Your Travel Biz Source

Apr 21 2007

Develop Effective Phone Skills to Grow Your YTB Business

Published by Your Travel Biz at 2:16 pm under YTB Travel, YTB Training, YTB, YTB Source

Phone Skills are vitally important. The phone is often your first, and sometimes only, method you use to contact potential customers or distributors.

You have probably heard it a thousand times but it is true, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
The sharper and more confident you sound, the sharper and more confident you will appear to your prospect. This may just get them to set up and pay closer attention to what you have to say. Isn’t that what you want?
Here are some pointers for the phone:

First and foremost, be in a positive frame of mind before making calls. Never make calls when you are upset, frustrated or negative in any way. Get in a positive frame of mind by listening to music or something else that is uplifting.
If possible, stand up and walk around when you’re on the phone. Your energy level is much higher when you’re standing and walking around. That high energy comes across when you’re talking. We would all rather talk with someone who is excited.
Always know why you called and what your goal for the call is.
Don’t take any other calls while you are on the phone with a prospect. If you want their undivided attention, then they expect and deserve your undivided attention. They will feel less important if you take someone else’s call.
Be considerate of other people’s time - Always ask if you’ve called at a good time, and do they have a few minutes to talk. If it isn’t a good time, simply schedule an appointment.
Don’t sound like a sales person. Develop Rapport immediately.
Ask questions and really listen to their answers.
Record yourself while talking with prospects and then go back and listen to how you sounded. Practicing helps you pick out the awkward parts of your presentation. I know it sounds and looks a little odd but practice in front of a mirror until you feel and look comfortable. It will give you much more confidence and make you more comfortable on the phone.
Don’t try to sound like someone else. You may think your upline’s technique is wonderful. Take their message, not their presence and make it fit you.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, tell your prospect you are not sure and that you will get back to them. Get the answer and get back to them or do a 3 way call with your sponsor/upline.
Know when to move on. If you don’t see yourself working with this person for whatever reason, move on to the next.
Always be polite and courteous even if the person you are talking to isn’t.
Never try to convince someone to do something they are not ready, willing and able to do. This usually winds up to be a headache for you in the long run and doesn’t help them out either.