You're a Person... You're NOT a Machine? Thank You for Answering!
I know this subject has been discussed ad nauseum but I had another occasion yesterday where answering the phone got me another client!
MS Client called "after hours".... I was actually preparing dinner. When I answered the phone.. she was surprised and excited at the same time.
"You're a person! You're not a machine! Thank you for answering."
I realize that you can't always answer your phone. When I am giving a Staging Consultation my Client is paying for my time, so I do not take calls then.
However, I've gotten voice mail messages that said " Thank you for calling. I will return your call at MY earliest convenience."
Or this: "If it's after 6 PM I will return your call tomorrow morning. If it's on Sunday I will call you Monday."
Ok Ok... I get it. But maybe just for fun we can make our outgoing messages a little more creative...
" Hello.. I'm actually here but I have Caller ID and I have more important things to do. I'll call you back... maybe."
"Hello.. I just reached the next level of Angry Birds so I cannot come to the phone. Please call me back when I have time to talk."
"Do you really want me to call you back? Seriously, I'm too busy so why don't you call someone else."
" I'm busy.. call my competitor!"
We can't always answer the phone but just think about who might be calling you next time you let it ring!
PS What's your phone answering protocol?
