How to Get the Help You Need
| Category: Customer Service | Date: 2001-07-16 |
Its just so maddening.
After sending a request for help FIVE WHOLE DAYS AGO there is STILL no response! This is the Internet! If the webmaster *really* cared about his or her customers, then you would have received a reply a long time ago. Theyve just lost YOUR business!
Its easy to believe that the netrepreneur youve just tried to contact provides the worst customer service in the world ... but have you ever wondered WHY they didnt respond to your email? Youre a nice person! You deserve an answer! And isnt it in their best interests to provide good customer service?
Everyone needs help from others. Maybe youre just starting out on the net and need help, or you could be another webmaster thats looking for a bit of advice.
Either way, just remember: a little common courtesy goes a long way.
Most netrepreneurs are more than willing to help you. But they cant do it alone - they need some help from you first. Most of the webmasters I know try to answer their emails quickly and individually so that they can help you as best they can.
However, it can be a real challenge to help someone who sends emails like the following (NOTE: These are not made up - they are just a sample of the types of emails I receive everyday!):
Please send info by tonight. Im in a hurry.
[Info on WHAT? And I dont check my email 24 hours a day (I like to sleep occasionally)! Ill get whatever information you need to you as soon as I can.]
What do I do next?
[...Do next after doing what? I cant read your mind!]
Please help.
[Id love to, if only I knew what you were talking about...]
It doesnt @#$%&!@! work and I dont know why. What do I do?
[Editors note: Replace "@#$%&!@!" in the above sentence with some colorful swear words] [What doesnt work? Details, I need details! And please ... enough with the cursing...]
I want to start a home business. What do I do?
[Too broad a question - impossible to answer in an email!]
You get the idea.
If you want someones help, then take a few extra moments and follow these simple rules:
GREET THE PERSON.
Sounds basic, right? It IS basic, but its also frequently not done. Just a "hello" is perfectly fine. Its much nicer than receiving an email that loudly proclaims, "I want ..."
DONT MAKE DEMANDS.
Hey, netrepreneurs are people too! If you need help, ask nicely. Youre far more likely to get a helpful response.
BE SPECIFIC.
It isnt enough to ask for "info". When you write to someone asking for their help, tell them exactly what type of help you need and for what product or service. Many netrepreneurs are involved in several different opportunities. Dont ask general questions like "What do I do to start a home business?". Its impossible to answer such a broad question in one email. Instead, say something like, "Id like to start an online business. Where can I find information on what my first steps should be?"
TELL THE PERSON WHO YOU ARE.
Its just polite, thats all. It makes the email more personal.
THANK THEM FOR THEIR HELP.
People start to feel unappreciated if you dont take the time to thank them for their efforts. I often spend an hour or more researching something and writing up a response to someones inquiry ... and then never hear from them again. A quick thank-you note goes a long way, and youll be more likely to get help in the future if you need it. Its all in the interests of developing a good business relationship. After all, you never know if you two will be doing business together sometime in the future!
Customer service is undoubtedly a vital part of any business. Most good netrepreneurs realize this, and they strive to be as helpful as they can. Just please - make it easier on them by being polite, giving the appropriate details on what you want, and sending a simple "thank you for your help". That way youre more likely to get your help, and the netrepreneur feels appreciated. Well all be happier for it!
About the author:
Angela has been fortunate enough to be able to quit her job to work full-time from home. Her website offers articles, tutorials, and tips for aspiring online entrepreneurs ... plus subscribe to her FREE newsletter, The Netrepreneurs Notebook, by emailing buildyourhomebiz-subscribe@listbot.com or visit buildyourhomebiz.com/
:To contact see details below.
angela@buildyourhomebiz.com
http://www.buildyourhomebiz.com/
After sending a request for help FIVE WHOLE DAYS AGO there is STILL no response! This is the Internet! If the webmaster *really* cared about his or her customers, then you would have received a reply a long time ago. Theyve just lost YOUR business!
Its easy to believe that the netrepreneur youve just tried to contact provides the worst customer service in the world ... but have you ever wondered WHY they didnt respond to your email? Youre a nice person! You deserve an answer! And isnt it in their best interests to provide good customer service?
Everyone needs help from others. Maybe youre just starting out on the net and need help, or you could be another webmaster thats looking for a bit of advice.
Either way, just remember: a little common courtesy goes a long way.
Most netrepreneurs are more than willing to help you. But they cant do it alone - they need some help from you first. Most of the webmasters I know try to answer their emails quickly and individually so that they can help you as best they can.
However, it can be a real challenge to help someone who sends emails like the following (NOTE: These are not made up - they are just a sample of the types of emails I receive everyday!):
Please send info by tonight. Im in a hurry.
[Info on WHAT? And I dont check my email 24 hours a day (I like to sleep occasionally)! Ill get whatever information you need to you as soon as I can.]
What do I do next?
[...Do next after doing what? I cant read your mind!]
Please help.
[Id love to, if only I knew what you were talking about...]
It doesnt @#$%&!@! work and I dont know why. What do I do?
[Editors note: Replace "@#$%&!@!" in the above sentence with some colorful swear words] [What doesnt work? Details, I need details! And please ... enough with the cursing...]
I want to start a home business. What do I do?
[Too broad a question - impossible to answer in an email!]
You get the idea.
If you want someones help, then take a few extra moments and follow these simple rules:
GREET THE PERSON.
Sounds basic, right? It IS basic, but its also frequently not done. Just a "hello" is perfectly fine. Its much nicer than receiving an email that loudly proclaims, "I want ..."
DONT MAKE DEMANDS.
Hey, netrepreneurs are people too! If you need help, ask nicely. Youre far more likely to get a helpful response.
BE SPECIFIC.
It isnt enough to ask for "info". When you write to someone asking for their help, tell them exactly what type of help you need and for what product or service. Many netrepreneurs are involved in several different opportunities. Dont ask general questions like "What do I do to start a home business?". Its impossible to answer such a broad question in one email. Instead, say something like, "Id like to start an online business. Where can I find information on what my first steps should be?"
TELL THE PERSON WHO YOU ARE.
Its just polite, thats all. It makes the email more personal.
THANK THEM FOR THEIR HELP.
People start to feel unappreciated if you dont take the time to thank them for their efforts. I often spend an hour or more researching something and writing up a response to someones inquiry ... and then never hear from them again. A quick thank-you note goes a long way, and youll be more likely to get help in the future if you need it. Its all in the interests of developing a good business relationship. After all, you never know if you two will be doing business together sometime in the future!
Customer service is undoubtedly a vital part of any business. Most good netrepreneurs realize this, and they strive to be as helpful as they can. Just please - make it easier on them by being polite, giving the appropriate details on what you want, and sending a simple "thank you for your help". That way youre more likely to get your help, and the netrepreneur feels appreciated. Well all be happier for it!
About the author:
Angela has been fortunate enough to be able to quit her job to work full-time from home. Her website offers articles, tutorials, and tips for aspiring online entrepreneurs ... plus subscribe to her FREE newsletter, The Netrepreneurs Notebook, by emailing buildyourhomebiz-subscribe@listbot.com or visit buildyourhomebiz.com/
:To contact see details below.
angela@buildyourhomebiz.com
http://www.buildyourhomebiz.com/
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