--- title: Chicagoland SIA » How are phones answered at your insurance agency? description: How are your agency's phone manners? Here are some tips for making them even better: image: https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/31047485_M.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency#main-content) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/chicagolandsia/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicagoland-sia/) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/ChicagolandSia) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdqbj5lRfSQnvjjGVdrVPg) [![CSIAlogo-2-2](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CSIAlogo-2-2.png?width=200&height=118&name=CSIAlogo-2-2.png)](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/) - [Learn More](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/learn-more) - [Benefits](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/member-benefits) Show submenu for Benefits - [Market Access](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/access-to-markets) - [Increased Income](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/increased-income) - [Training and Learning](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/training-and-education) - [Agency Growth and Development](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/agency-development) - [Digital Strategy](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/digital-marketing-and-strategy-consultation) - [About Us](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/about-us) - [Resources](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/resources) Show submenu for Resources - [Blog](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog) - [Video Series](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/beyond-the-dec-page-video-series) - [Podcast](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/licensed-to-talk-insurance-podcast) - [Free Downloadable Guides](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/free-digital-content-strategy) - [Press Releases](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/press-release) - [Our Team](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/our-team) - [Make a Payment](https://chicagolandsia.appliedpay.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Learn More](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/learn-more) - [Benefits](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/member-benefits) Show submenu for Benefits - [Market Access](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/access-to-markets) - [Increased Income](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/increased-income) - [Training and Learning](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/training-and-education) - [Agency Growth and Development](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/agency-development) - [Digital Strategy](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/digital-marketing-and-strategy-consultation) - [About Us](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/about-us) - [Resources](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/resources) Show submenu for Resources - [Blog](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog) - [Video Series](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/beyond-the-dec-page-video-series) - [Podcast](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/licensed-to-talk-insurance-podcast) - [Free Downloadable Guides](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/free-digital-content-strategy) - [Press Releases](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/press-release) - [Our Team](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/our-team) - [Make a Payment](https://chicagolandsia.appliedpay.com/) Mar 20, 2019, 12:00:00 AM # How are phones answered at your insurance agency? [Chicagoland SIA](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/author/chicagoland-sia) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency) We all know how important it is to provide extraordinary customer service. But have you ever considered how vital it is that you and your agency employees answer the phone warmly and professionally? Here are some tips for improving your phone etiquette: **Simply listen to how phones are being answered.** You could also enlist friends or family members to call in, asking to speak with you. Ask them how the interaction made them feel. Discover whether the phone is being answered according to your professional standards and expectations. **Remember good manners.** Everyone in your agency, not just the person who typically answers the phone, should be taught to begin with a polite “Hello, this is such-and-such agency, so-and-so speaking. How can I help you?” This seems obvious, but as our culture has become more casual, so have our phone manners. How often have you called a business and heard “Yeah?” or only “Hello?” **Tone and pace.** Encourage everyone in your agency to speak clearly, slowly and kindly as they answer the phone. Clients don’t like being made to feel that they’re hard of hearing or that your agency is too busy to spend time with them. **Ensure you have a system in place.** You’ll need it for phone messages to be conveyed to you and others in your agency. And, be sure to return calls promptly! All the good manners on the front end will be wasted if you and your employees fail to return calls to clients and potential clients. [Agency Management](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/tag/agency-management) ## Related posts [![](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/22476412_M.jpg?height=200&name=22476412_M.jpg)](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/what-makes-for-a-good-agency-staff-meeting) [Agency Management](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/tag/agency-management) ## [What makes for a good agency staff meeting?](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/what-makes-for-a-good-agency-staff-meeting) [Chicagoland SIA](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/author/chicagoland-sia) May 1, 2019, 12:00:00 AM As an agency owner, you likely have a set time for staff meetings. How do your staff meetings go?... [Read more](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/what-makes-for-a-good-agency-staff-meeting) [![](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/100899414_M.jpg?height=200&name=100899414_M.jpg)](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/many-small-businesses-are-underinsured-or-uninsured) [Insurance Markets](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/tag/insurance-markets), [Insurance Tips](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/tag/insurance-tips) ## [Many small businesses are underinsured or uninsured](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/many-small-businesses-are-underinsured-or-uninsured) [Chicagoland SIA](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/author/chicagoland-sia) Aug 5, 2020, 12:00:00 AM There are nearly 31 million small businesses nationwide, and it’s estimated that three-quarters of... [Read more](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/many-small-businesses-are-underinsured-or-uninsured) [![](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/94746623_M-1.jpg?height=200&name=94746623_M-1.jpg)](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/documentation-an-important-risk-management-tool-2) [Agency Management](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/tag/agency-management) ## [Documentation: An important risk management tool](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/documentation-an-important-risk-management-tool-2) [Chicagoland SIA](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/author/chicagoland-sia) May 5, 2021, 12:00:00 AM How well do you document your agency’s interactions with customers? Consistently documenting... [Read more](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/documentation-an-important-risk-management-tool-2) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/chicagolandsia/) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicagoland-sia/) [X Twitter icon](https://x.com/ChicagolandSia) --- [![CSIAlogo-2-2](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CSIAlogo-2-2.png?width=200&height=118&name=CSIAlogo-2-2.png "CSIAlogo-2-2")](https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/) 240 S. Westmore Meyers Road, Lombard IL 60148 Copyright © 2026, Chicagoland SIA, LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Chicagoland SIA", "url" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/author/chicagoland-sia" }, "dateModified" : "2022-08-24T16:32:36.115Z", "datePublished" : "2019-03-20T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Chicagoland SIA » How are phones answered at your insurance agency?", "image" : [ "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/31047485_M.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/chicagoland-sia-blog/post/how-are-phones-answered-at-your-insurance-agency", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hubfs/CSIAlogo.png" }, "name" : "Chicagoland SIA, LLC" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/#organization", "@type" : "Consortium", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Lombard", "addressRegion" : "IL", "postalCode" : "60148", "streetAddress" : "240 S. Westmore Meyers Road" }, "alternateName" : "CSIA", "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Illinois" }, { "@type" : "AdministrativeArea", "name" : "Chicagoland" } ], "description" : "Chicagoland SIA is an alliance of independent insurance agencies dedicated to the creation, retention, growth, and evolution of independent insurance agencies.", "email" : "chicagolandsia@chicagolandsia.com", "foundingDate" : "2005", "knowsAbout" : [ "Independent insurance agencies", "Insurance agency growth", "Insurance agency development", "Insurance carrier access", "Insurance agency training", "Insurance agency marketing", "Digital strategy for insurance agencies", "Captive to independent insurance agency transition" ], "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 1005, "url" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/hubfs/CSIAlogo.png", "width" : 1705 }, "memberOf" : { "@id" : "https://www.siaa.com/#organization", "@type" : "Consortium", "name" : "SIAA", "url" : "https://www.siaa.com/" }, "name" : "Chicagoland SIA", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/chicagolandsia/", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicagoland-sia/", "https://twitter.com/ChicagolandSia", "https://www.siaa.com/" ], "telephone" : "+1-630-629-0552", "url" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "Chicagoland SIA", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://benefits.chicagolandsia.com/" } ```