2. Focus on the conversation. Be absolutely present. Stop whatever you might be doing and take a brief moment to prepare. Wear the face that you want to project before picking up the phone. It makes a difference: whether you're smiling, frowning, or bored to tears, your caller will hear that in your tone. Refrain from clicking around on the Internet or distracting yourself during the call. If you aren't engaged, the caller will be able to tell.
People who use answering machines often are quite concerned about calls that they receive when they are not able to answer their phones. For this reason, the best answering machine often is one that is durable and reliable. If you have an answering machine that is not recording all messages, you might not find out until this flaw already has caused problems for you. Read consumer reviews in magazines and websites. Stay away from models that have mixed or negative reviews.

Voicemail is necessary when no one can answer the phone. However, a dedicated receptionist can reduce the need for this feature and help people reach a live person. Consider live chat as well if your customers like to reach out online.
Funny, the majority of us have a phone on us more hours of the day than not, but actually we’re harder to talk to than ever. On personal calls, and especially business calls, you’re much more likely to reach voicemail than the actual person you’re hoping to engage in conversation.