I am always surprised when I call a company and get a scratchy voicemail message, a computer voice telling me that the wireless caller I am trying to reach is out of their calling area, or a fax tone screaming in my ear. When this happens, my first impression of that business, right or wrong, is that they are unprofessional, a fly by night operation, not established, and I am frankly not comfortable doing business with them.

The reason that it continually surprises me is because it just doesn't need to happen. Here are 3 simple and inexpensive things that you can do to make sure that the image you are presenting when someone calls your company enhances your professional image, not takes away from it.

1.Marilyn Monroe or Olive Oyl- Some of us were blessed with wonderful phone voices. They are warm, have wonderful intonation and exude confidence while putting people at ease. Some of us were not so blessed. You know which one you are and should take that into consideration when creating outgoing messages that your callers will hear. If necessary pay the money to have someone professionally record your messages for you. It will pay for itself in the confidence you give to your callers.

2.Fax Tones Cause Irritation- In the year 2007 you should no longer have a fax machine that shares your phone line. If you have to say, "Okay give me a few minutes to turn my fax machine on before you send the fax," and then give anyone else that calls during that time a piercing scream to the ear, it is time to upgrade. There are internet fax options as well as virtual phone numbers that allow you to still have the one number for phone and fax, but will also allow both kinds of calls to come in at the same time without having to flip any switches.

3.Cell Phone Voicemail Is A No-No- In today's world, it is not unusual for people to work on the go. Most people you see nowadays have a cell phone held up to their ear, and it won't be long before they are surgically implanted at birth. All the world's an office. However, you don't want your callers to think that you don't have one. If you want to take your business calls on your cell phone, get a virtual number that will forward your calls to you there. That way if for some reason you can't answer the call, or were abducted by aliens and are now out of your service area, your virtual number will handle the voicemail.

Image is so important in the business world. The first impression people will get of your company is what they hear when they call you. Are your callers left with a warm and fuzzy feeling of "mmmm" or an icky feeling of "eeeww"? Take the few extra steps to make sure your phone system is not killing your business.