Calling is something we all frequently do. How many calls do you receive per day? How many do you make every day? How many of the calls that you make are business calls? None? Few? Many? If you’re one of them who makes regular business calls or formal calls, this article is for you.
When I first got into calling, I wasn’t very good at it. Not that I didn’t know anything about calling, but business calls require a bit more formality. There are some guidelines to making formal calls that I quickly learned after starting. We all should be aware of certain calling etiquettes, whether or not we make regular business or formal calls.
Smile when you call
It might sound funny, but you can ‘hear’ a person smiling. Yes! Even on the phone! When you smile, the other person can hear it. It shines through in the tone of your voice. It is very important for the other person to know that you are trying to build a healthy relationship. This especially holds true for those who make marketing calls. When you smile, people can hear you smile. And, that’s when they know it’s the beginning to a cordial relationship.
Be courteous ‘Always’
You know the worst part about calling? People who don’t respond the way they should. Some of them are cranky, some never want to talk, and some are always aggressive. The trick is patience and only patience. You need to learn patience big time if you make regular business calls. No matter how aggressive the other person becomes, no matter how unimportant your call is to them, smile. Speak politely. That always works. Being courteous and polite is the key to getting through most business calls. Use polite language and stick to it.
No use of jargons
I often get emails from folks telling me about hotkey downloads. I don’t even know what that is! I seriously recommend avoiding jargons when you are calling somebody. One, they don’t have enough time to know a lot about you. Two, jargons make them yawn. Use simpler sentences, which can be understood easily by everyone. That is the key to good telephone conversations.
Your call has a purpose
Every business call has a purpose! There’s no meaning to a call if you can’t get to the basic purpose of your call. Whether it’s to arrange a meeting with your client, or if it’s about closing a sale, you have a purpose, and you need to learn how to get to the most important parts into the first call itself.
Follow Up
Not every call is successful in the first place. Almost all calls require a follow-up. Following up is a painful task, but should be done as religiously as the first call. When you are prompt at following up, people feel a bit obliged to respond properly. I’ve experienced it. And I suggest a prompt follow up to all those who make business calls and look forward to closing deals.
Sign Off
You cannot end calls without a proper sign off. You know what I mean. So many people hang up without a conclusion, a climax. I don’t like calls that don’t end well. No matter whether your call was successful or not, you should always make a formal ending, on a good note. That’s how you build good relations.
Calling is not a tough task. But there are always things that you need to remind yourself before making a formal call. You need to follow certain etiquettes when you’re in a one-on-one conversation with somebody and calling is no different.