Client Communication
In business it is so common to make contact with a potential client, talk to them about your services and then never hear from them again. They may tell you, “oh, I need to check on a few things but I will contact you next week with more details”. They may tell you this even after they express excitement in the idea of hiring you and working with you. Next week comes and goes and they never respond. There is no e-mail or phone call to update you on the situation.
I think we’ve all been in this situation. It can be tough, and sometimes it feels as though our time is not valued. One thing we can do as Virtual Assistants is to never be guilty of this habit ourselves. For starters, never tell anyone you can or will do something that you may not be able to do. It’s so easy to forget to e-mail or phone someone back, but when you remember to contact them it instills confidence in that person. They will begin to think of you as a person who does what you say you’re going to do. This of course is a good way for people to think about you. Not responding to a client or any person for that matter, makes them feel unimportant. In any business, making people feel unimportant is damaging to your reputation.
I know what you’re thinking, “Phone calls take time and I’m totally swamped”. All I can say to this is that clients, either current or potential, want to be your number one priority. What can be done about this is to try and have a section of the day just to get back to people. This part of the day is a blocked out time, just for returning e-mails or phone calls. It needs to take priority over everything else. Even if this time is only 15 minutes, it will give you time to drop a quick e-mail to some people so you don’t leave them hanging. If you can’t even spare 15 minutes, then hiring someone just for returning calls and e-mails is a must. Often when a potential client is left hanging, they do what everyone else does, they move on. A potential client who moves on is a missed opportunity.
Jason Grass
Virtual Workforce LLC
“Let Us Lighten the Load”
Newmarket, NH 03857
Phone: (603)292-5716
Fax: (603) 292-5914
E-mail: jgrass@vworkforcellc.com
Website: http://www.vworkforcellc.com
July 11, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I like this. Authenticity is so important.
Part of being authentic can be using your own words rather than relying on cliches.
I’ve just blogged on “Let’s CHANGE ‘Management Speak’!” which could be a chance to come up with some new descriptions that use words that suit you. I wonder what you think?
Url: catchthevision.wordpress.com