Phone Etiquette; How to Place a Call

Here is a right way to do it. Until you have mastered it, please stay off the phone. I guarantee you offend everyone you call even if for trying to be polite they say nothing.


1) Prepare yourself before you dial. Who are you calling, what is the purpose of your call and what are you going to say. No hem-haw, or uh . . . uh . . . uh, please.
2) The first thing you say is to identify yourself: if a personal call, your name, if a professional call, your name and company.
The second thing - and usually in the same breath and sentence with number 1, is to state your reason for calling.
Then and only then may you take care of your business and close.

Example:

Hi, this is Cuddly Crum, calling from Blogspot and I want to make an appointment for a fitting this week.

Hi, this is CuddlyCrum and I am calling to see if we can schedule lunch for one day this week.

Hi, this is Cuddly Crum and I am just calling to see how you are doing. So, what is new with you?

On the same note, when someone tries to close and end the phone call, please let them!
Oh, OK, well, it has been nice talking to you. I'll chat with you later. Bye.