Seven tips on how not to answer your business phone unless you do want to lose customers
Posted by Cloud Net on Fri, Jun 18, 2010 @ 03:20 AM
1) Get a number that doesn't work
If you don't pay your bills then no one can talk to you or why not leave the receiver off the hook?
2) Don't bother to answer
If you don't answer then you only have the pain of hearing the phone ring for a while and don't need to talk to your customers.
3) Answer aggressively
"WHAT?" said loudly and aggressively usually prevents conversation.
4) Only use a mobile number
If you only have a mobile your company is bound to seem small and unprofessional with all that crackle and fade.
5) Answer with an auto attendant which puts people in a queue forever.
We've found this to be popular option....and don't forget to get a recording that says, "your call is important to us".
6) Thanks to HMRC VAT helpline for this one. Play an advert to the caller before asking them to select an option. When the caller selects another option, play another advert to the caller for a minute or more. Then announce "all our lines are busy please try later" and disconnect the line.
7) Have calls divert to voicemail all the time
Try "All our lines are busy. Your call is really important to us. Please leave a message"
Written by David Hill, Chairman, Cloud Net