Choosing the Right Medium: When Should You Email, Call, Visit or Skype? - Short Attention Span Sales Tip

Despite the fact that there are new mediums to use, the fundamentals of communication have not changed. It is still important not only to be clear but also to choose the right outlet to deliver your message.

In the old days, there was the phone (and prior to 1986, voicemail did not even exist! Often times, the phone rang and rang and rang). Then came the telecopier (a.k.a. fax machine). Next, email. Then cell phones, text messaging, and somewhere in there, Skype and video conversations.

Choosing the wrong medium can be a fatal mistake. Speak a thought and the listener can pick up the inflection of your voice. Commit that same conversation to writing (including email) and you opened yourself up to all kinds of miscommunication.

Currently, it seems that the world has its head down, buried in cell phone messaging, searches and viewing. Engage someone in verbal conversation and their ability to express themselves disappears.

For our customers, salespeople need to understand which communication method to choose,  and more importantly, which to avoid. It all comes down to the message itself. Is it urgent? Personal? Is there room for interpretation? Is it good news or bad?

My daughter has a T-shirt that reads:

Let’s eat grandma.

Let’s eat, grandma.

Commas save lives

Email, call, visit, Skype, text. Choose wisely.

Want more?

The video version of this sales tip goes into more detail.

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Bill Farquharson can be reached at (781) 934-7036 or bfarquharson@idealliance.org