It's Your Dime Start Talkin'
by Chris Forbes
Free tips for getting the word out about your church from the Ministry Marketing Coach
When I was a kid my grandfather used to answer the telephone with some pretty funny lines. “It’s your dime, start talkin’” and “Abner Peabody’s Mule Barn, Abner Peabody speaking” were a couple of my favorites things he used to say when he picked up the phone. It was okay to act a little silly on the phone because (usually) there’s no harm in a little fun. But how you answer your telephone at your church is no joking matter.
First impressions often determine whether someone will join a church or participate in an activity. And, many people make their first contact over the telephone.
That’s why ministries and churches should pay attention to the attitude the person answering the phone conveys to the caller.
Often, the person on the other end of the line sounds bored and has a dull sound to their voice. Other times, the people who answer church phones can be downright impolite. When this happens, prospective members form an unfavorable impression about what the church is like.
On the other hand, when callers hear a welcoming and uplifting voice on the other end of the line, they feel happier and enjoy talking to the person on the line. If they have a positive experience on the phone, they form a positive opinion of what it might be like to visit the church.
No matter who calls your church, you should have good telephone etiquette. Be kind to the members of your church when they call the church office. And, remember anyone calling to ask about your church should get the five-star telephone etiquette treatment. Also take pains to be polite to people when their call is not ministry-related. Salesmen, repairmen, vendors and other people who call your church through the course of the day are potential members. Even if they are not, those people will form an opinion about your church based on their contact with you. Realize that, if they are given the opportunity to tell their opinion about your church, for better or worse, they will.
Here is a simple trick you can try when you pick up the phone. Smile when you answer the phone. Imagine all the times you have experienced a person answering the phone, not smiling and monotone, “Hello,
First
Church
.” However, when they smile when thy answer, you feel better. It’s a lot more pleasant to talk to the person on the other side. You can actually hear them smiling. “Hello, thank you for calling
First
Church
! How can I help you?
Action Point!
Next time the phone rings, smile before you pick up the phone. If you have any answering devices that your church or ministry owns, make sure that the people who record the messages are smiling, and speak in an upbeat and pleasant voice.
