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Replies (7)
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26804
I run my own business, and find different clients have different preferences. Some love phone calls, others hate them. Some are E-mail dependent, others never check it. Some text with wild abandon, others don't text at all. Therefore, as I develop a relationship with each client, I ask a question about their preferences. When initiating a relationship with the client, I use a combination of E-mail and phone.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
Flexibility is the key.
I have clients that seem to prefer texting (which is a bit stressful sometimes if you spend the bulk of your day behind the wheel and they are bombarding you with texts and getting frustrated with no immediate response). and I have clients that prefer email and some that use the phone. As an Real Estate Licensee (I am no longer a "Realtor") the key is to maintain communication in a variety of forms and see what works best for a given customer. Of course, it's critical to have it manageable to myself too. I used to answer the phone no matter when it rang, but I have decided not so long ago (around time deciding not to be a Realtor) that phone calls can sometimes go to voicemail and wait until I'm done with whatever I am doing. In the not so old days, people left a voice mail and received a return call and that's not a horrible thing.
Texting can be impersonal but it also can be a quick way to communicate a message that might be difficult to understand otherwise. Example, trying to offer a lender's phone number or provide an email address and repeating it over and over because it's difficult to understand on the call is easily replaced with...I'll text you with it so there is no misunderstanding!
I do try to teach some of the younger clients that like to text me to death that it's not reasonable to expect that I am sitting around with my phone doing nothing but waiting for their text. They eventually learn that and appreciate it when I do text back later but learn not to expect a 5 second response. A whole conversation by text is just silly. A business transaction or a real estate transaction is too important to be done that way- but "appointment confirmed for 3pm" or.."I am still waiting" are easily said in a text.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
acutally wrote a hub about communication not so long ago, it was not really about texting but here it is anyway.
- Robin Lynch, "robin398"
- Contributions:1935
Connie, liked your blog. So true. Usually, when I can't get someone on the phone then I leave a voicemail and then shoot off an email to make sure I am covered. Wetdawgs, you are right everybody has their own preference. It is important to ask how they want to communicate with you. One person in particular that I know told me that she only texts people. When I have told her that I prefer that she communicate with me via email or phone she won't do it. She is a business owner. As a business owner, I leave the choice to my client. That's just me and I am building a client base. All's good.
- Wes Black
- Contributions:509
I try to match the communication tool that my client prefers. texting is a great means for getting the word out quickly. I prefer personal face to face time to be able to answer their questions, show I am an excellent listener, and interpret body language of my visitor. To each his own.
- ConnieK_Oklahoma
- Contributions:2899
last year I had a client that did not use a cell phone, would not use fax, did not have email. So...I had to meet with her in person once a week to give her printouts of homes that were new on the market in her criteria and then we scheduled appointment times. One thing that was nice about it, she makes appointments and they are basically written in stone for her and there are no last minute requests to change something (nice). When we were waiting on the answer for her offer it was a bit of a pain getting in touch with her but all in all....it was nice change- now...listing her house might have been a challenge, luckily she had a buyer lined up for her house so we didn't hae to navigate that communication issue.
and Thanks!
I remember another agent saying...they wouldn't work with someone that was so hard to reach, complaining about the woman's inflexibility- but the way I see it, the person with the inflexibility problem is the one that won't work with someone just because of how they need to communicate.
and Thanks!
I remember another agent saying...they wouldn't work with someone that was so hard to reach, complaining about the woman's inflexibility- but the way I see it, the person with the inflexibility problem is the one that won't work with someone just because of how they need to communicate.
- Robin Lynch, "robin398"
- Contributions:1935
You are right we all need to be flexible. We need to learn to work within the parameters of our clients.
I confirmed an appointment tomorrow by sending out a brief text. This client relationship started out by email and text but I always like to meet who i will be working with. In my case, this is a site inspection of a venue where I will perform in March. As a general rule, if the client relationship starts off with an email I always follow-up with a phone call. Event planners like that.
My mom is like your client. She doesn't text, she has email but she is on the learning curve. She keeps all her appointments and writes everything down.
I confirmed an appointment tomorrow by sending out a brief text. This client relationship started out by email and text but I always like to meet who i will be working with. In my case, this is a site inspection of a venue where I will perform in March. As a general rule, if the client relationship starts off with an email I always follow-up with a phone call. Event planners like that.
My mom is like your client. She doesn't text, she has email but she is on the learning curve. She keeps all her appointments and writes everything down.
Communication
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