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Chat--love it or hate it?

by AustinLadyTam
22 replies
This may seem slightly off topic, but I wanted to get other copywriters' feedback on internet chat.

I hate it.

When I'm working, there's nothing more annoying than the little box that suddenly pops up on my screen, complete with alert sounds, demanding my attention like a 2-year-old. (Yes, I know I can ignore it and it will go away, like letting calls go to voicemail.)

Maybe it's because as a writer I like to plan out my words...but I really hate chat. (And it cuts into online dating, too, since everyone else seems to take it as a given that everyone loves chat.)

Anyone else hate chat? Don't get me wrong--I'll do it, since many clients love skype and other chat platforms. But I strongly prefer email and phone. Maybe it's an age thing.
#chatlove #hate
  • Profile picture of the author Arton
    Well, i hate chat! It's old...
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  • Profile picture of the author Hans Klein
    Hi Tam,

    I normally shut the thing off or put it on "invisible" status when I am working. This way I don't get interrupted.... and if I need to start a conversation with a client I can do this. But, yeah, if you just leave it on all the time it can be a major distraction. Also, you can shut of the sound so you don't hear it whenever somebody types in a message (I believe).

    But, despite the distraction I still like skype a lot. A time-saving use for it is it gives you fast access to clients when you need to ask a quick question or pick their brain.

    I like email as well because there isn't an expectation that you'll sit around and wait for the recipient to reply... if you just need to send a link, document or some type of information where you don't really need a reply.

    -Hans
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    • Profile picture of the author ContentCreatorzLeague
      Hi Tam,

      Personally, I would hate it but we have no option. If a client wants to discuss, something about some work then you have to be on there, to answer him .

      Though, "Invisible" mode is the best way, you can ignore it.


      Cheers
      CCL
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      • Profile picture of the author AustinLadyTam
        Originally Posted by ContentCreatorzLeague View Post

        Hi Tam,

        Personally, I would hate it but we have no option. If a client wants to discuss, something about some work then you have to be on there, to answer him .
        I know! I guess part of what I don't like is that it puts you on the spot to come up with an answer right then and there...when sometimes it's best to take time to think things over.

        On the "ignore" option, I forget about it because there are so many ways to chat now. I'd have to turn of skype, google chat, and who knows what else. Is there a global "turn off ALL chat" setting in Windows 7 for a PC?
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      • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
        Originally Posted by ContentCreatorzLeague View Post

        Personally, I would hate it but we have no option. If a client wants to discuss, something about some work then you have to be on there, to answer him .
        Depends on what expectations you set up front.

        Alan Weiss's best-paying clients know that he'll call them back within a few hours.

        Dan Kennedy's best-paying clients know that they will never get his personal phone number.

        If you don't train people to think more highly of your time, then they'll assume that your value is that you are a servant lackey who bows, scrapes, and asks "how high is the next hoop, Sir?" the instant they pull your choke chain.

        If you are personable, friendly and love to chat, make sure you're charging extra for your availability.

        If you vant to be left alone, make sure you're charging for your results, building moats and charging very high prices for every minute that someone is allowed across the drawbridge.

        Neither option is right or wrong. It depends on you and your market.

        Personally, I like a "response within one business day" clause. If people have some urgent fire, they can pay someone else to rush over there this damn second.

        Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Cherilyn Woodhouse
    I hate chat. I'm always on invisible on everything, and I rarely even open Skype to see if I missed any conversations... I just don't like being "on demand" like that.

    I prefer my email. I keep office hours Monday-Friday, and email respects that. Email doesn't flash or blink at you until you answer it, you can flag it and respond tomorrow when you're back in the office. Plus I can keep records of all communications MUCH easier that way.

    My clients know that the fastest way to get ahold of me is via email, and they know my office hours. They know that if I receive an email after office hours, they won't get a response until the next business day. That's just how it works, and they respect it and appreciate that I'm up-front about my availability.

    We live in an on-demand society, but when you start running your business that way... As a one-person operation, you're just asking for trouble. All of a sudden you'll end up with every one of your clients chatting with you at once, for hours on end, and never actually getting any paid work done.

    Chat is a distraction, I'm completely with you - it drives me nuts!
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    I don't care much for chat but I do it.
    I'm growing to like Skype and getting
    better at using it.

    I like what Raybould said about Skype:

    "Every time I get the bloody thing to
    work, it feels like a small miracle.."

    That's pretty much how I am w/Skype calls,
    like a dumbass calling into a radio show:

    "Am I on? Can you hear me? Tap tap tap..."

    Now, when I go into work mode, I call it
    "flying low and fast".

    I go off the grid completely. I don't take calls,
    I don't check email, I don't hit social media.

    I completely UNPLUG from the matrix so that
    my attention is completely undivided.

    Eventually, I come up for air, check in everywhere
    and follow up with everyone, blow off some
    steam on forums, twitter, facebook, etc.

    All things in moderation, right?

    Brian
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
      Good grief. Just close your chat sessions down. Nobody can bother you that way.

      Problem solved.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
        Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

        Good grief. Just close your chat sessions down. Nobody can bother you that way.

        Problem solved.
        Well, sure, but what about posting in forums like this? It takes up so much time. How can I make the forum stop forcing me to read and post in threads?
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        • Profile picture of the author summer07
          People who can get back on track despite distractions seem to enjoy and profit from chatting and instant messages.

          I'm not one of them.

          If I get interrupted, it can take 20 to 30 minutes to get back on track, so it's literally not cost effective to allow it.

          Really, its a matter of brain physiology -- not character or will power -- and people are built differently. It's important to find what works best for you, then allow yourself to work within that framework.

          I use email and phone, and the phone calls are scheduled at a set time, with a time limit, as if they're in-person meetings.

          Email works great because both parties have a written record of correspondence. I check it whenever I take breaks from writing, and am often able to respond to clients within a few minutes or a couple of hours of their requests. But I decide when I take the breaks, so it doesn't interrupt my work flow.

          Phone calls work well for brainstorming, for clients who don't like to write emails and for clarifying ideas that would take too much email back-and-forth time.

          I wouldn't and couldn't agree to keep a chat line open during my work time. But that's just me.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
          Originally Posted by KenStrong View Post

          Well, sure, but what about posting in forums like this? It takes up so much time. How can I make the forum stop forcing me to read and post in threads?
          That's simple Ken. Open up 10 different chat clients and give your IDs to everybody you know. Better yet, post them here.

          You'll be so overwhelmed with conversations, you won't have time for forums.

          Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    I dont mind it but anyone I talk with knows I will limit my conversations to a minimum as I am "at work". They also know to send email if it is not 100% urgent.
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  • Profile picture of the author johndouglas
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  • Profile picture of the author robsenf
    God bless ya. Right there with you. So much so that I don't do it at all anymore. Too much of a distraction and if you don't get right back with that person, then you end up looking like a jerk, when god forbid, you might actually have important things to do. So good for you girl, I totally agree.
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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    I must be cut from a different bolt of cloth.

    Almost every time I get the chance to chat or talk with a Client or Partner, I make money.

    I appreciate everybody's perspective, and I know some people insist on "quiet time."

    But for me, I look forward to the conversations and the opportunity to help. It doesn't take much time for me.

    For instance, I was writing at about 3:00 AM the other morning.

    I got a Skype from a Client in the UK. It's probably 10:00 AM there at the time. His Client's product launch is sucking wind. He asks me to review and recommend.

    I did. And they followed through and executed. It turned around. Their Client was happy.

    Is that an intrusion on my time? Yes. And I relish it. I want my Client to look like a hero in the eyes of their Client.

    Now where do I make money?

    Gee, this Client has referred me two businesses in the last week.

    I say: Leave your IM active. If you're there, you're there. If you're not, your not. If you don't respond, you will when you get back.

    But admittedly, this is from a fanatically, obsessed marketer.

    - Rick Duris
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeHumphreys
      I rarely use it or have it turned on. Like Brian said, I'm usually "unplugged" from the social media matrix.

      In fact, I couldn't even tell you my chat or Skype handle... I'd have to look it up and get back to you.

      When I do use it, it's to talk to a client or prospective client.

      Personally, I prefer using email... using paying clients, I'll get on the phone.

      In all instances, there's usually a set time and agenda to go over. Otherwise, that 15 minute talk turns into 90 minutes in the blink of an eye.

      My 3 cents,

      Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author DCromwell
      Originally Posted by RickDuris View Post

      I must be cut from a different bolt of cloth.

      Almost every time I get the chance to chat or talk with a Client or Partner, I make money.

      I appreciate everybody's perspective, and I know some people insist on "quiet time."

      But for me, I look forward to the conversations and the opportunity to help. It doesn't take much time for me.

      For instance, I was writing at about 3:00 AM the other morning.

      I got a Skype from a Client in the UK. It's probably 10:00 AM there at the time. His Client's product launch is sucking wind. He asks me to review and recommend.

      I did. And they followed through and executed. It turned around. Their Client was happy.

      Is that an intrusion on my time? Yes. And I relish it. I want my Client to look like a hero in the eyes of their Client.

      Now where do I make money?

      Gee, this Client has referred me two businesses in the last week.

      I say: Leave your IM active. If you're there, you're there. If you're not, your not. If you don't respond, you will when you get back.

      But admittedly, this is from a fanatically, obsessed marketer.

      - Rick Duris
      I agree with everything there, Rick. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Sometimes I wonder if I'm sabotaging myself. I've read so many recommendations to shut everything down and disengage, to avoid the distractions of email and to keep IM sessions shut down while working - all in the name of productivity.

      I can't do it. I've tried. My outlook is always running in the background set to pull my email every minute. Skype is always on, AIM most of the time. If the computer is on they're up.

      I'm always getting nudges from clients as well as phone calls and I let them all know that I work from home.

      They have my work cell, they have my Skype. Thus far noone has abused it but I know they appreciate the ability to contact me at any time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jamian
    Most of us hate it.. but we need to accept that in some instances it will hep people- probably not to us but to the other visitors of the site. We have nothing to do with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author sacredhoops
    I enjoy chatting with and it's a great, quick, and effective way to connect with my clients and keep them happy. Though, I will cut the chat off if they do not respect my time, but most of them are just as busy as I am and want to keep to strictly business and professional so it's pretty short and to the point.
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  • Profile picture of the author gchesta
    I also do hate chat. I really think it's a waste of time. The best thing though is to make sure that you are invisible. That helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author meph
      I get distracted easily whenever chat windows pop up and start bouncing.. a 15 min article would take me an hour. Helps to appear offline when I'm writing something.
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  • Profile picture of the author AustinLadyTam
    I have to say, RickDuris' advice makes the most sense to me, along with what Mr. Enthusiastic and Brian McLeod had to say.

    I need to remember that chat is a form of marketing, and to a certain extent, it's not about my comfort zone. It's about effective marketing. Of course, if I get uncomfortable to the point that I cannot write, then I've opened up my accessibility too far.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jinil Sung
    Banned
    Wow, I didn't notice that chat popup windows bother that much.
    As long as the focus on your current window is not lost, it is feeling like I am more connected in this lonely world. ^^)
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