------- Clearing Up the Confusion E-Zine ------- Vol 1, Issue 2 Welcome and thank you for joining me for this momentous second issue. Today we're going to take a look at one of our most valuable tools -- the cell phone. Everyone knows how to make calls, but how can we find out what else these modern wonders can do to help us be more effective? Read on! Greg Peters, Mar 6, 2007 In This Issue... 1. Article: Make Your Cell Phone Sing 2. Blog Posts 3. Guest Article: 12 Phone Phrases That Payses(tm) 4. Shameless Self-Promotion 5. The Fine Print 1. Article: Make Your Cell Phone Sing So, you just opened up the box containing your beautiful new cell phone. You carefully remove all of the plastic wrap and packaging. You lovingly install the battery and start the charging cycle which will turn that lifeless hunk of plastic and circuitry into your very best friend. Then comes the moment you've been waiting for ever since you brought that baby home... It's time to read the manual. OK, so maybe that isn't quite how it works at your office. Maybe, just maybe, the idea of perusing a document written by techies for techies doesn't fill you with that special glow of happiness and contentment. Some people are just weird I guess. I guess I'm one of them. Over Christmas I picked up a new cell phone. The old one was still doing *OK*, but it was starting to show mild signs of obsolescence. So, I bit the bullet and traded up to an LG enV. For those who aren't familiar with this particular gadget, it's got just about everything on it that you could possibly imagine a phone having and a few that I didn't even think of. The problem with this much functionality is that it is easy to get lost in just exactly how to get this modern marvel to do what you want when you want it to do it. Recently, in my blog, I lamented the fact that I had no way to move my contact list from my computer to my cell phone. I looked through the Verizon site (my service provider) without much luck. The only thing I could find was a system where I would have to type in each individual name and number. Not a prospect I wanted to consider. Then my buddy Al Bogdan told me about the Howard Forums (howardforums.com). HoFo, as it is referred to by its denizens, is a user community dedicated to every aspect of the cell phone industry. The users there post on the vagaries of the various service providers, do reviews of the latest Bluetooth headsets, and document every tip, trick and feature of almost every model of phone you could hope to purchase. I started reading the section devoted to the LG enV and within about twenty minutes I came across mention of a wonderful piece of *free* software called BitPIM (bitpim.org) which you can use to copy information between your cell phone and computer *and* has the capability to import contact lists and calendars in several standard formats. Now, I can have a copy of my Google Calendar information available on my cell phone. Very cool! Now, I do have one caveat. The Howard Forums are a wild and woolly place. Not all of the tips and tricks offered are completely legal. In fact I found one or two posts that pretty much describe methods which I believe are commonly referred to as "theft of service", though I'm not a lawyer, so don't take my word on it. That being said, though, I still recommend that you check it out. You never know what sort of functionality you might have available to you sitting in the palm of your hand. Copyright 2007, Greg Peters 2. Blog Posts Links to posts on the "Clearing Up the Confusion" Blog from the last year: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 -- The Missing "Duh!" http://clearing-confusion.blogspot.com/2007/02/missing-duh.html Saturday, December 30, 2006 -- Notable Notes http://clearing-confusion.blogspot.com/2006/12/notable-notes.html 3. Guest Article Excerpt from "12 Phone Phrases That Payses(tm)" by Scott Ginsberg If you control language, you control thought. If you control thought, you control conversation. If you control conversation, you control outcomes. Here's a sample of several Phrases That Payses(tm) to use during your phone conversations. NOTE: I suggest writing them on sticky notes to post above your phone: 1. "You don't know me, but..." -- Be honest. Don't pretend to be someone's best friend, especially the gatekeeper. When you call, help someone know right away that you are calling as a stranger who hopes to become a friend. 2. "Consider it done!" -- Three simple words and your customer is already thinking about a positive future. It's confident. It's reassuring. It's beautiful. COOL NOTE: in 2004, Gaylord Hotels, Inc., received industry-wide acclaim for their new PBX system, appropriately called, "Consider It Done!" 3. "Excuse my annoying typing; I just want to get all this stuff down!" -- Polite, humorous way to subtlety demonstrate active listening while on the phone. 4. "Fortunately, I work miracles!" -- When a customer comes to you with a problem, say this immediately. First of all, it's funny. The humor will diffuse the customer's anger. Secondly, it's positive. Lastly, it's reassuring. I recently had a problem with a vest from Old Navy. When the customer service rep told me she "worked miracles," I was immediately excited and confident that she could help me. Interstingly enough, we never found the right size. But I almost didn't care due to her positive, friendly response. 5. "Hang on; I want to write this down." -- Great in person, greater on the phone (since they can't see you.) It's the difference between showing and telling. This phrase lets them know you're listening, taking notes, and encourages them to offer more detailed answers. To read the rest of this article go to: http://www.hellomynameisscott.com/articles.aspx?arGUID=09e4ce03-d586-45f2-b67e-acb9c6aefb22 (c)2006 All Rights Reserved. --------------------------------- Scott Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author of three books and a professional speaker who helps people maximize approachability, become unforgettable and make a name for themselves. To book Scott for your next association meeting, conference or corporate event, contact Front Porch Productions at 314/256-1800 or email scott@hellomynameisscott.com 4. Shameless Self-Promotion The "Clearing Up the Confusion" E-Zine is a production of Greg Peters, owner, chief cook, and bottlewasher of Cyber Data Solutions. CDS has been helping nonprofit and charitable organizations develop their web presence for more than a decade. Visit us on the Web at www.cyberdatasolns.com to see how we can help your organization. 5. The Fine Print Questions: If you have any questions, concerns or comments regarding the Clearing Up the Confusion E-zine, please email Greg Peters at: gpeters@cyberdatasolns.com This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright and contact information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Greg Peters is required, with notification to the original author. We never send the "Clearing Up the Confusion" E-zine uninvited, and we NEVER share, sell or rent our mailing list to anyone. Your privacy is safe with us.