I’ve always been a technical geek type. I owned a computer that my father built in the mid 1980s before I had a microwave or VCR – and long before you could walk into Best Buy and purchase a computer. So, I’m surprised that it’s taken me this long to begin blogging, but that’s another story.
I had a transaction with a Realtor who would not return my e-mails or phone calls, although I felt she was a competent professional and that we would have a pleasant transaction. Filled with frustration during a meeting where I could not call her again, I decided to text-message the Realtor. To my surprise, she responded within seconds. Voila! I had figured out how SHE chose to communicate!
I had a transaction with another Realtor who preferred to text-message as a form of communication. Then a Buyer. Then a Seller. I’m proud to say that I’m now a pretty fast two-thumb texter and have gotten over my insistence to use proper spelling and punctuation while text-messaging.
Every client and industry professional has a preferred method of communication. Me? I hate to talk on the phone – I’ve been an e-mail addict since it became available.
I attended a seminar a few weeks ago hosted by the local chapter of the Association of Women in Communication. We were there to learn more about Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, etc. One of the presenters was a young professional that worked for a local television station, and he said “I don’t have time to read your three-paragraph e-mail when I can read 40 tweets in less than a minute.” He needed news and he needed it fast – he worked on deadlines.
So, now as I am tweeting and blogging, yet still taking calls from those who choose to speak on the phone, I am reminded that it is our obligation to our clients and industry professionals to identify how THEY prefer to communicate and be flexible to accommodate that need.
Thankfully my nieces taught my mother how to text-message. So, now when I drive 50 miles home after visiting her, I can text-message her that I’m home safely and don’t have to make that phone call. Hurray for technology!
