How do you answer your phone?

[AffessyAdjurf]

My cell phone is also my business phone. Since I know that soon my phone is going to start ringing with business calls from the marketing I'm doing, I need to answer with something more professional than "hello".

I was just going to say, "Good morning/afternoon, this is Carol, how can I help you?" but that's so ho-hum and doesn't say what I do. I don't use a business name, just my own name.

Any ideas for something more interesting? What do you do?

 

[freshfromrwc]

I was wondering... Do you have a business name? You could state that in your greeting. "Good Morning, you have reached Carol and the office(s) of Healing Hands Massage Therapy...".
So you will be answering all calls that come in the same way, even if it could be a personal call? If you aren't going to differentiate between them, something more generic might be better.
I had my home phone voice mail as my work number for awhile. I had the message go something like "Hello. You have reached 555-5555. I am unable to take your call ....". Very generic, yet it confirms the number so that they know they dialed correctly. I really didn't like having to have a multi use line!
Oh! Don't forget to change your voice mail message too!

 

[Claire D]

Yes, that's true, thanks for the reminder about the voice mail. Mine is actually already better, it says "you've reached (my name), licensed massage therapist..." I actually had someone call me about volunteering at church (I coordinate the nursery) and when she got my voice mail part of the message she left was "I didn't know you were a MT!"

So, no, I am not a business name, just my own name. If I don't recognize a number, I'll answer as if it were business.

 

[Vote Repubs Nov 2010!]

well, i've got 2 different phones...an office line and a cell. some of my clients do contact me by my cell but i usually just answer it, "hello this is tera". my office phone i say "good afternoon, pure massage this is tera speaking how may i help you?".

i'd say be sure to answer with more than a hello. i don't like it when i'm trying to contact a business and someone answers it with "hello?". it feels bizarre. makes me think i dialed the wrong number and then i have to feel stupid and ask, "uh yeah, is this abc company?". don't make your clients have to do this.

 

[SunGodess]

Here are some other threads with good responses:

http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6422

http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1040

 

[debijs]

Thanks, akb, that's exactly what I was looking for!

 

[SIR]

Greeting

I have a studio phone, but when I'm not there, it forwards to my cell phone. So, my greeting is the same on both. I have a company name, so my response is "Caring Palms, this is Brian." When my friends call, they get the same message, and they know that I am using the cell phone as a business line. If I get a chance to look at the phone first, and know the number, then I will say 'hello".

The automated greeting is the same on both phones.

"Hi. You’ve reached Caring Palms Massage and Reiki in Neptune Beach. We’re not able to take your call at the moment, but your call is important to us. Please leave your name and number, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Take care. May light be with you."

Like I said, anyone calling that is a friend, or someone I gave the number to either know thisis me, or they simply think that I gave them my office number.

 

[J-Charm]

How do you answer your phone?

Any ideas for something more interesting? What do you do?

I just say, "This is Mimi..."

They (personal or business-related) usually start talking after that...