As solopreneurs, we’re always looking for ways to save money and be efficient. A great way to do this is to use your cell phone as your business line. If you continue to grow and expand your scope, there will probably come a time when you need a dedicated business line but it’s great to start with your cell. By using your cell, you’re ready anytime and anywhere to work and you save the expense of a second line. You also save juggling your contacts and managing two phone lines.
The drawback is that it may not seem very professional unless you handle it right. Here are 3 tips for using your cell phone as a business line:
- Record a professional greeting that has your business name, hours if applicable, website and any other information you might want to convey. It’s fine for your friends to call your work number, but don’t have your business contact getting a fun but unprofessional greeting better used for friends. Make sure to listen to your greeting and make sure there aren’t background noises or any missed words. Spell any words that may not be obvious.
- Use a professional greeting when you answer. I say “Michele speaking,” and it works great. It sounds professional and ready to do business and it saves the person asking for me. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I call a business and the person answering the phone sounds like they are bothered by my call. Make sure you sound upbeat and happy to get the call even if you’re not. Speak clearly and avoid those long messages used sometimes by stores such as “Good morning and thank you for calling ABC shoe store where your comfort is our mission. Come in now to see the new summer styles. Michele speaking, how can I help you?” People don’t hear half of it anyway and are just waiting impatiently for you to finish.
- Don’t answer unless it’s a good time for you to take a call. If you get woken up, for goodness sakes don’t answer! Having woken someone up once at 9:45 in the morning, I can tell you it doesn’t make a good impression. If you’re in the car, at the gym, in a public bathroom, in a bar, in a meeting, etc. simply don’t answer. Let it go to voicemail and return the call when it’s good for you.
Have you ever called someone and got a bad impression of them? Tell me about it in the comments.
Great blog post, Michele! I also use my cell phone as my business number, and follow the three steps you listed above. I answer the phone as “Hello, this is Jodi”.
If I don’t recognize a phone number and am not prepared to complete a new client intake, I let the call go to voice mail. I like to be prepared and on my “A-game” when speaking to a potential client.
The worst thing I ever hear on the phone (and I can’t believe people still do this) is the sound of a toilet flushing. Bad impression, indeed!
Jodi, LOL at the flushing! I can’t believe people do that either. I agree completely that a business owner should always be on their A-game when talking to a potential client. Thanks for the comment.
Toilet flushing .. Heard that one a few times, as well. lol