Mar 25
Critical conversations have moved away from email in recent years. I was thinking about this because I recently exchanged business cards with a woman and immediately emailed her my contact info. These kinds of email introductions used to be followed up happily and quickly that day or within hours/minutes.
Not anymore. Days go by. Inboxes are too full. Spam filters send legitimate emails off the radar screen. It sucks, but it’s true.
So where have these crucial conversations gone?
- Back to the phone – this is good for a number of reasons, and I’ve personally seen this occurring in my own business.
- To SMS – Whether your contacts are close friends or important business associates, text messages seem to get much more attention these days. It’s the first thing people check, wherever they are and whatever time it is.
- Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter (for some people) – I’ve had entire business conversations with people within Linked-In and Facebook.. the FB one was a friend already, however. These tools allow people to strategically filter their discussions by friend groups.
- In person – Still the best way to discuss business.
- Via Skype, IM, Chat and so forth – This could include a Web cam or HD conferencing. Again, the filtering factor of buddy lists and contact circles makes it useful to busy executives.
What’s your experience? Are you having any luck with direct email marketing? Are people you meet and email slow to respond? Please comment below to share your thoughts.
