3 Reasons Why Paging Services Kill Business

It’s a competitive market out there, and what your paging service isn’t (or is) doing might be costing you thousands in lost business. Here are the three biggest reasons why paging services are killing your business:

1. Paging Services are Out-Dated

Sure, paging services served their purpose by providing a real voice at the end of the line in an industry where it would otherwise be impossible, but times changed long ago with the advent of mobile phones.

These days customers perceive paging services as just another barrier between them and the information they need. The added step of calling a paging service, then waiting for a call back can be a frustrating and often futile experience. At least leaving a voice mail gets it to the doorstep of the right person – a page could end up just about anywhere.

2. Paging Services are Unreliable

It’s happened to all of us – we’ve sent text messages that haven’t gone through as expected. The same is true for paging services, and unless you’re willing to check the paging report thoroughly every month, be prepared to lose some business from incorrectly paged leads.

Not only that, but what if the paging receptionist (who’s making minimum wage) makes a typo in the phone number from that inbound lead? Goodbye commission cheque.

3. Paging Services are Unprofessional

Here’s one of the most irritating voice mail greetings a Realtor can have:

“Hi, you’ve reached the voice mail for Sam Prochazka, Realtor serving the Greater Calgary area. I’m currently serving other customers, but please leave a message and I’ll return your call at my earliest convenience. If your call is urgent, please page me through my office at 123-456-789…”

So – I can leave a message, or I can call another number, potentially hold for several minutes, have them send my Realtor a text message that may or may not get through, then have it end up at the exact place I’ve just called? I’ll go elsewhere, thanks.

What Top Producers Do

The bottom line is that top producers realize that every “service” between them and their customers is a barrier. They realize that EVERY phone call, from inquiry to motivated seller, is a potential commission and should be treated as professionally as a listing presentation.

Top Producers I’ve spoken to do the following:

1. They make sure their office paging service gives out their cell-phone number (even the evening services)
2. They work at a brokerage that has extended hours
3. They advertise their cell phone numbers
4. They present realistic callback times in their cell phone voice mail greetings