Better Business Bureau Serving Southwest Idaho & Eastern Oregon Blog

” Can you hear me now….Or at ALL?” September 8, 2008

Can you hear me..at all?

Many business owners do business from their cell phones. Lots of them do business in their shop by landline. The cellular phone has made instant messaging, texting and other services that we never dreamed of available now for business use. But we still talk. How do you sound on the phone? If a perfect stranger, a possible customer, called you right now what would they hear? Or could they hear at all. If you can’t understand the person you are talking to, either from background noise, loud music, a bad connection, or an employee who needs to concentrate on their phone skills, then you may be losing business. From the minute you answer the phone the customer is deciding whether or not to buy from you. If they can’t hear you, if the employee sounds unfriendly or unbusinesslike, if there’s too much background noise from machinery, music or talking then they may not take you seriously. First impressions are important and  the phone is usually the first chance to make an impression. Do a test, call your business and ask whether or not you felt welcomed, could you hear the other person? If you use your cell mostly, does your coverage allow clear communication ? Does your Voicemail message say who you are, (not “the party”), how to reach you and do you check it regularly? “Voicemail box is full” can deter a client. And when you check it can you talk without all the sound distractions and do business clearly?

 The internet, e-mail and cell phones have changed the way we communicate. But certain rules still apply. Who, what, when,how soon and how much are what business functions with at its most basic levels. Clear communication opens or closes the door.