Does Your Business Phone Sound Crummy?

by BIG Mike McDaniel

Published on this site: October 3rd, 2006 - See more articles from this month

In business, what you say on the phone is important, sure, but how that telephone conveys your thoughts can be a deal breaker.

How many phones in your business? It makes no difference if you use a multi phone computer driven PBX or have two phones plugged into the same jack, they must sound good.

You have no doubt talked with someone in business who, for whatever unexplained reason, just didn't sound right. It’s more psychological than anything, a nagging that something is amiss. That little alarm bell may have changed your impression of the person on the other end. All because of the quality of the telephone voice.

The difference is the way the telephone processes your voice. The telephone wires, to use a cyberspace term, have very limited bandwidth. If you have a good set of earphones and listen to your favorite CD, you can expect your headset to deliver 20 to 20,000 cycles of music. Your ears may not even be able to hear that range. 20 is a really deep base and 20,000 is a really high treble. 20 to 20,000 is the standard. With the telephone wire, the range is more like 100 to 8000. Enough to hit the range of most voices, but that’s it.

Your phone must be at its very best using that space. Remember that conversation that your subconscious said was just not right? It wasn't what was said, but how it sounded. On a good telephone, the other party comes across crisp, sharp and clear. On some cheaper phones, much of the processing has been left out of the little chip, keeping the price down with the quality.

There must be an edge to your voice on the phone. The last impression you want to give is that of talking through your handkerchief or holding the phone at arm’s length.

Lets hit some basics:

Your business telephone should be in two pieces, the telephone itself and the handset. Forget about trendy one piece $9.95 models.

Your telephone should be connected to the telephone system by a wire. Plugged into the wall with one of those little plastic connectors on the end. Don't use a cordless phone for business communication.

Your telephone should fit your face. Here’s a test. Next time you are in any store with a big display of telephones (even Wal Mart has a line of demos eight to ten feet long) pick up the handset of every phone and put it to your ear. Some just don't fit. Don't fit your ear, don't fit your hand, don't feel right. If the phone doesn't fit, how can your business conversation be any more than walking on a blister from new shoes.

Another test, for the next week, carefully listen to the "sound" on incoming telephone calls. Its your subconscious that has been doing the listening up to now, but move it to the front. Listen for a crisp sound. No muffles. Listen for a presence; see if it sounds like the party on the other end is right there in your ear not off someplace. Listen for clarity, no static, no hum, Think about your comfort level with the conversation. When things aren't right, the level drops and maybe the business relationship as a result.

Impressions are everything and a crummy phone can impress in the wrong direction.

When you hear a phone that sounds good, tell the caller you are considering new phones and his sounds especially good, what brand and model is it. Say it no matter how is sounds, (compliment to get the order). Soon you will have a list of phones you like and phones you don't want.

What you need is for your business conversations to sound as sharp and clear and professional as you are face to face. You get that by avoiding the cheap phones and searching for those that sound great to you. Take your survey, do you research and your phone will soon match your professionalism.

BIG Mike McDaniel, All Rights Reserved. For more about small business advertising and image, BIG Mike is a Business Consultant and Professional Speaker. His BIG Ideas Group helps business grow with promotions, special reports, mastermind groups, seminars and consulting. Subscribe to "BIG Ideas for Small Business" Newsletter visit: http://BigIdeasGroup.com