Church of The Customer Blog put me onto a good article about answering your phone. This is very timely information… we have just recorded voicemail messages for our new skypein numbers in Australia and America – a job I simply HATE. And that comes across. The first three takes were of me gabbling away, trying to get off the phone as soon as possible. We gave too much information, too little, sounded unfriendly, rushed and gave the impression we didn't actually wan't to talk to the caller.  

Sometimes, this voicemail message will be the first time a potential customer actually hears your voice, this makes it very important. I know how I feel when I hear an abrupt message, or one that waffles for ages  before I finally get to the beep and can leave my message. It's the same when you answer it in person – your bad day will come across but someone wanting to buy stuff off you probably doesn't care. They just want answers. 

If you haven't rushed off already, now's probably a good time to re-look at your answering machine messages, as well as the way you answer calls. Keep it friendly, keep it simple and make the caller feel welcomed into your business.