Do you prefer to talk to people by phone, by email, or in person?

If it's the first time communicating with a client, I like to give them a call - just to see what their personality is like. Then, if possible, I love to meet in person (if I can't, I have them send in a photo of themselves!). Subsequent contacts - email is preferable as it is the most efficient method! What did people do before email??

Are you asking about customers, or normal people? With customers, an introductory e-mail is great -- if they send their phone number so I can call them. Then a phone call to find out more about them. Then in person.

With regular people, in person is best. But meeting people on Forums is fun, too. You forgot that one.

Depends on who it is and what it's about??






(after having to interview over 200 people tho in these last few months I'm convinced there is NO substitute for talking with people in-person....absolutely the BEST way)

Hey Liana!

Laura said she has a BLAST emailing, calling, and talking to you in person!!

Definitely in person, especially if I'm talking to someone for the first time.

Telephone and email do not allow me to see expressions or read visual cues that are so important in communication.

I personally prefer face to face meetings and conversations whenever possible to help build relationshsips.

Great Question DJ!

Sean

I initially get contacted by phone or email, but my goal is to get clients into my studio. In the comfort of my studio I love to play host and make them coffee/drinks, then get them real drunk and I can start my presentation. Just kidding, I don't really have any sort of presentation, I just chat with them and make friends.

Oh, but if it's just people - people, not clients, then I usually keep in touch with friends via email. Usually.

Initial is usually by telephone or email but I only really check to see if the date is free. I like to schedule an in person meeting to get to know people and to let them get a feel for me. Followups are all by email or telephone.

I was just asking in general...I'm definitely an emailaholic with business stuff but with "normal people" I for sure want to be face to face.

Definetly in person!!!

But I must say I am also greatful for email as a way to keep in touch with friends who I don't get to see regularly, especially in different time zones. And the phone is always good when you're stuck in traffic.

For sure face to face!!!
I am really NOT a phone person....I get the business done and get off!!
I also really like e-mail cause you can communicate very clear!!
(For instance a lady called me and asked me how much I would charge her for a wedding and I gave her a huge discount because she was super nice and I didn't know how much they could afford!! (I need to get more confidence in that area!!!!)
I would've stuck with my real price if it were over e-mail...then you don't have all those emotions!!

And all in one day! Does "sweet-as-pecan-pie" run in your family?? You two are too sweet! And u need to come visit for-sure *contemplating Atlanta Soiree date...* !!

I prefer open source photo forum chats for all of my communications!

Big Time! We have a winner folks!

DUDE! I so heard about someone, and I think Alisha knows who I'm talking about, who brings B&G's into their studio for showing them their PICtage events for the first time, and then keeps feeding them wine so they order more prints. That's HILARIOUS!

Hmmm...thinking back to the day I bought my wife's engagement ring (Dec. 19, 1996), I must've had 3 glasses of wine in the jewelry store that day!! I don't think I ever told her about that part of my decision process...but, she's happy with the ring. (now, the guy, well, um, she kind of had to take him with the ring...)

Hahaha...that's hilarious!

Oh...and one important communication tool we cannot forget (Alisha just reminded me)...

INSTANT MESSAGING!!

I had a bride book me thru IM a few months ago. Fab-u-lous!! haha. I would have thought that sketchy except she was referred and I trust the person who told her about moi...

Hmmm......love the way you start your posts Dan.
The guy was a nice bonus.

I'm for sure a big fan of meeting with people in person. It's just much more of a natural thing for me, rather than picking up a phone (I hate phones!), or responding to an email (I'm getting much better at this, since I'm always on OSP).

In person rocks, I'm definitely people person. Unless it's a serious conversation that's a must that I'd rather not have, especially if it's with someone I'd rather not see.

Oh dang, starting to dig myself deep

then email or even SNAIL MAIL for sure. Mainly because you can think about what you're going to say first.

Email.

Ahem, time for Laura herself to respond appropriately. By the way, I'm Laura, from the outskirts of crazy Atlanta and according to Tamalyn [my favorite sis], I've been a "lurker." Yes, this is very true, I won't deny it. But I prefer to call it "wise observer."

Thanks, Liana! You're so sugary sweet yourself, like candied apple. A bit late on the reply, I know. I love pecan pie; is this another one of your prized secret family recipe? If so, I just may drop by Sunday!! Will definitely be there for OSP-South on Monday!!! Gettin' mighty chilly out so everyone bundle up for the trip in! Let me know if you need any help or if we should bring something in particular, okay? Can't wait!

And muchas gracias to older sis for posting that photo of me .

Yeah!!! I'm so glad you're coming to join in the OSP-South fun!! U KNOW I'll have something sugary-sweet for ya! It may not be pecan pie but I promise you you won't gag. haahaha.

Seriously tho... we'll prolly be doing stuff on and off all weekend... I need to nail down some final details ...it's right around the corner!!

First time I love to speak with them over the phone.... I can learn so much from them that way.... I do perfer to meet with them in person for an "interview" before they (or I) make a decision, cause I have a choice too in booking them!

After that, I don't mind e mail.... although I try to always answer my phone when I am in the office, its not always possible whem you have a 4 year old at home!

In business definetly e-mail. it's just easier for me to keep track of everything we've talked about. I don't take notes when I'm on the phone with people (unless it's scheduling appointments) so it's nice to just be able to fall back on looking through old e-mails to remember what was discussed.

Plus it lets me plan out exactly what I want to say a bit more than if I have to make a decision on the spot.

For business I always make the first contact by phone rather than email. I want to get them excited about coming into the studio. I can't do that as well through an email. The ultimate goal should be to talk to everybody you can in person. That way they can see how passioniate you are about their wedding.

Jim

Yo Jim! It's so fun to see how everyone does things so different. Would you agree that the ultimate goal is to have them end as a happy client? If yes, and that can be done without meeting with them, then do you think it would make sense to meet with as few as possible?

Don't get me wrong I love people and love just sitting around chatting BUT I prefer to communicate with people via email cuz I'm a super busy mom as is and I hate being rude on the phone to say I gotta go. I usually don't take calls either until after noon cuz I homeschool and I'm horrible at getting back to people no matter what medium, but especially over the phone! Sounds like a confession haha.

David,

I do agree meeting with as few people as possible would be great. And yes the ultimate goal is for them to end as a happy client. For me I really do enjoy meeting with people in person. I think it does take the connection up a notch. Having said that. I have booked many clients by never meeting with them.
As people know my studio goals might be a little different than most. I'm not booking just for me. I'm also booking for my team of photographers. Having the clients come in and see my studio and meet me in person helps build the confidence level of the client booking a memeber of my team. As time goes on my brand will get stronger and stronger and I probably can have my studio manager do my consultations. Which would be great. Then that is one more piece of the puzzle I can delegate out. When people come in on a super strong referral my manager has booked them without me even being in town. I love that.

Jim

for me, email is prefered for most clients. i have found that email is the easiest way to keep track of most everything, list out details/questions/concerns etc - and it allows the client to do the same with me.
of course, for anyone who prefers to talk on the phone, i always give out my number too.
i absolutely meet with clients at least twice in person before their event, but typically, main communication has already happened via email. i find that i like to keep my meetings with clients easy going and detail free, to see their personalities and get them smiling. by the time we meet we've already discussed any issues and are moving on to jokes and laughter!

as far as friends and family communication goes, they all tend to be hanging out at my house anyway so we'll go with face-to-face in that category!

I'm dealing with 2 clients right now who CAN'T WRITE. I mean, they're English-speaking, perfectly normal grew-up-in-America sort of people, but neither one of them can make a coherent sentence.

IT IS SO FRUSTRATING! I've gotten to the point where I just want to tell them their event is now closed and they can't order anything else. Wow, that's SO drastic, but that's how frustrated I am over this.

Calgon take me away. I just wanted to take pictures. I hate business.

I prefer email, just because I am a computer junkie, and I get my fix then.... just kidding (sort of ) Seriously, I am SOOOO busy during the day, that I always think I am going to call someone, and never get to it. All of the sudden I look at the clock, and it is 10:30, and it is too late to call. So, with email, I can send those late at night, or early in the morning when I can't call. I can also think more about what I want to say to a cusotmer.

I do like meeting, but agian I am too busy. If I go out to lunch with a friend, I usually am thinking of all the editing I have to do, or the Chaos my house is in... ect....

#1.In person
#2.Phone
#3.e-mail

The phone ... is my weapon. As a national voice over person with a proven/tested appeal with women 25-49, I get 'em with the phone. If I can phone someone within the first hour of inquiry, the closing rate is quite high. Even if it's just, "I got your eMail and would love to talk about your day, but I'm in another project now - when can we talk?"

Then eMail ... fast response to all questions not answered on phone.

I have to score on these 2 because in-person, I look like Garrison Keillor (not joking - strangers say it to me at weddings all the time). Mike Colon I am not. Leverage your strengths.

i used to be almost entirely email... i was extremely hard to get a hold of by phone and didnt mind at all. that has changed over the past year though. someone i have a ton of respect for mentioned to me that while email is the easiest and most convenient, it is also has the least strength in building a relationship. since i am in a relational business that really hit home to me. ive made a real effort in getting back to all people ASAP and to be available by phone almost always (almost of course, i still have a personal life when the phones go off).

so to me i think i prefer initial contacts by email, then if there is interest in both sides to take it to the phone. i really have grown to like talking on the phone (which is something i never thought id say). im not as super happy with meetings as others at this point, because it can be very anti-cost effective with my time if im meeting all the time, but i do place an importance on meetings as well. i just think the phone and conference calls can accomplish a lot while still being time effective for both parties.

and finally email..... is great for friends. or quick questions from clients. not for building a strong relationship with important people. do that via phone or in person.

Always, meeting people in person. I don't like the distance communications of phone or e-mail, but if I can't arrange an actual meeting with a possible future client then I'll offer both my cell phone and e-mail to them for a conversation and they can use which ever means they want to reach me.

I find that most future clients don't give you a phone number. I guess becasue they don't want vendors to hound them for money.

-BT

I 100% agree with that. I think I'm a pretty good communicator so, it's not that i'm not confident speaking with someone personally... but with email there's a paper trail

Just my 2¢

I'm for sure a face-to-face. I communicate 90% visually, i.e. with my hands and crazy faces so I just don't think I can get to know a client and find out what they truly want unless I'm right there.

I think email is great though for simple information sending.

OO (2 cents)

no joke. i recently had to refute a groom who was threatening to sue becuase i shot candidly when he expressly hired me for "traditional pictures." i was able to break down each of his complaints and refer to a section of contract that proved full knowledge of style *and* the part saying that image content was my sole discretion.


had i spoken with him via phone i would have sat quietly and steam out my ears hearing is long list of complaints. then... i can't say what would have happened but I am thankful for the time to compose my thoughts.

snail mail from Indiana to Hawaii would have been fine too, but he emailed instead.

eB

i've had email and phone conversations that were lively and talkative and when we met with the couple it was a much more quiet conversation.

i like being able to quickly answer questions and refer to images or techniques in person, and my wife is a very outgoing people-person so meetings work well for us while we have more time and are growing our business. the majority of our web contacts email us and it keeps things organized best for us.

the other reason meetings work very well for us i've found out last week is... eavesdroppers. i just married in August and we have a small apartment, and we love to get out, so we meet clients at a coffee shop or restaurant down the road. it's very informal and we can only show select works, yes, but we usually get the servers or a couple of fellow diners in on things.

this last week we had two "we'll think it over" clients in a row which was kind of a drag to have them less than super excited (as most are!). funny thing was, our servers came over as soon as the couple was done and wanted to look through our work after overhearing us and catching a glimpse of books or slideshows. one server thought we were wedding planners after seeing our "catalogs" (albums) and when she finally believed it was OUR photography, she wanted a stack of cards to give her wedding-planner mother, her engaged brother, and a handful of engaged friends. the second "eavesdropper" talked to my wife the next day while making her a coffee and, after seeing our books was mad that she had NOT hired us for her out-of-state wedding. she instead asked if we could make her an album if she got a CD of images and permission. prices were in an email that night.

we're looking forward to meeting clients here in the new year and not having to talk over coffee grinders or an obnoxious mix of music. i do however enjoy getting a crowd in on our work and not just the two across the table.

eB

I personally like to talk on the phone. I find that an easier for of communication then through email or in person. Most of my clients are out of state, so the closest thing to "in person" they get of me is phone.

So there you are...

JK

I agree Josiah!

I'm thinking of offering "iChat Video Consultations" soon. Lots of my recent clients have been Mac people.

in person. cell phones, while useful, are a real pain. i'm the worst about calling people back. and email seems to be just a nice distraction while at work.

the only time i use a cell phone is to talk with long distance friends really...

Face to Face... is always my preferred method! Email is a close second but I am sorely opposed to the phone!!! I just need to hire someone to answer the phone for me!

potential clients: email 1st, phone call 2nd, face to face 3rd.

friends: phone or face to face...and honestly, MySpace as well.


Fe

That's awesome. Definitley a twist on communication when it comes to wedding booking! Hope it works out!

JK

80-90% of my clients contact me via website or email. In this day and age it is so much easier to keep things moving (imho) through these valuable recources. I always meet them though for consultations though as well and have them fill out a studio sheet where I can enter all their info into a database and then through the year I will run specials and all I have to do is grab info from the database and whalla.... a promotional campaign that works (usually)

I'm 100% with Tamalyn on this one.

I typically don't like talking on the phone. Only do this when I absolutely have to or need to get a prompt reply. My preferred method of communication is through email and in person.