[jessiesc]

I always use the business professional standards to begin with:

Mr or Ms as appropriate
Reach to shake hands with Mr. wait Ms. to shake hands first.

When my client/customer tells me to call them "jim" that's when I do so and not before.

It's business etiquette and respectful of each individual. Many customers take exception to being "informal" in business. I know I do until I am comfortable with the person with whom I am doing business.

And I do business in a beach/tourist community where everyone wears shorts and t-shirts and sandals. Except me of course

Good topic.

[Susan Zanzonico]

I almost always use first name, unless I'm responding to an email where they signed off with Mr. or Mrs, etc. or refer to themselves on the phone that way. Miss Z

[docmuller]

I always use first name, I have an informal selling style so I want to be consistent. I used to go with Mr. at first bu I had a few people tell me I sounded so stuffy on the phone and I was so relaxed in person

[jiov]

I think it depends on what you are selling or kind of your business,, some people doesn't want to call them by first name. jessie here is right, call them by first name when they tell you to do so.

[Dwell New Orleans]

I have been taught by a Christian Book author John Bevere that you will get a full reward when you honor other people. It doesn't hurt to honor people with a classy dialogue such as yes sir, yes mam, Mr. and Mrs. etc.

It has really defined who I am as a professional and a person to others, and it has increased repeat business.

[kevinhuntley]

I think you have gotten all the answers you need to make the right choice.

[carlos34747]

I decided to do some internal research in order to decide. I went back and looked at the sales I’ve made from website leads and checked on how I began the relationship. I also checked on how my after-sale relationship was with each person. The results were unanimous. I will use first names most of the time.

I work with customers who have enough money to buy a vacation home and at times even pay cash, but still I found that my relationships are better with the customers I approached by their first name.

Also, my website is rather new and the sales I’ve had so far from it have all been from leads that I approached with their first name in my first contact email.

I think there are other ways to show professionalism, while still approaching a customer by their first name. That will give me a chance to establish a better relationship at the end and hopefully get some referrals.

[REW Angela]

interesting read...

I was taught to always address someone as Mr or Mrs, and I still sometimes can't wrap my brain around calling clients by their first name, especially when they are more age-experienced than I, it just seems kinda disrespectful, and then on the other hand, it usually upsets them when calling them Mr or Mrs 'cuz it makes them feel old!

...can't win ha ha

[jihni]

Originally Posted by jamesww

I always use the first name as it seems to help with instant rapport more than it ever hurts. I feel more confidient going with the numbers.

You're right. First name because it's more natural.

[donnalong]

We use first name on our correspondence.

I was taught to always address someone as Mr or Mrs, and I still sometimes can't wrap my brain around calling clients by their first name, especially when they are more age-experienced than I, it just seems kinda disrespectful, and then on the other hand, it usually upsets them when calling them Mr or Mrs 'cuz it makes them feel old!

We do not use this on correspondence with customers but in the south we have a tradition of addressing someone we know well but want to show respect to with: Mr. or Miss and then their first name like Mr. John or Miss Sandy or whatever.

It probably sounds funny to people not from our area but if a kid I know really well is addressing me and they say Mrs. Long it feels too formal and if they say Donna it seems disrespectful but if they say Miss Donna it shows respect but seems friendly.