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Businesses turning away custom by failing to pick up phone

Sep 10 2007

Letting the phone ring to voice mail or simply being too busy to pick it up is costing small businesses dearly, new research suggests.

According to Time Etc, some 60 per cent of UK small business owners fail to answer their telephones.

And when this is coupled with the fact that seven out of every ten callers fail to leave a message or even attempt to call back, it means that up to 20 per cent of new business is being turned away.

Explaining why telephone communication is key to small enterprise, Barnaby Lashbrooke at Time Etc says: 'Customers are used to getting everything faster these days, and are less tolerant of poor service, like telephone calls going to voicemail or not being answered at all.

'It's so easy for people to move on to a competitor if they can't reach you, so it's vital to make the most of each and every time you're contacted.'

 
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