What is the best way to greet a potential customer?

[Leavepreneur]

Let's say you want to approach a potential customer online, what title would you use to refer to them?

1 - Sir (Hi Sir)
2 - Dear (Hey dear)
3 - Bro (Yo bro)
4 - Man (hey man)
5 - Dude (hey dude)
6 - Guy (hey guy)
7 - Mate (hi mate)
8 - Buddy (Hey buddy)
9 - Boss (Hey boss)
10 - Honey (Hey honey)
11 - Mr./Mrs. (Hi Mr.)
12 - Your honor (Hi Your honor)

I personally use 1 and 3, what's the best way according to your experience?

 

[Evelines]

12 - Your honor (Hi Your honor)

 

[Venusaur]

online: Hey honey
in person: Hey sweetheart (A light tap on the customer's butt)

 

[Brick_Wolf889]

I don't think any of those will work the best is to approach him friendly not with sir and so many abreviations .

 

[Leavepreneur]

I don't think any of those will work the best is to approach him friendly not with sir and so many abreviations .

But we need to say something, no? Or just "Hi"?

 

[Brick_Wolf889]

But we need to say something, no? Or just "Hi"?

Just say hello or hi is generally accepted and will not hurt your sales from my experience comapared with sir for example. Some peoples may be put off if you say sir as they will assume you are from 3rd world and do shitty jobs ...... This is what i experienced

 

[SettingSun77]

13 - Dickhead (Oi dickhead)

 

[Stavro]

None of the above.

Maybe I'm biased, but literally every online interaction I've had with people who approach me with an opening that's overly formal or overly familiar have quickly switched to pitching some sort of scam.

Use "Hi/hello [name]", or even just "Hi".

 

[stevemmxm]

Let's say you want to approach a potential customer online, what title would you use to refer to them?

1 - Sir (Hi Sir)
2 - Dear (Hey dear)
3 - Bro (Yo bro)
4 - Man (hey man)
5 - Dude (hey dude)
6 - Guy (hey guy)
7 - Mate (hi mate)
8 - Buddy (Hey buddy)
9 - Boss (Hey boss)
10 - Honey (Hey honey)
11 - Mr./Mrs. (Hi Mr.)
12 - Your honor (Hi Your honor)

I personally use 1 and 3, what's the best way according to your experience?

Out of your list I'd skip "Sir" it can feel cold or even scammy in DMs. "Bro/man/mate" build rapport fast, but only if their vibe matches.
My rule: no title beats the wrong one.
"Hey [name]" or just leading with what they need converts better than any greeting word. What niche are you approaching in?

 

[tomford1]

Let's say you want to approach a potential customer online, what title would you use to refer to them?

1 - Sir (Hi Sir)
2 - Dear (Hey dear)
3 - Bro (Yo bro)
4 - Man (hey man)
5 - Dude (hey dude)
6 - Guy (hey guy)
7 - Mate (hi mate)
8 - Buddy (Hey buddy)
9 - Boss (Hey boss)
10 - Honey (Hey honey)
11 - Mr./Mrs. (Hi Mr.)
12 - Your honor (Hi Your honor)

I personally use 1 and 3, what's the best way according to your experience?

11-Mr./Mrs.

 

[Ghostface]

Use only "hello"..

 

[Vynith]

online: Hey honey
in person: Hey sweetheart (A light tap on the customer's butt)

Good strategy.

Gotta do it right though or you end up like me:

 

[jay2026]

I actually stopped using generic greetings like "bro" or "dear" a while ago. If I know the person's name, I'll simply say "Hi John" because it feels more personal and professional, especially in business conversations. Out of curiosity, has anyone here noticed a difference in reply rates between using a name and a generic greeting?

 

[Stavro]

I actually stopped using generic greetings like "bro" or "dear" a while ago.

In Western English, "hello dear" isn't really generic at all, it's something you'd say to a very close loved one. It's like greeting a salesperson with "I love you".

 

[saferidge]

Hi + First name. Just don't use "Dear." It feels insincere to me.

 

[NirvanaWolf]

Just a Hi or Hello is it's just a username and if I know their name , Hi, First Name.

 

[PattyTheCat]

Hey Sweetie...especially if the customer is a man

 

[Leavepreneur]

Hi + First name. Just don't use "Dear." It feels insincere to me.

Ok dear, it makes sense

In Western English, "hello dear" isn't really generic at all, it's something you'd say to a very close loved one. It's like greeting a salesperson with "I love you".

I supposed it was like that, it's probably normal in some countries, but they translated it to English and becomes weird