Why Won’t Anyone Return My Calls?
Is it something I said?
This post will be about phone calls – who makes them, who returns them, when are they returned, why should they be returned, or not. Have any of you noticed that getting a phone call returned is like pulling teeth these days? I mean, to use a common phrase, "What's up with that?" Are we all sooooooooo busy looking for business that we can't even pay attention to the folks who ALREADY want to do business with us? Are we ignoring our existing relationships to the peril of our credibility, our integrity, our business?
HEY, LET'S WAKE UP HERE!!!
From all my research, the consensus seems to be that one should endeavor to return a business call within 15 minutes. This does not apply, of course, if you're in a conference, a meeting, or even in the bathroom. Although with cell phones, these days, even that last one doesn't preclude one from returning a call. Just keep in mind that if you hear an echo or strange noises, then you might be receiving a call from the men's room. I say "men's room" because we all know that a lady would NEVER do that! Would they? Anyway, it's my opinion that if you're not returning phone calls in a timely manner you don't really care about your business as much as you may claim to. I have no problem with that, so much as I do with the disrespect for the caller that it conveys. In today's economy especially, this is similar to shooting oneself in the foot. Or, as we say here in Texas, "stepping in a cow pie." By the way, did you know that they are considering cow chip throwing as an event in the next summer Olympics? 'Bout time, I say! I gotta stop right here and address a concern of mine. Let's say it's your mother that called. If you know what's good for you, you will call her back WITHIN 2 MINUTES!!! HELLO! It's your MOTHER for cryin' out loud! Now, I know that some mothers are…well……. MOTHERS! So, if that's the case………..never mind. But I digress. Now, a lot of us don' t have time to be sitting around all day making phone call, after phone call, after phone call…..unless we're telemarketers (don't you just love them?) Some of us actually have lives. If all you're doing is staying in touch with people, then boy, have I got a tool for you! On the other hand, people love the sound of a live voice talking to them. Unless it's the sound of money hitting the counter, but that's a whole different post. So if you want to create or maintain a relationship with your customers, prospects and business associates, then you need to be making some phone calls. And if you want to create or maintain a relationship with your customers, prospects and business associates, then you need to be RETURNING PHONE CALLS!!! And you need to be doing it in a timely manner. AND…..you need to have an additional way to stay in touch with them that is not excessively time consuming, LIKE PHONE CALLS. This way should be automated and should save you time, effort and money. Go to http;//www.sendoutnow.com to try it for FREE. Almost everything you do in your business should be about the relationship with the customers, prospects and vendor/suppliers. Marketing, products, or service…whatever, it's about relationships with the customers, prospects and vendor/suppliers. In today's business world, you need to enrich the relationships you have with people because, after all, it's those people who keep you in business. So return those calls. Make those calls. If you've enjoyed reading this blog page, please visit http://networkingfun.com/products-page/ to obtain some audio files that will tell you the in's and out's of effective networking. Networking Examples #1 and #2 give particular real life scenarios that you may have already experienced and wondered what could have been improved upon.
