In this post were going to give you tips on how to have a good phone conversation.
We often get asked how to communicate more effectively on the phone. In today's world of text and tweets it's tough because our brains are wired differently when we talk on the phone, and as such, sometimes we don't know what to say or do in order to make the other person feel comfortable. Here's a list of 10 tips that will help you hold a better phone conversation:
1. Make sure you're in a quiet place.
2. Turn off notifications and distractions.
3. Read the caller.
4. Put your whole self into it.
5. Don't be afraid to pause for a moment if you need to think.
6. Webcam callers, user your environment and props.
7. Don't interrupt...listen!
8. If you need to end the call early.
9. Stay in touch.
10. What do you know?
1. Make sure you're in a quiet place -
This may seem like common sense but it definitely isn't common practice. One of the biggest complaints that callers give for a "not-so-good experience," believe it or not, is background noise. In order to hold a good conversation the other person has to be able to hear what it is you are saying. If you have the music blasting, babies crying or people talking in the background it's going to be pretty difficult to engage with someone.
It's important to be mindful of your surroundings not only for your callers sake but for yours as well. You want your callers to know that you take their time seriously and that when they call they will be able to hear your message clearly.
2. Turn off notifications and any other distractions on your phone -
Since PaidByTheMinute enables you to work remotely from anywhere and at any time, it can often be tempting to take a call at an inconvenient moment. But have you ever spoken with someone who seems distracted? You know the type. They answer your question but then end up asking you a completely unrelated question or two. It doesn't take long to get frustrated and put that conversation to an end.
We get it; the phone is one of the most important tools in marketing and business and personal lives today. You have to keep up with your fan base, return messages etc. But here's some questions you have to ask yourself; what is the point of doing ALL those things? Isn't the point to make money? To become financially secure? To secure a better future for yourself of your family? When you are on the phone you are accomplishing all these things at once because you are making money. So unless the call asks for it, don't multitask while talking to someone - don't text, stop checking social media, etc. Your callers and bank account will thank you for it. Besides those messages will still be there when you're done making money.
3. Read the caller -
This is another one that seems like common sense but not common practice but it happens. Have you heard the saying "read the room?" It implies that one should use their intuition to analyze the general mood of the people in a particular setting and act accordingly. The same can be applied when speaking with someone on the phone. However, in this case you "read the caller." If the caller is in a jovial mood you will more than likely keep their attention if you match their mood with equal enthusiasm.
This isn't a one size fits all scenario however and by no means are we saying that you should be fake or simply copy every mood a caller displays but as mentioned before, read the caller. Every call and situation is different so it's up to you to pay attention and discipher what the caller really needs. If they are down and need to be cheered up then it would be ineffective to sound melancholy with them. It would serve you better to sound upbeat in order to uplift and motivate them.
4. Put your whole self into it.
Some people may say scoff at this tip because it may seem counter-intuitive especially if you are only speaking on the phone and the caller can't see you. However, here is a little trick they teach in the school of telemarketing; people can feel a smile. That's right, if you answer the phone or speak with a smile on your face the smile is also transmitted in the message. If this sounds weird you can find immediate proof of this in voice over actors. When you watch an animated movie or see a commercial for example, 9.9 times out of 10 you don't see the actor but you feel the emotion.
The same goes for a phone call. We've all had that moment when we've called someone and you could hear in their voice that they do NOT want to be bothered. Don't be that person. Instead, put your whole self into it. When you put your whole self into a call it shows and if your environment allows for it feel free to use props. For example, if you're a tarot reader and you have soothing instrumental music or chimes in the background to complete the mood, then use it (instrumentals always work well, music with words should be avoided to eliminate distraction). If you're doing a role play and you need to use your belt in a Dom/sub scenario don't be afraid to pull out your real belt and wack a chair with it for affect. Again, whatever the situation and your environment will allow should all be fair game to make your call a memorable one. The same also applies to webcam callers.
5. For Webcam callers
Using your environment and making eye contact with the person on the other end of the line is paramount. Webcam calls allow you to use and stimulate two senses, visual and audio. The caller can not only hear you but can see you as well. Using props and looking the part can increase your call time considerably. And by making eye contact we mean looking into the webcam. When you do this the person on the other end knows they are seen and it will make them feel more comfortable talking with you.
6. Don't be afraid to pause for a moment
Feel free to take a quick moment if you need to think about what you want to say next. A good conversation is about give and take. Some people are under the impression that having a good conversation is about how well they speak or come off to the other person but as the saying goes "It's not about perfection, it's about connection." While it is important to make a good impression no one likes to be ear banged with non-stop talking and one sided monologues.
It appears that some people do this out of nervousness or just plain ol' narcissism. Whatever the case may be, it's always good to listen to what the other person has to say and pace yourself. Which brings us to the next tip.
7. Don't interrupt when they are speaking.
Being a good listener is an art that requires patience and practice. Luckily as an advisor you can get paid to have patience and practice. When someone is speaking your job is simple, listen. Don't interrupt or think of what you're going to say next just listen. Doing this has a trifecta effect, it allows you to a) get a complete understanding of the persons point of view and feelings about the situation and b) gives them the true feeling of being heard and c) when you respond you have more information to use in your response and you will often find that the other person will catch on to your patience and afford you the same courtesy when you speak. Many people are disenchanted with life and their conditions because they do not feel heard. Give your caller the experience of being heard and but don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it. This will also display that you were paying attention and never forget you are being paid by the minute.
8. If there's an interruption on your part
If you need to end the call prematurely. We all run into issues, life happens and some things are just out of our control like a bad phone connection, power outage or family emergency. If this happens or something else comes up during your call, apologize for having to go but let them know when they can expect to hear back from you via text message. Depending on how long the call is you may opt to let the next call continue pass the maximum call time for a few minutes. Either way, the choice is yours and we all enjoy professional courtesy.
9. Don't be afraid to reach out.
Be mindful of how much time has passed since you last spoke with a caller - if it's been too long without contact between calls, they might think that something is wrong or you are not interested in speaking anymore. Your call log makes this task effortless. Simply go into your call log and you can see when every call to you was made and send the caller a message letting them know your availability.
10. Talk about what you know.
Our last and most obvious tip. We all like to talk about things we know. That's why it's so important that you have something in your back pocket to chat about besides the weather (though if they ask we're not telling you not to). So what do YOU love talking about? What are your hobbies and interests? List these things on your listing! It will dramatically change the way people perceive you and allow for more natural conversations during each call - which is imperative if we want our clients to remember us after their initial contact. But don't stop there; make sure that everything from social media posts, emails, website content...everything reflects who YOU are as an advisor by sharing YOUR personality.
If you're not sure what to talk about on the phone, keep it light-hearted and casual. Talk about things that interest both parties by mentioning anything from your favorite TV show or movie to your hobbies or other passions in life. You can even end a conversation on an upbeat note with something like "Hey! I hope we get a chance to chat again soon!" which will help make the caller feel more at ease for when they call back because they know there's someone who wants them as well.
That's it.
Whether it be for a tarot reading, financial guidance or love advice; it's imperative that we're able to hold good conversations on the phone. The best conversations are the ones where you can have a wonderful back and forth. It's imperative that we're able to hold those kinds of good phone calls, but it's also important for us to listen well too! That being said, what do you like to talk about? What topics interest both you and your caller enough that they want more information or conversation time with you? Remember, people don't call unless there is something interesting going on in their lives. Give them what they need by answering the call so everyone knows how much fun conversing with you will be.