Title: Does Your Business Phone Sound Crummy?
Length: 740 words
Author: BIG Mike McDaniel
eMail: Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.
Category: Advertising/
Copyright 2006
Web Address: http://BIGIdeasGrou
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Does Your Business Phone Sound Crummy?
by BIG Mike McDaniel
The Small Business Advertising Expert
In business, what you say on the phone is important,
sure, but how that telephone conveys your thoughts can
be a deal breaker.
How many phones in your business? It makes no
difference if you use a multi phone computer driven PBX
or have two phones plugged into the same jack, they
MUST sound good.
You have no doubt talked with someone in business who,
for whatever unexplained reason, just didn't sound
right. It’s more psychological than anything, a nagging
that something is amiss. That little alarm bell may
have changed your impression of the person on the other
end. All because of the quality of the telephone voice.
The difference is the way the telephone processes your
voice. The telephone wires, to use a cyberspace term,
have very limited bandwidth. If you have a good set of
earphones and listen to your favorite CD, you can
expect your headset to deliver 20 to 20,000 cycles of
music. Your ears may not even be able to hear that
range. 20 is a really deep base and 20,000 is a really
high treble. 20 to 20,000 is the standard. With the
telephone wire, the range is more like 100 to 8000.
Enough to hit the range of most voices, but that’s it.
Your phone must be at its very best using that space.
Remember that conversation that your subconscious said
was just not right? It wasn't what was said, but how it
sounded. On a good telephone, the other party comes
across crisp, sharp and clear. On some cheaper phones,
much of the processing has been left out of the little
chip, keeping the price down with the quality.
There must be an edge to your voice on the phone. The
last impression you want to give is that of talking
through your handkerchief or holding the phone at arm’s
length.
Lets hit some basics:
Your business telephone should be in two pieces, the
telephone itself and the handset. Forget about trendy
one piece $9.95 models.
Your telephone should be connected to the telephone
system by a wire. Plugged into the wall with one of
those little plastic connectors on the end. Don't use a
cordless phone for business communication.
Your telephone should fit your face. Here’s a test.
Next time you are in any store with a big display of
telephones (even Wal Mart has a line of demos eight to
ten feet long) pick up the handset of every phone and
put it to your ear. Some just don't fit. Don't fit your
ear, don't fit your hand, don't feel right. If the
phone doesn't fit, how can your business conversation
be any more than walking on a blister from new shoes.
Another test, for the next week, carefully listen to
the "sound" on incoming telephone calls. Its your
subconscious that has been doing the listening up to
now, but move it to the front. Listen for a crisp
sound. No muffles. Listen for a presence; see if it
sounds like the party on the other end is right there
in your ear not off someplace. Listen for clarity, no
static, no hum, Think about your comfort level with the
conversation. When things aren't right, the level drops
and maybe the business relationship as a result.
Impressions are everything and a crummy phone can
impress in the wrong direction.
When you hear a phone that sounds good, tell the caller
you are considering new phones and his sounds
especially good, what brand and model is it. Say it no
matter how is sounds, (compliment to get the order).
Soon you will have a list of phones you like and phones
you don't want.
What you need is for your business conversations to
sound as sharp and clear and professional as you are
face to face. You get that by avoiding the cheap phones
and searching for those that sound great to you. Take
your survey, do you research and your phone will soon
match your professionalism.
©2006 BIG Mike McDaniel, All Rights Reserved
For more about small business advertising and image,
visit http://BigIdeasGrou
BIG Mike is a Business Consultant and Professional
Speaker. His BIG Ideas Group helps business grow
with promotions, special reports, mastermind
groups, seminars and consulting. Subscribe to
"BIG Ideas for Small Business" Newsletter
http://BigIdeasGrou
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