lot of importance attached to real world contact.

Depending on the type of company you run, especially for retail and sales businesses, an offline presence really helps boost customer engagement. Providing a far more personal service can increase customer loyalty too, though the significance of an online presence should never be ignored.