Earlier in this issue, we discussed how to leave a message and how to make certain yours is the one that gets the attention. So, if you've done your job and left a message that gets returned, is your job completed? No! You must be certain that the professionalism continues.
What happens when the prospect calls you back? How is the caller greeted at your place of business? What better way to find out than to call your business and ask to speak with yourself? Call between 8:00 and 5:00, and again after business hours. Call a number of times, when you know the phones will be operated by different employees. (If your staff will recognize your voice, have a friend call.)
When you call during business hours, assess the following:
When you call after business hours, you can still assess your company's service. Pay close attention to the voice mail labyrinth:
Since you don't call yourself or leave messages for yourself, it can be pretty easy to overlook your telephone messaging system, but it's extremely important. A recent survey by LeadFlow, a marketing research firm, found that 78% of callers prefer to leave a recorded message rather than one with a receptionist or assistant. So remember, many times your message system is a contact's first impression of your business; just don't let it be the last.
