Phone Etiquette 101

Cell phones seem to have over swept the use of landlines, with the internet taking a great deal of pride in assisting with this overtaking of the airwaves. However, there are still so many of you that still remain loyal to


the landline phone due to several conveniences that you just can’t go without, even with the neatest and most capable and multi-functional cell phone. With the use of cell phones on the steady increase, some people have forgotten just how to talk on the landline in a more appropriate manner. The phone etiquette of the past has changed, although there should be some key courtesy hints taken in before thinking that you are still using the home phone in the most courteous manner.

Phone Etiquette 101-Landline Phones: 7 Most Common Rules

1. Answer appropriately. With cell phones, the number is so personal that most times people will answer with “hey” or even “yea”, which is just inappropriate for landline phones. When it comes to a landline phone, even if you have caller ID you may not know just who is calling and for what, and answering the phone should be done in an appropriate manner, such as “hello” or something of a similar manner.
2. Be careful when you dial. With cell phones, you are usually calling by contact, or otherwise can see the number before you push dial, while a landline phone is dialed as you dial it and then connected through. It is important that you be careful when dialing in order to ensure that you aren’t causing a disturbance to others on accident.
3. Keep it brief. When you are calling landline phones, you want to make sure that you keep the conversation a bit brief as you are demobilizing the person you are talking to. In other words, they aren’t able to leave and the conversation is going to keep them from getting anything else done, which is why you should gauge your timing for a shorter conversation.
4. Announce yourself. When you call a cell phone, your name often comes up when you call people you know, but this isn’t always the case with landline phones. If the person you are calling is on a landline phone and doesn’t know who you are, it is important that you remember to announce who you are clearly.
5. Make business calls before 6pm. Although times can differ from business to business, most people don’t expect to have a business related call after 6pm. When calling landline phones, it is important that you take care of all business before this time in order to avoid becoming a nuisance to those trying to relax for the evening.
6. Apologize if you dial the wrong number. If you are using a landline phone, it is important that you always remember dialing the wrong number could happen. If you do happen to dial the wrong digits by accident, it is extremely courteous to apologize as you are causing a disturbance to those who aren’t intended for the call.
7. Give those you call time to answer. If you are calling a landline phone, the phone is most likely not attached to the person’s side. This means that you should give them sufficient time to answer the phone before hanging up, as they will need a little more time to reach the phone.

Top 3 Reasons to Ensure Landline Phone Etiquette

1. Landlines remain prominent. Although cell phones are becoming more common than not, there are still many people that rely on their home phone. If you are calling someone for any reason, you should remember to use the proper etiquette as based upon landline use as many people will be using their landline phone.
2. Business matters almost always go on over a landline based phone. Whether you are the consumer or the business that is calling the consumer, almost all business is going to take place over a landline phone more over than a cell phone. This means it is very important that you use the proper etiquette for those on a landline phone.
3. Children should learn. It is important that landline phone etiquette is maintained in the home in order to prevent children from taking on the bad habits known to surround the use of cell phones. Having etiquette practices in place ensures that the children are learning the proper way to answer, talk on, and reach someone over a landline phone.

Landline phones remain to be very strong in their hold within the communication world as people find great comfort in knowing that the extra link to communicate with the outside world. Most businesses want to contact consumers and leads over landline phones as it provides a more stable signal and use, and so many people enjoy the freedom that the home phone provides. Using proper etiquette is very important as courteous manners on the phone is always going to be expected.

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