Texting Best Practices

Here are a few tips and tricks we tend to forget about when texting!

• Identify yourself! 
  • If you're sending a message to someone new, remember to identify yourself so you don't receive a "Who's this?" response.
• Don't be a pest! 
  • Texting should be our safe world, free of spam and annoying telemarketers. If you're attempting to send a message that requires two, three, four separate messages, ask yourself... ‘Would this many messages annoy me?’ Often times the answer is YES. If what you're looking to do is deliver a lot of information in one tiny text... go check out the Mobile Web Page section.
• Check your timing. 
  • Be considerate with the time you send your messages. If sent during dinner or in the middle of the night, they will be annoying like a telemarketing call!
• Spelling and grammar. 
  • There is no "undo" feature for text messaging. Make sure ‘your’ and ‘you're' are proper grammar and spelling are correct before sending a message.
• Relevant messages only. 
  • Keep contacts engaged with relevant information. If I don't have an appointment this weekend, I won't need to know about the parade that's happening. Make sure your text is relevant to the sender and you'll keep them engaged.
• Keep your workstation open. 
  • This will allow you to respond timely to requests to reschedule appointments.
• Open-ended questions lead to engagement! 
  • If you keep your questions open-ended "Is everything okay?" "Let us know how you're doing.",  you're more likely to get a response, thus engaging in conversation!
• Secret reactivation tool:  The Birthday Club! 
  • When someone replies with a "Thank You", get in there and have a conversation with them! Especially if they have not been in the office in a while, this is a great chance to connect and ask how they're feeling.  You might be able to help!