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Five sure-fire tips to make your business phone start ringing again!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

Five sure-fire tips to make your phone start ringing again by Richard WeisserSlumps!

We all have them from time to time. Those little lulls in the business cycle that make us wonder if the phone will ever start ringing again.

Fortunately, there are some sure-fire ways to jump-start  activity and most are relatively  easy to implement.

So here we go:

  1. Take a vacation. This one NEVER fails. Plan a few days out of town and you will be inundated with phone calls and texts. There is an interesting axiom associated with this phenomenon…the more expensive the vacation the more likely you will spend it on the phone or texting!
  2. Forget to turn your ringer off during an important meeting, or while attending a wedding or a memorial service. The axiom here is generally this…the quieter the assembly, the more likely the phone is to ring. The “moment of silence” will almost always make you wish you didn’t select that edgy ringtone!
  3. Remember to turn you ringer off during an important meeting. Then forget to turn it back on after the meeting has concluded.. When you look at your phone hours later and realize that it has been silenced you will surely have mistsed many important calls and texts! Axiom…The less you check the  silenced phone, the more likely it will be that you missed important communications.
  4. Take a shower in the middle of the day. Believe it or not, this works. I don’t know how it works, but it does. Axiom…The wetter your surroundings are, the more likely the phone will ring.
  5. Take your number off the do not call registry. Even telemarketers buy and sell houses. Always start the conversation with a friendly “I’m really glad you called!” And of course, while you are talking to the telemarketer, you will have several incoming calls. Axiom…Being engaged with the least likely client will always take your time away from potential good clients!

I am certain that there are other ways to get the phone ring but these five tips rarely fail.

 

How about you? Do you know of any interesting ways to make your phone ring?

Show All Comments Sort:
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Lenn Harley ...

Or if you leave your mobile upstairs and walk downstairs. At least you get some exercise!

Thom Abbott ...

I will pray for you!

Jan 27, 2015 05:02 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Richard, the vacation thing works like a charm - every single time!

Jan 27, 2015 05:14 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

All it takes for me is just once, once, I walk away from my desk and leave the phone lying on it, just so I can grab a cup of coffee/go to the bathroom/gather the chicken eggs, whatever...guaranteed voice mail messages when I return.

Jan 27, 2015 06:53 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

The vacation and mid shower works well.  Mid day romance has also been good for a few calls.

Jan 27, 2015 07:01 AM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

All truth here, Richard.  Vacation, even the planning of one, can spur your business to new heights.  Then just when you start thinking you'll have it all wrapped up before you actually depart, your lagging buyer will finally finds THE one and at least two listings will receive offers.  I have to say, I don't mind negotiating a deal as long as I have an ocean view.

Jan 27, 2015 08:47 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

If I set down to eat dinner -- the phone WILL ring!  

Jan 27, 2015 11:37 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Here's another one. An inactive license while waiting for the state to process your independent brokerage application. The phone has been ringing off the hook.

Jan 27, 2015 01:02 PM
Vern Eaton
Askov, MN
Realtor 651-674-7449

My Broker has said taking a vacationis the best way for the phone to ring within a couple of hours of you needing to leave.

Jan 29, 2015 06:08 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Very creative, Richard.  Yes, these do seem to work like clockwork.

Jan 31, 2015 08:13 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Richard, so funny and yet for whatever reason, so true! Enjoy your day!

Jan 31, 2015 09:42 PM
June Piper-Brandon
Coldwell Banker Realty - Baltimore, MD
Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

Richard, you made me smile.  I have two vacations planned this year, one in April and one in June so I'm sure those will be my busiest months.  And, I've been known to take a shower mid day but mostly because my phone was busy and I couldn't get in the shower at 7 because my phone started ringing early!! (while my other half grumbles about "who the heck is calling you before 9am")

Jan 31, 2015 10:27 PM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

Use the restroom, once you are commited and past the point of no return, it will ring.

Jan 31, 2015 11:06 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I enjoyed your post and I was glad Patricia put it on her weekly summary page this week!

Jan 31, 2015 11:07 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Don't forget about ever trying to sit down for a meal. As soon as you take that first bite and your mouth is full your phone will immediately ring.

Jan 31, 2015 11:10 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Those are funny and very true -- 

The last one got me thinking that maybe when people call my home phone trying to sell ME something, I should say something like, "Well, before I answer your question, I have a question for you! Are you in the market to buy or sell a house?"  That seems fair.

Feb 01, 2015 12:42 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

I have to chuckle, Richard, because of the truth of these! I often shower mid-day and the phone ALWAYS rings!

Feb 01, 2015 02:16 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Richard, I like the vacation idea. Since we all need to take one once in a while, remembering to schedule one is the hardest part. Then letting everyone now thst all our vacations are working vacations, we only took a vacation to increase our business, LMAO.

Feb 01, 2015 03:12 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hi, Richard!  You can find this post on today's "Last Week's Favorites". 

Feb 01, 2015 07:30 AM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Richard, thank you for the sage advice!!! I'm going to try all of them. Will keep you posted. 

And mostly thanks for the laugh!

Feb 25, 2015 09:52 PM
Elva Branson-Lee
Best Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
Marketing Specialist, Atlanta Short Sale Pr

Thanks for making me smile, Richard. I like Kat's suggestion, too. I will start asking this of every telemarketer who calls trying to sell me "a better way to get leads." Geez.

Jul 03, 2015 02:33 AM