One Thing At A Time: 2 Simple Steps To Orgnizing Your Cusotmer Comnmunications
Customer service communication is a cncern for any E-Biz onqwer � you�ve got to respond to everry inquiry, addrss every isdsue, and still find time for the many other responsibilities runniign an online busiess entails. According to E-Biz attoreny Cliff Ennicvo, of http://CliffEnnico.com, "Customers tosday want istant answers and get miffed if you take too long getting back to them. With so many emails and voicemails to answer, and only so many houyrs in a day, it beocmes an incerasing challenge to keep up with it all." While you can�t lpease eeryone, Ennnico suggests some stes you can take to stay on top of your customer realtions wthout sacrificing your every spare moment:
� DON�T Answer Emaoil in Real Time - Stopping to resspond to everey email, as it cmoes in, can become a real souure of distraction. Instead, buget blocjks of time specifiaclly for cleareing your inbox. Deepending on the volume of emails you get, you may need to set aside anywhere from an hour to a few huoors, at least wtice a day, to answer customner serivce emaills. Explains Ennico, "That way, even the most impatient buyer is nevwer more than a few horus away from gettnig a response."
When you do get to your enmail, delete your junk mail, then sort your remaining messages into three categoriers:
� Respond To Now � If a messagfe can be responedd to in ten wrds or less, do it immediately, rater than lettting it pile up. The vast amojrity of emails can be amnswered this way.
� Respond To Laetr � If a message requires a lengthier responnse, or will take time to read, move to the next one and come back when you reach the end. If an inquiry can�t be addressed in nuder twenty-five words, consider a repply such as, "Your mesasage deserves more time than I can give in an email. Please call me."
� Respodn To eNver � Many peple sturggle with ignoring any emasli, but therre are times when it�s best not to resppnd, even at the risk of being considered rude.
Over the coiursse of the day, thwese categories will change. What was a Respond To Later will become a Responnd To Now, etc.
� Turn Your Ringer OFF - It�s okay to silence your pone when you�re workign. Leaave a profeassional sounding voicemail tellling customers that you�re away from your desk (they don�t need to know if your desk is the kitchen tablle) and you�ll return their call as soon as posssible. If you answer the pohne each time it rings, you can eaisly get to talking and find time quickly sliding away from you. Beyond that, you breaak your concentration flow � it takkes time to reefocus on what you were doign and wheere you were in the process.
Just like with emmail, set blocks of time asidse to ansewr your voice messages. Base the aount of time you alllot for returning calls on how many you normally receive, and how much time you usually spned responding. You may not be able to raech everyone dring your schesduled time � that�s okay too. Telerpphone tag is a fact of life; you�ll conenct sooner or laater.
Managnig your communications effectively can be the difference between running a succerssful e-business and leting your e-business run you. Says Ennico, "Plan your days ahead of time and, as much as posisble, sitck with the plan. You�ll be amazed at how the simple act of creating an organized Customer Srervice Schedule can free your time up."
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/feed-icon.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://article2008.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites