The way you answer the phone doesn’t have be boring. In fact, a lot of people like to change it up and add some personality to the way they answer. As many times that you answer the phone per day, week or month, why keep the same boring greeting of “hello?” It can be a fun exercise to jazz up your initial response when someone calls you, whether it’s your girlfriend, mother or co-worker. When someone calls, saying hello in a unique and entertaining way can add some life to the phone call, and before it even begins! Here are seven funny, polite, entertaining and unique ways to start your next phone conversation on the right foot!
- “Talk to me.” This greeting or something to that effect is a fun, casual way to answer the phone that will always bring about a response from the recipient.
- Try saying “hello” in various languages. This can be a fun experiment as you try to answer the phone in different ways. When you’re mom calls, you can say hello in Japanese, “Konnichiwa”. When you’re co-worker calls, you can answer the phone by greeting them with the Spanish casual greeting, “Hola!” in an exuberant way. It will cause varied reactions with anyone that calls, and a fun way to start the conversation.
- Play the part of the answering machine. Instead of saying “hi” or “hello”, you can try a humorous way to answer the phone. For example, you can try saying something like, “You’ve reached ______’s (your name) voicemail. I’m not in right now, but I’d love to return your call just as soon as possible!” When they begin to leave a message and you interrupt, it’s a chance for both people to begin the conversation by laughing.
- Personalize your greetings for each individual that calls you. Create an original message for the individual caller rather than a standard greeting for each person. For example, when your husband calls, you can answer the phone by saying, “How’s your day going, love of my life”, or for a friend whose call you’ve been waiting on for weeks, you can customize it by saying, “Glad to hear you’re still alive!”
- There’s nothing wrong with an impromptu greeting! If you’re a spur of the moment kind of person, then answer your phone with any sort of comical, polite, outrageous or serious kind of greeting and it can be as entertaining for you as it is for the recipient. For example, things like, “howdy y’all”, to “look what the cat dragged in” or “Lovely morning/day/evening, isn’t it?” can be a great way to greet your callers. Other greetings include “How goes it?”, “Ciao!”, “Moshi Moshi”, “Ello, mate!” and “Greetings and salutations”. Get creative with impromptu greetings and have fun!
- In your place of business, follow the etiquette of professional phone answering. If you need a polite and professionally appropriate way to answer the phone, a simple, “Thank you for calling _______(name of company, etc. you work for). This is ________ (your name). How may I direct your call?”
- Unless you want to offend your callers, avoid rude greetings. While some people have an edgy, dry sense of humor, and others just don’t like to talk on the phone period, there are many reasons for rude greetings. Here are some greetings which can also be used for voicemail message greetings that are border line funny, outrageous and just plain mean, but this is your warning! Use them at your own risk. Some popular rude greetings include “The number you have reached has been disconnected or is no longer in service”, “Hi, you’ve reached _________’s (your name) answering service. I’m home but screening my calls so if you don’t get a call back, you know why” and the simple but to the point rude way to say hello of “yeah?”
While many people nowadays prefer to email or text, there’s a reason for it. Some people just don’t want to be bothered or don’t have the time to be bothered for a phone call! Those that do though can answer the phone in many funny, interesting and entertaining ways. Try to change up your standard greeting and start your next conversation off on a different note! Laugh with your callers and enjoy hearing how they respond to you. Phone calls don’t have to be the usual, boring or repetitive greeting each time but can be a new and different experience when you begin the call that way!
