OK, it is such an obvious point, but I think the world needs a reminder. CALL PEOPLE BACK WHEN THEY CALL YOU. EMAIL PEOPLE BACK WHEN THEY EMAIL YOU.
If I call you and don’t get a reply, I get nervous. My clients react the same way. I had a client call me recently about coordinating a meeting, but I was busy. I emailed him the next day. He sent me an email asking if I got his voicemail. In other words, people want to be called back.
I have a contact form on my website on every page and I try to respond in a timely fashion when I get an email. I frequently hear “wow, you’re the only company that has called me back.” It weird that that’s my advantage over my competition. Calling back is the secret to my success.
I think with email, text messaging, and voicemail we all are too comfortable avoiding actual conversation. As a designer and web developer, I am always on deadline or in meetings, but you can’t avoid people. That’s called blowing people off. Full disclosure: I hate talking to people. I have to force myself to do it because it’s part of my job. It’s also part of being a human being.
The reasoning: “I don’t want to call because I know they just want to ask about their project and it’s not done yet.”
The reality:
- You don’t know why they are calling.
- You still have to talk to the client.
- If you can’t meet deadline there is a problem that needs to be addressed.
- You are trying to avoid an unpleasant conversation…by pissing off the other person.
Returning calls is good business, common courtesy, and just a basic rule of human interaction. This is just a little reminder.
I have a call I need to return right now by the way.
