How Do You Handle Your Phone?
Over in our forum we got into a brief discussion about telephones and how we use them. My stance has always been that since I pay for my phone, I can decide when to answer it. Way back when, not answering a phone meant just ignoring the ring, but today, with answering machines, caller ID and the ability to turn a ringer off, we really have choice.
I turn off my phone’s ring a lot. Since I work at home, I don’t want to deal with clients early in the morning or over dinner or later. Then there are times during the day when I don’t want to be disturbed. Maybe I’m concentrating on a piece of writing or maybe I’m taking a nap.
I actually warn my clients that I’m not always available, but I do it in a fun way. I tell them they are welcome to call me any time, and then I warn them that I turn off my phone when I don’t want to take calls.
Incidentally, my friends get roughly the same treatment and it seems to work for me. How do you handle your phone?
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7 opinions for How Do You Handle Your Phone?
Laura
May 29, 2007 at 10:09 am
This is a good discussion! Initially, I had a separate phone line for business calls which I turned off when I was really busy or after working hours.
After a while, I realized that almost every one of my clients prefers to contact me through e-mail. I discontinued the extra phone and haven’t missed it at all.
BTW, I charge clients for telephone consultations over 15 minutes. That might be why they’d rather e-mail.
I look forward to seeing other responses.
Lori
May 29, 2007 at 11:03 am
Since my phone is my home phone too, I simply screen the calls. I don’t take calls after the computer is turned off (and sometimes that’s well beyond 7 p.m.). I liken the computer switch to my brain’s switch - they go off simultaneously. :)
April
May 29, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I hate the phone. I do not get phone calls for work, but if I did I would have to get call display, because I practically refuse to answer the phone at all anymore. I don’t have friends who call me anymore, nor do I have anyone that I call. Every time that I do give in and answer the phone (which isn’t often, I have the answering machine to go on at the 4th ring) it’s a telemarketer. Every time. If people we actual know call us, it’s usually because they want something. I only make it a habit to answer the phone during the holidays due to parties etc.
WritingThoughts » Blog Archive » WAHM Wednesday: The Other Telephone Question
May 30, 2007 at 6:49 am
[...] on Ann Wayman’s The Golden Pencil, she asked “How Do You Handle Your Phone.” That discussion seemed to center on whether a writer should be available by phone at all [...]
Matt Keegan
May 30, 2007 at 8:07 am
We only have one receiver in the house and it is located in the kitchen while my office is clear across the other side of the house.
I make it clear to my customers that phone conversations are fine, provided that they are preceded by an email to arrange the time of the call.
When I am on the phone, I am not able to write. If I cannot write, I am not making money. This cuts down on the “chatty calls” and reserves phone time for conversations which are strictly business related.
Anne Wayman
May 30, 2007 at 8:57 am
that’s right… I have my clients make phone appointment by email too… they dont’ always follow instructions, but then, I don’t always answer the phone ;)
Cyndi L
May 30, 2007 at 9:31 am
I almost never answer my phone during the day, unless like you said, Anne, I’ve arranged a call or am actually expecting one. But I’m totally brutal about getting off the phone quickly, even with friends. I think that you have to be if you expect a home-based business to a) be taken seriously by others and b) to work!!
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