Running a successful business means strong, effective communication with the public, from having eye-catching signs and banners to running effective advertisements. Good telephone skills are particularly important. Here are some tips from Sign A Rama to enhance your communication skills on the phone:

Identify yourself. The best way to open a conversation is to identify yourself by name. This immediately personalizes your interaction with the other person, making the ensuing conversation more likely to be fruitful and productive.

Make a good impression. Remember, you only get one chance to make a strong and immediate positive impression on the person you are speaking to. Always keep in mind how you are coming across to the person on the line: Courtesy and patience matter. Finally, never end a conversation without thanking the person for calling.

Speak clearly. Since the other person cannot see you, making a good impression on the phone means ensuring that they can understand you. Practice your “phone voice” with other people and make sure that you are enunciating every word clearly. Don’t rush; speaking too fast is likely to confuse the other person.

Be ready to answer questions. Studies have shown that 85% of customers calling with questions have only a vague idea of what they want, and need guidance. Being ready with authoritative and helpful information will help ensure that your customers are impressed with the service they receive from your business—and make them more likely to return.

Don’t leave them waiting. Never leave a customer on hold for longer than 30 seconds. If you cannot get the information they need within that amount of time, take down their phone number and call them back. Try to call back within a few minutes; the faster you respond, the better that customer’s impression of your business will be.

Serving Broward County for more than two decades, Sign A Rama Davie is a full-service sign shop that provides a wide range of signage services. Whether you need signs, banners, flags, or vehicle graphics, we can help you. For more information about our products and services, call (954) 476-4923.