24 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
24 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

I Respond To All Of My E-mails Nearly Hourly - You?

by Corey Geer
21 replies
Personally, I leave my Gmail account open and I answer them as I see them come in, unless I'm doing something very important or am in a business meeting with someone.

However, I've found that the majority of people I meet that either contact me or I contact take forever to respond. I'm talking days or even up to a week to respond. A lot of us spend a good deal of time at the computer working on whatever it is we're working on, I would think any time a client is e-mailing you, it would become your #1 priority to respond to that e-mail.

I understand at times people get busy but sometimes I just wonder if they're trying to appear more busy than they actually are or if they just slack on answering e-mails and replying to people.

Does anyone have similar experience or issues like this? As you can tell I have a lot of free time right now until I get one of the 7 people that I might be working on things for to get a hold of me.
#emails #hourly #respond
  • Profile picture of the author JasonRH
    At my day job, I click over to Outlook whenever a notification pops up and try to respond right away...unless it is an inquiry that requires some action on my part before I respond.

    I also keep my GMail open for personal e-mail and my IM and freelance projects. I don't "check" my email so much as look for the little number that indicates I have new messages...then I pop over to look at them right away. Same thing on my phone - I'll open up a message as soon as I see it, and respond immediately if possible.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895372].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Gray
    Hi,

    I normally answer my emails immediately due to the fact that i have Outlook open constantly however i think its bad practice as more and more its distracting me from really concentrating on whatever else it is that i am doing.

    From now on i will be checking my emails in the morning, lunch time and close of business and thats it.

    Waiting one week for a reply to a business email (or any other kind of email for that matter including support) is unacceptable in my opinion and shows either laziness, indifference or lack of professionalism.

    Mark
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895378].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bonadza Vojo
    I have faced this as well, and it can be very distracting, and disrupts what you're currently working on.

    Check your e-mails periodically, once or twice per day let's say, your contacts will still get a timely answer, and your work will be more organized.
    Signature
    BONADZA.COM - Premium Media Buying Platform
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895410].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    I respond emails instantly unless I am in the middle of coding...
    Signature



    Moderator's Note: You're only allowed to put your own products or sites in your signature.

    Signature edited.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895418].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author fedor50
    I admit it can sometimes take me a good bit of time to respond to my emails because sometimes I could be at business meetings, spending time with my family, etc. I don't always have my laptop around me 24/7 But I do make it a priority to respond to every single email that I get. I may not respond in 24 hours but you will get a response from me.
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895430].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
    You can quite often get instant responses in South Africa for personal email with Blackberry being very popular here. I have found the same thing with businesses taking longer to reply. Strange that but its across the board.
    Signature
    Baadier Sydow
    Budget Furniture

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895432].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
    24/7 x 365 Customers are always shocked that they received a response within minutes.


    Arnold Stolting
    Signature
    Arnold Stolting - Stolting Media Group
    "I LOVE The Song! The Vibe Is Positive And Firm!" - Kymani Marley. (Son of Bob Marley).
    "Very High Quality!" Jeremy Harding - Manager / Producer. Sean Paul.
    "They Are FANTASTIC!" - Willie Crawford.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895440].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
      Originally Posted by stoltingmediagroup View Post

      24/7 x 365 Customers are always shocked that they received a response within minutes.


      Arnold Stolting
      Same here.

      I actually had a response not too long ago from someone in here along the lines of, "OH WOW! You actually respond in the same day!"

      I was kind of shocked myself, like really? Are people that careless and unprofessional that they just ignore clients or refuse to respond in a timely manner?
      Signature

      Skype: Coreygeer319

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895531].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author candres79
    I only answer emails twice a day... Learned how to manage my time more efficiently in the 4 hour workweek... Awesome book if you have not read it I highly reccomend it!
    Signature

    Regards,
    Candres
    Powerful Internet MarketingPowerful Internet Maketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895549].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Greedy
    4 times a day.

    I need to my focus sharp.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895923].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    I check my service desk 3 times a day and email usually the same.
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895939].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I have my emails coming to my phone - so anything that i need to respond to or deal with immediately gets done. Benefits of iPhone and Android.
    Signature
    ==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6895984].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jox51
    I try to check my emails at least once a day.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6896078].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Joe R Piercey
      Also a 4HWW fan.

      I check once a day. One of the best things Ive ever done for productivity.

      I find that if I check email when I wake up I'll be distracted throughout the day.

      I usually check and process the whole inbox at 5pm daily. Otherwise I'm at the mercy of my inbox.

      Unless I'm doing a product launch or need to be able to respond quickly.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6897715].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dan Lyons
    Although I have always had my emails running in the background, my coach recently advised to check only once per day. Ouch.

    Not sure how I'll cope with that one, because they're the first thing I do in the morning and generally the last before I go to sleep.

    Sad I know
    Signature

    Dan Lyons

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6898080].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SethTheUBotGuy
    If you have customers that need a response within a few hours, find a VA or someone to do it for you.

    You should NOT be answering emails yourself that quickly, unless you've just started a new business, a new promotion, or a new relationship with someone. And even that you should be able to explain to your VA.

    Everyone in this thread who answers emails as soon as they get them:

    How to Check E-mail Twice a Day… or Once Every 10 Days

    Read it!
    Signature
    UBot Studio - Sell Products, Make Money, and Automate your Marketing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6898672].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mosthost
    I respond pretty much instantly. No point putting it off
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6898752].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author matthewthomas
    Originally Posted by GhostWriting View Post

    Personally, I leave my Gmail account open and I answer them as I see them come in, unless I'm doing something very important or am in a business meeting with someone.

    However, I've found that the majority of people I meet that either contact me or I contact take forever to respond. I'm talking days or even up to a week to respond. A lot of us spend a good deal of time at the computer working on whatever it is we're working on, I would think any time a client is e-mailing you, it would become your #1 priority to respond to that e-mail.

    I understand at times people get busy but sometimes I just wonder if they're trying to appear more busy than they actually are or if they just slack on answering e-mails and replying to people.

    Does anyone have similar experience or issues like this? As you can tell I have a lot of free time right now until I get one of the 7 people that I might be working on things for to get a hold of me.
    All I have to say is MAJOR DISTRACTION. no one makes money through checking their e-mail ALL the time. honestly I've found that if someone really needs me they will call my office or my Skype. Everyone that has my e-mail has either 1 or both of those and I only look at my e-mail at the start of my day, at lunch, and at the end of my day.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6898783].message }}

Trending Topics