You’ve talked your prospective client into hearing your pitch or learning more about your products over a call. But now, how do you impress your clients on the phone? There are a few surefire ways to make a stellar first impression over the phone, as outlined below:
Smile
Just as in-person guests can see your smile, callers can hear it over the phone. Smiling helps your tone sound friendly and helpful, and as an added perk, it’s a great mood-booster for you, to boot!
Be prompt
After four or five rings, callers tend to think no one’s there – or worse, that you’re too busy to help them. If you miss their call entirely, they just may call one of your competitors instead of leaving a voicemail. Even in-house receptionists will occasionally miss calls, so if you’d like to make sure every call is answered live, you may want to consider using a virtual receptionist service. Virtual receptionists will cheerfully and promptly answer your calls, and your potential customers will feel cared for every time they call.
Set reasonable expectations (and exceed them)
If your receptionist or virtual receptionist service needs to take messages for you, feel free to let them know what time callers can expect a return call. A client with a simple problem can quickly turn frustrated when they’re left waiting by the phone, unsure whether you’re going to get back to them today, this week, or ever. Avoid this uncertainty by keeping your virtual receptionist in the loop so he or she can give callers great expectations: “Dan, our Support Technician, would be happy to assist you. He’s in a meeting until 3:00 but returning calls afterward. May I take a message?”
Create meaningful connections
One of the best ways to set your business apart is to cultivate personal relationships with your clients. Others can create similar products and services, but they can’t imitate your customer service. Even if it’s simply said in passing, always acknowledge when callers share personal info.
For example, if your caller says, “It was great speaking with you! I’ll be out of the office next week on vacation, but I’d love to touch base the week after,” don’t just agree to follow up; ask them where they’re going on vacation. They’re probably excited about it, and you get to share in their enthusiasm!
Solve problems
When talking with your clients by phone, avoid saying “no.” Always look for a way to problem solve. Even if your products or services do not offer what they are looking for or you cannot answer a specific question, find out what they are ultimately trying to achieve. See if there is any way that your startup’s products or services might be able to help. Even if your company is not in a position to help the caller with their particular issue, you might be able to offer advice, refer them to a partner, or point them to a reliable vendor whom you have used in the past. Helping them solve their problems, even when it’s not going to result in any additional revenue for you, is a great way to establish relationships with potential future customers.
Whether you’re answering calls yourself, have on-site support, or have a live virtual receptionist service in place, these five steps will make your clients impressed with your startup’s professional level of customer support.
