Why I stopped texting with business clients

I had to end texting with clients this past year. I even put it in my signature in my Outlook stating

“I no longer text with clients”.

 Why is that you might ask? Texting is so awesome and fasst!  Texting Anxiety might be a part of it. For you and me.

I already am on my phone all day doing support calls and incoming requests. As well, I am in my Outlook managing the emails and of course, I’m doing billable work with clients remotely. Adding on texting added on some more struggles and yes, anxiety. I felt if I didn’t text them back fast enough, they would get frustrated. Many would text me again, “are you there?”. It created a sense of urgency that didn’t work for me and my business model.

Example

Client would text me “Lisa my outlook won’t open”

Me, “who is this”

Client “Jack”

Me, “Jack who”

Client “Jack Jones”

…and then it continues…I have to look up the client, see what work I have done for them, see if they are a prepay and then try to then do the rest via text and do my other business duties….call clients, email clients and do remote jobs. It was getting brutal.

More reasons…

Also, I’m 47 years old. My eyes can’t take reading my iPhone all day and then going back to my huge work monitors. I had to start wearing reader glasses, now that I don’t text, no more readers. YAY.

Also, clients who texted and when I texted back quickly, I think felt they could jump in front of the queue because they were texting. Texting gave an impression of urgency. I need you NOW!!!

I caught on to this behavior and started replying with “I’m sorry I don’t text please email me at Lisa@callthatgirl.biz and then they would have to email me. After I changed my signature, the texts ended almost immediately. I was so relieved! I don’t even like texting with friends. I am somewhat offended with hearing good news over text vs a phone call, but hey…I can’t change the world here.

What I learned…

• It’s not rude to tell clients how to best work with you. If texting is not for you, skip it. 
• Not everyone should be texting. Those that text with “shortcuts” of acronyms I don’t know, somewhat bothers me. I have to go to Urban Dictionary to translate. SMH, yeah…I didn’t know that one, I don’t know many of them! (shaking my head). 
• There is not much emotion missing in texting and that scares me a bit. 

Category: Outlook Support