Have you noticed your phone calls are going unanswered more often these days? If you're running a business that relies on phone communication, this trend isn't just inconvenient. It could be costing you leads, sales, and customer trust.
📉 Trust in Phone Calls is Declining
The rise in scam and spam calls has significantly impacted how Australians engage with phone calls. According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), more than 50% of Australians have received scam calls in the last 6 months. And with AI-generated voices and spoofed numbers becoming more common, the fear is justified.
This growing distrust means your legitimate business call might look just like a scammer’s. So, when a potential client sees an unknown number, their instinct is often to ignore it. That’s a huge problem, especially if you're calling to confirm a booking, follow up on a lead, or close a deal.
☎️ What Does This Mean for Your Business?
When people don’t answer your calls, here’s what happens behind the scenes:
- Leads go cold
- Sales cycles get longer
- Customer support is delayed
- Business credibility takes a hit
In short, your communication pipeline gets clogged, and that directly affects revenue. If your first point of contact fails, it’s tough to get a second chance.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are practical, proven ways to regain that lost trust and re-engage with your audience without relying solely on calls.
✅ 3 Smart Fixes to Boost Your Phone Response Rates
Here’s how businesses in Australia are adapting and thriving despite the shift in call behaviour:
1. Send a Follow-Up SMS After a Missed Call
The moment a call is missed, send a friendly, professional text. Let them know who you are and why you called. This immediately diffuses suspicion and opens the door for engagement.
For example:
“Hi, this is Emily from Bright Accounting. Just tried calling about your enquiry. Feel free to text back or call when it suits you. Thanks!”
Adding a link to your website, booking form, or contact details can drive the next step.
If you're a customer of Business1300, you'll know we take this tip as gospel. Not only has Business SMS helped us reach more of you when our calls get missed, but some of our customers truly prefer to communicate with us via text.
2. Use Appointment Booking Tools for Consults
Instead of cold-calling leads, let them book a time that works for them. This removes pressure from both sides and positions your brand as professional and respectful of their time.
Whether you're in finance, law, health, or home services, giving customers control of the calendar increases trust and dramatically reduces missed calls.
3. Add Live Chat to Your Website
Some leads will never answer a phone call, but they will type a message. Live chat captures these visitors when they’re actively browsing and interested in your service. It also provides real-time answers and helps guide them toward the next step, whether that’s a consultation, quote, or purchase.
Plus, live chat transcripts help your team understand customer needs and objections better than voicemails ever could.
💬 The New Communication Landscape
Today’s customer expects more than just a phone call. They want flexibility, context, and trust before they engage.
By combining your phone outreach with SMS, online booking, and live chat, you’re creating a communication system that works for your customers, not against them.
It's time to stop chasing leads who won’t answer and start building trust from the very first interaction.
Let Business 1300 Help You Connect Smarter
We help thousands of businesses get smarter with their inbound communication. Our business SMS is the perfect tool to turn those missed calls into opportunities.
Ready to get more answers, more bookings, and more conversions?
Get in touch with our team!
