Returning Phone Messages
This is the off season for many RV Parks. Often you need to leave a message on an answering device to speak to a park employee. I have a few suggestions that will help that process. 1. Speak slo...
Forum Discussion
For all the people who hate dealing with answering machines, imagine the small business owner who is flooded daily with robo calling.
I have a small landscaping service. If I personally answered all calls, I would get nothing done. Also, most customers calling want an estimate or a date for meeting at their property - things I need to look up, which is easier to do if I don't have the phone jammed under my ear. I prefer people call and leave a message - that way I can research an answer, and be ready for questions when I call them back.
You need to leave a message with WHY you are calling! I have had salespeople leave the "Hey, get back to me at xxx-xxxx", and of course it is just a sales call. So I do not return those calls now.
Also, for established customers, I almost prefer not talking to them directly - most times I am calling to let them know when we will be there and what we are doing. They can call me back if there are any changes, otherwise we'll just do the work. I tell all my customers that they have to leave a message due to robocalling, and I will pickup if I am next to the phone and hear them.
Since I have a business line and want customers to be able to find the number, it is not on the "do not call" list (which is almost impotent now anyways), and it is listed in the phone book and online - which means, I am inundated daily with robo-calling. Multiple calls an hour. I CANNOT answer every call and get anything done! Even if I did have a human receptionist, they would not be able to get anything done if they answered every call!
This is why so many businesses have answering systems now, either simple message machine or push button choices. It is the only way businesses can get anything done in today's robo-tele-marketing world.
I have a small landscaping service. If I personally answered all calls, I would get nothing done. Also, most customers calling want an estimate or a date for meeting at their property - things I need to look up, which is easier to do if I don't have the phone jammed under my ear. I prefer people call and leave a message - that way I can research an answer, and be ready for questions when I call them back.
You need to leave a message with WHY you are calling! I have had salespeople leave the "Hey, get back to me at xxx-xxxx", and of course it is just a sales call. So I do not return those calls now.
Also, for established customers, I almost prefer not talking to them directly - most times I am calling to let them know when we will be there and what we are doing. They can call me back if there are any changes, otherwise we'll just do the work. I tell all my customers that they have to leave a message due to robocalling, and I will pickup if I am next to the phone and hear them.
Since I have a business line and want customers to be able to find the number, it is not on the "do not call" list (which is almost impotent now anyways), and it is listed in the phone book and online - which means, I am inundated daily with robo-calling. Multiple calls an hour. I CANNOT answer every call and get anything done! Even if I did have a human receptionist, they would not be able to get anything done if they answered every call!
This is why so many businesses have answering systems now, either simple message machine or push button choices. It is the only way businesses can get anything done in today's robo-tele-marketing world.
