Zoom's top ten answering tips!

Here at Zoom we answer all your calls professionally and handle each customer the way we'd like to be dealt with if it were the other way around. 

Here are our top ten tips for professionally handling telephone calls!

#1: Learn the callers business language. We research each sector we answer calls for, making sure we understand and can use similar phrases and terminology, so the customer feel that they can trust us. 

#2: Match the customers approach. If a customer is in a hurry, we'll always acknowledge this and if we have to get help or information from elsewhere, we always let them know an estimate of how long it will take. 

#3. Answer the call after 2 rings and before 6. Answering a call after 1 ring generally can throw people completely, they don't expect such a sudden answer and generally they aren't quite ready! So we answer all calls after 2 rings and always before 6, as no one likes to be kept waiting.

#4. Don't hang up first, let the caller. We never hang up first, as 30% of people on the phone add a sudden "Oh by the way..." and if we hung up first, we'd miss this!

#5. Sound lively, interested and efficient. This is the impression the caller has of the company and we want to keep it that way. We will never lower your businesses reputation.

#6. Have open questions ready in case of a pause. Pauses of longer than 10 seconds are unacceptable to callers, so we always have a list of questions or non-contentious things to talk about to make sure all callers feel comfortable dealing with us. 

#7. Never assume callers are like you. We will never pass comment on issues such as race, religion, politics or even sport, as we never assume that people hold the same views as us. Even a passing comment may cause an issue if there is a difference of opinion and that just won't do when the caller expects a professional phone call. 

#8. Don't worry about good vocabulary. In other words, there's no need to use long, fancy and difficult language as it may well just confuse the caller. We use plain but professional vocabulary to make sure they understand exactly what we are saying. 

#9. Don't say "I don't know". We never say this, it's highly unprofessional. Instead we'll always tell the caller that we'll find out and get back to them, it leaves them with the reassurance that we care and we want to help them with their enquiries. 

#10. Be an active listener to build trust. Listening is critical on the phone and the caller needs to know that you're paying attention to what they're saying. We use short phrases such as "ok”, "I understand" and "yes" to show we are interested and actively listening to what the caller is saying. 

Divert To Us

Here at Zoom, we understand that the importance of good business, which is why we take pride in answering each and every telephone call in a professional and polite manner. Even when you transfer your calls to us, you’ll always be in control. 

In an ideal world, every business owner would be able to answer the business’s incoming telephone calls, however as the business expands and develops, this isn’t always possible. With Zoom’s unique answering system, you can choose to divert incoming calls to Zoom Answer Call simply by activating a diversion from your very own telephone keypad. 

We will provide you with a unique Divert Number, which allows you to divert any call either when your don’t want to be disturbed, or if you’re just simply out and about. The diversion occurs within a matter of seconds and is completely undetectable. 

Your call can be diverted to us in numerous ways. If you’re busy, just simply divert to us when you’re on another call so the other caller won’t experience the engagement tone. If after four rings the call remains unanswered, you can choose to divert to us automatically if you’re unable to take the call or get to the phone in time. Finally, if you’re with another client, in a meeting or simply you just don’t want to be disturbed, then you can choose to divert to us permanently. 

Call us today for free on 0800 583 5020 for more information. 

Telephone Vocabulary

There’s a fine line when it comes down to using vocabulary over the phone. You don’t want to come across as too intimidating to the caller, or even too inarticulate. It’s all about finding the right balance, and using appropriate and professional vocabulary when talking to someone and answering the phone.

We’ve all been there. You’re having a conversation with someone and they use a word you’ve never heard before, and you honestly don’t have a clue what it means. You’ll most likely spend the rest of the conversation trying to figure out what it actually means and as soon as the conversation ends, you quickly rush home to look the definition up. It’s not a great experience when this sort of situation occurs. You can end up feeling insecure, foolish and a little bit intimidated. This is exactly what a caller on the other end of the phone can feel if the person they’re talking to is throwing difficult and intricate words their way. It may be tempting to try and come across as the all wise and knowledgeable one, but most people don’t like the feeling of being outsmarted, it can belittle them and make them feel a little apprehensive about the call. 

People tend to use perplexing words in two ways. They either know exactly what they mean, or they’re just trying to sound smart and actually have no idea what they’re saying. If you’re a little self conscious about your vocabulary over the phone, don’t memorise complex words for the sake of it without actually learning the meaning of those words in the first place. Chances are these will be used in completely the wrong context, and although it can seem amusing to the caller, it will only make you seem silly and a little unprofessional.   

Most people who use the telephone are aware of the English phonetic alphabet and it can actually come in use as a pretty handy tool. Don’t get disheartened if it doesn’t come to you straight away, chances are the caller will still be impressed that you know the English phonetic alphabet. Using the phonetic alphabet can actually give you the chance to clarify certain spellings over the phone, and although it may seem like a lot to remember, it’ll most definitely prove to be useful when talking over the phone. 

It’s important to remember that when speaking on the phone you remain professional at all times. Taking on the phone with a prospective client isn’t the same as talking to your friends over the phone. Try and avoid using terms such as “uh’, “yeah” and “maybe”. These aren’t exactly promising or professional terms from the callers point of view. 

If you’re unsure about how to speak in the correct professional manner over the phone, there’s nothing wrong with practising. Whether this is carried out with a friend, or by yourself, it’s true when they say that practise makes perfect. 

Dealing with a disgruntled caller

Talking on the phone and dealing with callers can generally be quite a pleasant experience. Although from time to time, there will be that one caller that can be quite difficult to deal with, and no matter how polite and civil you are, you still can’t appease the person on the other side of the phone. Dealing with this type of situation can be quite difficult, however there are various ways to diffuse the situation and ensure that it doesn’t escalate any further. 

It all starts by listening to the caller, although this may be the last thing you want to do if they start getting abusive towards you. In this type of situation, the first thing to do is to make the caller aware that you won’t tolerate abuse of any kind, you’re there to help them, not be their verbal punching bag. Saying something along the lines of “I understand that you’re frustrated sit/madam, but I won’t tolerate being spoken to in that manner, I want to help you and ensure that this issue gets resolved” will help tame the situation, as well as putting the caller in their place. If you’re struggling to understand or listen to the caller for whatever reason, jot down key points on a piece of paper, looking back on these notes at the end of the call can sometimes make more sense than in the midst of a difficult phone call where tension levels are high. 

Nothing gets a caller more rattled if they feel as if they aren’t being listened to. This is why it’s key to ensure that you’re actually listening to them, and not just agreeing for the sake of it. You could end up missing key points, misunderstanding the situation and repeating yourself, or worse, making the caller repeat themselves. Try not to pass the caller around to different people either, the caller will only get more rattled and end up having to repeat themselves over and over again. Certain words and phrases can diffuse the situation and ensures that the customer feels as if they’re being listened too, such as “I can understand why you’re frustrated” or “I too would be upset”. Clever vocabulary doesn’t have to stop there. Using words such as honestly, sincerely and genuinely reassures the customer that you are indeed being honest and fair with them. 

When people are angry, all they want to do is vent out their frustrations. It’s important that you let the caller do this, as interrupting mid sentence will only make them more irritable, as you’re stopping them from getting their point across. Sometimes the caller can make you angry as well, but it’s paramount that you remain calm, and most importantly don’t turn the call into a raging argument by passing judgement. This will only reflect badly on you.

It may seem obvious, but don’t shout back, don’t tell them they’re stupid and don’t say they’re wrong. Sometimes it’s about being the bigger person. You know that they’re wrong, other people around you know that they’re wrong, and at the end of the day the caller probably knows that they’re wrong too. Diffusing a difficult situation is much more rewarding than proving someone wrong and letting your pride get in the way.   

Sometimes resolving the situations straight away isn’t always possible, and making false promises may seem like a great solution in the short while, but can be detrimental in the long run for you and the customer. Ensure that the call ends on a high note if possible, it’s always a good sign if someone calls up angry and they go away satisfied.

Let Zoom Help

Everyday, we continuously hear about how times are getting tougher and tougher, and how stress levels are now a record high. 

“Work smarter, not harder” Here at Zoom, we believe that a stable and resourceful environment helps develop a brilliant work ethic, which is exactly what our services aim to do, achieve and accomplish. 

Being stressed will essentially develop into more stress. Many people believe that if you consistently keep on working, things will get completed eventually down the end of the line. This is somewhat true, however there’s a point of when enough work is enough, and there’s not much point in continuous hard work if the work that’s being produced lacks in quality. 

At Zoom, we take a smarter approach. We can reduce your work load by a sufficient amount, and keep your clients and customers happy, and happy customers mean better business, easing your stress levels, which is why Zoom have taken a new direction into answering and managing phone calls. 

If you’re away on business, travelling or just out of the office, our Zoomette’s will answer calls in your business’s name, as well as transferring calls directly to you as if you’re right in the office. You can be assured that we’ll always represent your business’s name to the highest standards. 

We act as a virtual receptionist for your company. We’ll be the first point of contact, meaning that calls won’t be passed on time and time again, infuriating you, and your clients. 

Times may be getting stressful, but we’re here to help and support you, and your company calls, leaving you with one less thing to stress about. 

Making Life Easy with Call Management and Virtual Assistance

Zoom Answer Call's phone management services aren't just limited to handling calls - we offer a range of useful services to help your business run smoothly and reduce your workload so you can concentrate on the big ideas!

While our call handlers field enquiries and provide customer services for your customers, we can also act as a virtual reception service for your company, or a personal assistant for you! Tasks might range from organising appointments, booking meetings, reminding you of your scheduled events, managing an online diary, looking after clients and new prospects while you're busy, taking reservations and handling recruitment campaigns.

If your company sends out brochures and samples we can help you to keep on top of requests, especially during busy times or when you're out at meetings or travelling. When customers call for information we can handle their requests according to your specifications, from emails and letters to brochures and promotional content sent by post. All these little extras really help your business to run seamlessly and reduce the amount of day-to-day admin for you and your in-house staff, freeing you up for more specialised work.

For more information on all the little extras we offer alongside our professional call handling services, get in touch with us at 0800 583 5020. As always, our services can be tailored to suit your business and your needs, and we even offer a 7-day free trial so there's no need to take the plunge until you've seen how effective we are at helping your company to thrive.

Why Does my Business Need a Phone Answering Service?

If you're wondering whether your business needs a phone answering service, try answering the following questions...

• Are you able to answer every call that comes into your office, and dedicate time and a polite, friendly response to each one?
• Are you able to quickly and efficiently act on each call you receive, whether that means booking an appointment, providing information, or sending out brochures or products?
• Does the person answering your phone have specific training in how to deal with each type of caller?
• Do you have address finder software so that you can look up your caller's address using just their postcode? 
• Do you smile every time you answer the phone? (It really does make a difference!)

If you can't answer yes to all these questions, then you may be in need of a call answering service. At Zoom Answer Call, nothing is too much trouble. We can adapt our service to suit your requirements, whether it's simple call management, brochure sending, appointment booking, customer service, providing information, or covering holidays or staff absences. Our highly trained personnel are flexible and articulate, and answer each call with a smile to ensure a friendly, polite response.

We also offer call centre services, virtual reception services, call handling for franchises, and help with downsizing or outsourcing. Get in touch to find out more, or try our 7 day FREE trial!

Business Extras - Brochure Sending

We know how busy running a business can be, and sometimes it's impossible to juggle sales, calls, enquiries, travelling, meetings, deliveries and information requests. Often it's this last item on the list that gets left behind - sending out brochures, information, samples and letters in response to enquiries - but keeping on top of your information requests can really make a difference to your company. When a customer fails to receive your info or samples, or has to wait weeks (or months!) for their delivery, it makes for bad customer service, and they may question whether they have the time to deal with you again. Keeping your reputation golden and responding swiftly to ALL requests is a real asset to your business, and Zoom Answer Call can help!

Did you know we don't just handle calls? We're also able to help with sending out information to your customers in response to the enquiries we receive while acting as your call handlers. When we receive a call asking for a brochure or additional info, we will send them out promptly by 1st or 2nd class post, along with your company stationary or a cover letter provided by you.

We're always looking for extra ways to help each company we work with to maximise their efficiency, increase their customer base and retain their customers for the long term. Brochure sending is just one little added extra we offer as part of our telephone answering services - get in touch to find out how else we can help your company thrive and grow!