I am a sole proprietor and answer all my own calls. I have been hesitant to allow google or other services to screen my calls for fear of scaring away older customers but I am tired of dealing with a fair number of spam calls. Have any of you used call screening features? What kind of reactions are you getting from customers?
I use voice nation, I pay a flat rate per month and I could care less what my customers thinkā¦ it saves me from having to answer a telephone and I can call people back when I get a chance.
I use Verizon and they have call screening that tells me āpossible spamā.
Obvious answerā¦
Save all customers contact info, so you know who is calling (name, notes, pets names, kids names, etcā¦)
Dont be afraid to let calls go to voicemail (I know its taboo to some) and if you manage your ācustomer relationships workā right, they will be happily addressing you/voicemail by your first name.
They know you, trust you, and realize that you are busy with other satisfied customer. And are happy to be added to your busy schedule.
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Personally?
I address my voicemail, as āCalls WILL be returned within 24 hoursā
- This gives an āunder promise/overdeliverā sense, when I call back earlier than the time given (which I obviously DO)
- Lets customer know Im fuckin slammed, and for good reason (they arent my only customerā¦ My trust/service is in demand)
I just got a new phone that has this do you hit the screen call often?
I have a voicemail that says hang up and text me (a lot more polite of course) . Says I will not return any calls nor answer my phone.
My iPad, watch, and iPhone have a quick message feature I use to auto send a text with exact same message to clients that will hear that voicemail.
I have too many clients including mostly females ages 55-95 who text me. If you donāt text, I donāt have time to lose money on you. Call bob the bucket cleaner.
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3-4 times a day, no big dealā¦
So is this each call or just numbers that look like their funky?
I absolutely love texting but what happens when itās a commercial company that is not calling from a cell phone or an elderly person that is not calling from a cell phone
Every single call that comes in.
I make way more money and actually get paid from residential jobs. I donāt care too much about commercial jobs. However the ones that actually know about me who word of mouth, they always text or Facebook me. 
Lol I mean a hospital or bank probably isnāt texting is what I mean. Yeah I just got a google pixel phone and love the screen thing
Actually I have three bank managers I text quarterly. And Iāll turn down the hospital anytime and pass it to a company that better capable of handling such a job.
Iāve done our city clinic though.
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Iām sure a lot of the oldschool crowd here will remember my war with telemarketers like 10 years ago lol
We have an IVR system set up through Ringcentral.
Press one for sales, press 3 for all other inquiries.
When you press 3 the connecting message ends with āIt is company policy that we donāt do business with phone solicitors of any kind. If you a re a phone solicitor, please hang up now.ā
Robocallers canāt āpress oneā to connect. Live spammers hear the message and (for the most part) hang up. Even if they donāt hang up, #3 goes directly to a voicemail. The live spammers also donāt want to talk to sales staff, so they donāt bother pressing one.
Additionally, I have Mr Number installed on my personal cell, and it doesnāt ring unless you are a contact. If something is important, they can leave a message.
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Im older, so maybe Im a litle ignorantā¦
Modern technolgy aside, you are possibly entering into my homeā¦
- How are your social skills in general?
- Do you shy away from contact?
- When you meet someone, on the streetā¦
do you refuse to speak face to face, and direct them to your preferred text method of contact?
I like this Iām changing my message. Who says you canāt teach and old dog new tricks .
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For me itās neither. I let a lot of calls go to voice mail , just to busy to answer canāt he bothered with. ā How much for 5 windows ā. Yes I know it could be a potential good job , but thereās a time in the season when Iām booked out and I let calls go to voice mail, so if I leave my text number I can answer back at my convenience.
A lot of times when you call back they donāt answer. I think text messaging would more convenient for people. Everyone is busy !
I hate when Iām driving ,an the phone rings ,and I jace to pull over to take info, or if Iām on a ladder . There is a time in the season when Iām answering all calls no matter what. April usually.
By June itās going to voice mail. I think if I leave a text option a good Percentage will use the option.
Could be wrong 
I donāt know if Iām even making sense lol. I freaking just like text messaging. Send me your info and Iāll be by for a Estimate. I donāt mind talking , but I prefer texting.
Iāll just leave it as an option. Iād rather get a text while Iām driving then a call ,
Iām glad you asked, I appreciate that. There is nothing wrong with being ignorant, nor do I feel you should do exactly as I do unless you choose to.
*** How are your social skills in general?**
(Answer): my social skills in person are simply amazing! I get along with everyone, have been told over 30000 times I should be a comedian, unfortunately I donāt want to be famous. Iām comfortable talking about anything, feel free to text me anytime you wish.
*** Do you shy away from contact**?
In person contact? Not at all I love interactions with people for the most part. I shy away from phone calls. Feel free to ask me more in depth questions on this.
*** When you meet someone, on the streetā¦**
do you refuse to speak face to face, and direct them to your preferred text method of contact?
Are you serious?? Of course I doā¦ if they are a potential client and Iām busy cleaning and they are in a hurry to get home, I ask their number and text them my electronic business card or I have them run their phone Iāve mineā¦(kinky). And it auto sends a text and business card to them.
I prefer text messages because not only is documentation representation in any law or decree. I have a two beautiful kids and a super amazing and fairly pretty wife.
I donāt want to spend all day long on phone calls stuck in an office. I receive text all day on my watch, pad or business phone. I also have a separate personal phone. It never rings except important busy stuff, strangely never even a telemarketer. Thank goodness for RoboKiller!
I make $100/hr or $300-600 per day I work. I make over $50,000 a year and no longer have a boss yelling at me or idiot lazy employees not doing their job right so I have to pick up the slack etc etc. Iām super happy where Iām at so I can spend so much more time with my family.
Mean while Iāve booked 8 jobs just while typing this to you. But sure let me sit on a phone call and not get other shit doneā¦ sounds like the 20ās thatās 1920 of courseā¦
Please ask me any more questions, my answers were not me to be offensive, just defensive enough.
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Itās worth it, however , you could always quick word it like, majestic cleaning services thanks for your call and voicemail be sure to text me for quicker replies! Or something similar thatās what I used to do. Until I realized people were leaving hang up messages to text me lol, so many in fact I deleted option to leave voicemail and tell them to text me.
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No offense on my end either, manā¦ truly honest questions.
Im a natural āsalesmanā which is a term I dont agree with,I prefer to think of myself asā¦ just likeable.
But my employee is the nicest guy in the world, is VERY quiet, in general.
(custmers love him, and when he speaks, its worthwhile hearing.)
The notion of ādont even think about leaving voicemail, Im only doing textsā is what made me wonderā¦
