Are You Losing Business Because of Your Phone Message? How to Fix It
Are you losing business because of your phone message? How to fix it.
In this example, I will use a B&B as the example. Substitute your own business.
Would you like to partake in a ‘mystery shopping’ experiment?
Imagine
Put yourself in the shoes of a brand new customer looking to rent your beautiful holiday home or B&B for $350/night for 3 nights. You have looked all over the internet, and out of 5 possible locations you have narrowed it down and decided to make a booking at Zion Luxury Retreat. You see from the availability calendar the dates are open. You want to confirm your holiday dates because you have to book flights, connections, and other transport needs.
That’s your headspace- now please call yourself and listen to YOUR recorded message. Then ask yourself- After hearing that answer machine, what would YOU feel, think and do next?
· Do you feel confident that you are paying lots of money to a LUXURY venue?
· Are made to feel welcome?
· Who did you actually call?
· Will they call you back, because I’m in a hurry for some answers?
· Did you leave a message? If not why not?
· Even knowing it was yourself- did you feel like leaving a message?
Success in building a business from a phone is hard enough. But when it’s your only option then extreme care and attention to detail is vital if you want to succeed.
Respect. Identify. Inform. Request. Promise.
Here is an example of a phone message that will stand you in a professional light and give you a fighting chance of getting a new customer based on your second first impression- your answering machine.
Thank you for calling Greg & Beth at Zion Luxury Retreat. We are away from the phone at present so please leave your name, phone number and a detailed message and we will return your call promptly- usually within 2 hours. Thank you and we look forward to talking with you shortly.
Then- follow up as promised- within or before the time you promised.
Take a minute now and re-record your phone message. How do you feel now when you listen back to yourself on your machine?
Re-answer the questions above. Are your answers different than the first time?
Would YOU leave a message now with confidence?
I hope this helps you get that extra customer by showing that you do respect their time and their business.
