A few weeks ago, my wife and I were watching TV and she suddenly asks me: “Did our child really just text me from her playroom?” That rhetorical question preceded her shouting to my 12-year-old daughter, only 30 feet away: “If you want to tell me something, get off your butt and come tell me!”
All of you have experienced something similar over the past 10-20 years. These scenarios have created a perception that texting is a weak form of communication. Many people, some supported by data, claim that texting is damaging our kids’ abilities to communicate in person. Others complain that it’s removed emotional context. Salespeople say that it’s used as a tool to block them from real conversations. While I believe all these opinions are valid, I don’t think texting is that bad. In fact, from a salesperson’s perspective, it can serve as an amazing tool to make thousands of tiny touches throughout the year that help deepen relationships. Below are five (sort of six) ideas on how to use text messaging to improve your career and relationships.
- Random texting. I love this idea and use it often. Whenever I’m in an Uber or taxi, I start randomly texting people. I put no thought into who – I just think of someone and connect with them. It might be someone I haven’t contacted in 20 years or someone I regularly see. I put no rules to it – I just send a bunch of texts to people as they come up. It’s crazy the number of discussions, plans, and business have started because of this simple idea.
- Morning texting. Like #1, every morning pick one person to text. This idea is more planned though. Beginning each week, select three to seven people from your contacts list to text. It doesn’t have to be every day, but at least three days a week to keep it natural. The reason for the added structure is because you want to do more than just say hi – you want to make their day. Write something kind and complimentary. Don’t ask for anything and don’t expect a reply. Just text them something that will make their day!
- Texting following a voicemail. Most people don’t leave voicemails today. I do the opposite. I leave long detailed voicemails and make fun of myself for it. I then text them letting them know that I just left a ridiculously long voicemail that has all the info they need. This technique saves a dozen back and forth emails and captures the emotional context with the voice. You must follow with a text, though, or they won’t catch your voicemail.
- Supporting cold calls. Before dropping by, send your contact a text that you’ll be in the neighborhood this afternoon and plan to drop off “something valuable”. If they can’t see you, drop off the info anyway, and then text them again after leaving: “I left the article with Larry up front.” After sending emails, text letting them know so it doesn’t get lost in their inbox.
- Follow-ups and check-ins that are more personal. When working with a group of people, it can be advantageous to send personal text messages to individuals. A simple “Thanks for the input today – very helpful. I’ll find out about the load capacity and let you know.” can be a real catalyst to a trusting relationship.
- A million other things. Everyone knows the basic benefits of texting: confirming, arrival estimates, quick messages, etc. No need to spend time on these obvious things.
In conclusion, like most things in life, texting is a phenomenal tool that has many negative outcomes when misused (e.g. never looking other humans in the eye, not calling and talking, etc.). Don’t let the bad users of texting smear your opinion of the tool – texting has deepened hundreds of relationships for me over the years, with many people that I would not have contacted by phone or email or any other method. Use it. Don’t think you’ll turn into my 12-year-old daughter texting her mom from 30 feet away!
