Phone vs. E-mail: The battle continues
Posted By Amanda Collins on March 2, 2010
Even though you have your phone with you at all times, do you use it to talk? It seems that most people are using those little gadgets as mini-computers – searching the Web, answering e-mail, or, if it’s the phone aspect, texting. How many of us really use the phone to talk? It seems there’s some kind of negative connotation with calling. Even I am often arrested with the thought that I’ll be disturbing someone if I call, whereas a text or e-mail can be retrieved when the receiver is available.
I was at a presentation recently where the value of a phone call was discussed. SendOutCards folks will suggest sending a card a day or a week to your best clients, but this presenter suggested picking up the phone. “How would it make you feel if someone called you just to check in and see how you’re doing,” asked Sandy Rogers of Face-Time Fridays, LLC. The general consensus was that a phone call makes you feel special; an e-mail has become status quo. Even when Constant Contact offers personalized e-mail newsletters, there’s just something about a phone call.
I suggest you consider how you’re reaching out to your clients. Schedule in time to call past clients or check in with people in your database. Let’s turn around the misconception that phone calls are a hassle and actually start talking again. Most of us grew up in a time before computers were everywhere, so I know we all know how to dial.
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Hi, Amanda ~
I find myself frequently having that internal debate – call or shoot off an email? And the answer I come up with is, it depends… on who it is, what the contact’s about, the time of day, how much time I have, etc. I believe the best choice, at least what’s worked for me, is a nice balance… calls or in-person visits, whenever possible, combined with email and social media contact.
On the receiving end, I must confess… if someone’s going to call me, I hope they will be authentically interested in me, in how I’m doing, and not just reaching out because they have a quota to fulfill. I really don’t like being sold to, especially when I like the person and wish that they saw me as more than a potential sale. I appreciate the value of connecting with others and learning and mutually supporting one other. That’s the greatest value of a network.
So, yes, I agree with Sandy Rogers. Pick up the phone to call someone in your network, just to check in and see how they’re doing!
By the way, Amanda, how ARE you doing??
Betina
There is a discussion going on in the Franchise I am with on which is better Constant Contact or Send Out Cards mainly because I am a big fan of Send Out Cards. What I see is that the 2 is totaly seperate and in my mind they do not need to compete with each other. Constant Contact is an impersonal way to keep your business name in front of your clients and even better your prospects. It is very cost effective and building your email list is very easy to do so I am a big fan of Constant Contact.
Now Send Out Cards is totaly different and I use is differently as I do Constant Contact. I use SOC as a relationship building tool and since the process of sending and recieving a card is a personal thing by nature it is a very good tool to create those relationships that are needed in business building.
I do not see where these 2 have to be competition and think that both are vital to business building no matter what type of business you are in.