As we reported in our blog, earlier this week, the MeloTel team had a fantastic time at last week’s Better Business Expo in Thornhill, Ontario. Having the opportunity to meet face-to-face with a wide array of amazing businesspeople was both a thrill and an important step for our company. We’re well aware that there’s nothing quite like meeting someone in person in order to make a great first impression. But, we’re also well aware that such a luxury is not always possible.
Chances are that the first time you will “meet” a new customer, it will be over the phone. Naturally, this disables you from using important communication techniques such as facial expressions, hand gestures and other body language. As a result, you have to implement other techniques that will endear you to the person you’re speaking to. It’s important to follow a few simple steps if you want to make long-lasting good first impressions.
Here are four steps to impressing a first-time customer over the phone:
1. Smile!
This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve highlighted the importance of smiling over the phone, and we’re sure it won’t be the last. Smiling, while speaking, changes your tone. It’s very hard for it not to. Smiles are also contagious. That means that your positive energy will very likely be reciprocated. Show that each and every encounter a customer will have with your brand will be a pleasant and enjoyable one. It all begins with smiling and expressing kind courtesies.
2. Be prepared with relevant information.
As much as customers like dealing with friendly business representatives, they need to know that those representatives are knowledgeable as well. People like dealing with experts as it gives them confidence. Having all of the information you need in front of you will ensure that you’ll be able to answer questions efficiently. It also helps for you to manage time wisely. Not wasting time is a big deal for customers. It makes them feel valued.
3. Avoid slang.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to build the type of rapport with your customers that will allow for particular slang terms to be considered acceptable. “Hey, what’s up?” is just fine for a long-time customer you’ve developed a friendly business relationship with. In your initial calls, however, you want to do all you can to prove that you’re a professional. Often, people determine how reputable a brand is by how its representatives speak.
4. Ensure that you have a good phone connection.
There’s almost nothing worse than having static or background noise during your first call with a customer. As annoying as it is to listen to, it also makes you sound unprofessional. Even worse, if you phone system tends to drop calls, you’re not likely going to have them returned. Such problems suggest that you haven’t invested in quality technology to ensure crystal clear calling with your clients.
MeloTel can certainly help you take care of that! Not only do our cloud-hosted Commercial Phone Services guarantee impeccable sound, but they come with a long list of incredible calling features. Not to mention, they’re bound to save you money! Our phone services are as well-known for their affordability as they are for their high-quality. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-888-MELOTEL or use the Live Chat feature on our website!
