Phone calls and video calls usage have risen since in person contact is limited. With these tips, I can help you make your next phone or video call a success!

1. Each video call, or phone call, should open with a proper greeting. Especially, if it is someone such as your professor or boss. Saying “Hello” is always the perfect way to start any conversation.
2. After saying “Hello”, ask the person “How are you?” They will appreciate you taking the time to know their current status before jumping straight into the conversation. Also, by doing this you are being considerate of the person’s time. This is a very important part of initiating a conversation. Usually in this stage of the conversation the person will let you know if it is a good time to talk before you proceed with a request.
3. Once you have greeted each other and know the person is available to talk, state the purpose of your call. You can say something such as, “I am calling to invite you to my party” or “I am calling because I was wondering if you can pet sit for me?”
4. State important details related to your purpose for calling. This helps the other person understand as to why you are calling.
5. End the conversation with a proper closing. Although there is nothing wrong with saying “bye!” sometimes it can leave a post awkwardness and can seem rushed. Try saying something such as “Thank you for your time, talk to you soon!” It all depends on the topic of the conversation as well.
6. Another part of ending a conversation that is not in person is knowing when to hang up. There can be some awkwardness when hanging up such as who should hang up first. My personal rule is: the one who calls should be the one who hangs up. I also have the 2 second rule, that is, after you have exchanged farewells, count to 2 then hang up.
7. In general, a conversation should be fair. Each person should be allowed to have their own time to talk. Do not talk over a person. Let them finish their sentence then respond. If you happen to accidently interrupt, apologize then let them finish.
8. For phone calls, sit up straight even if no one is watching. By doing this, you become more focused on the conversation, your tone changes and your voice is heard easily.
9. For video calls, record in a place that is well lit and has neutral tones. This helps so the audience is not distracted by what is going on behind you.
10. Be aware of your environment. Go to a place that is distraction free that won’t cause background noise. 

I hope with these tips you can make your next phone call or video call flow more naturally!