I know I usually write and share information about technology but I lately I have been thinking a lot about how our society uses a simple form of communication called "follow up". It is not a difficult topic to understand. Someone makes a request, needs help, or you offer to do something for them. After the action takes place, there is follow up. The technical definition is an action or thing that serves to increase the effectiveness of a previous one, as a second or subsequent letter, phone call, email, or visit.
A completed follow up action should warrant a response from the requester. So we are lacking in two categories here...do you respond when an action is done for you, and are you checking in and following up to make sure the action was done correctly. We move in a fast paced society, especially when you are in the Northeastern states. If someone does something for you, at the very least you should acknowledge that action. It is not as though we do not have communication tools to do that (email, phone, text, facebook, twitter, linked in). I had to get some tech in there somewhere.
How do you feel as a professional when you provide information and never hear back from a client? You call, you email, you call again. No response. At what point do you give up? Here is the key. Don't expect the immediate follow up. How many people actually pick up their phone anymore? If the conversation with you is not a priority, they are not going to answer. If the consumer doesn't have a need, you will not get a return email.
It is all about a dedicated marketing plan to follow up and stay in front of potential clients/customers. When they do want to talk to you, they will call. When they have a need or question, they will email you. Keep yourself in front of them until they ask you to stop. At least when they ask you to stop mailing or calling, you know you are doing your job and following up.
A completed follow up action should warrant a response from the requester. So we are lacking in two categories here...do you respond when an action is done for you, and are you checking in and following up to make sure the action was done correctly. We move in a fast paced society, especially when you are in the Northeastern states. If someone does something for you, at the very least you should acknowledge that action. It is not as though we do not have communication tools to do that (email, phone, text, facebook, twitter, linked in). I had to get some tech in there somewhere.
How do you feel as a professional when you provide information and never hear back from a client? You call, you email, you call again. No response. At what point do you give up? Here is the key. Don't expect the immediate follow up. How many people actually pick up their phone anymore? If the conversation with you is not a priority, they are not going to answer. If the consumer doesn't have a need, you will not get a return email.
