Securing Client Contact Information!

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No beating around the bush on this one...after a complete computer crash today!

 

Fortunately I backed everything up and know how to restore and re-install programs.

 

But, here's the point I'm getting at....

 

...as it's tied to something much more important than hardware and software.

 

You MUST collect your prospective clients contact information and secure it!

 

This is CRITICAL!

 

How?

 

First and foremost, you must ASK PERMISSION to contact your prospective clients.  If you don't do this first, and grab their e-mail off their Twitter or Facebook account then send them a message, this is SPAM.

 

Other than the fact that this is just not professional...

 

This can cause your E-mail provider, your opt-in provider, etc., etc. to cancel your account.  Losing contact information is worse than losing a client! 

 

If a prospective client shows interest in you and your services, contacts you in any way, a Tweet, private message on Linkedin or Facebook, here's what you do:

 

Send them a message back (on the social media site) as soon as possible asking them if you can contact them via E-mail, have them opt-in to your mailing list or Ezine, etc., etc.

 

Getting their (the prospective clients) information in a more secure manner is critical to your business.

 

Why?

 

What if one of you, (either you or your prospective client) is removed from the social networking site for some reason?  You've lost all contact with this person and any messages you've traded back and forth.  (I have a lot of experience in this....chuckles.)

 

Now, you've got to find this person (if you remembered their name,) and begin the process all over again. 

 

This can cause hard feelings as well. 

 

If for some reason you get removed or your account is hacked and you’ve had to create a new one, this new prospective client notices all of a sudden you are gone, what do you think is going on in their mind?  I'll give you a hint, and it's never positive:

 

Why did Kris 'un-friend' me?

 

Is his massage service legit or even legal?

 

Did I do something wrong?

 

Is he pissed off at me?

 

None of this is good for you reputation, your business, etc., etc.

 

Let's get back to how to ask permission.

 

Here's how I do it so there is no question as to what is occuring.

 

Let's say 'John' is interested in my professional massage services and has contacted me via Facebook.

 

The first thing I'll do is send him a polite message back, thanking him for contacting me and answer any questions he may have asked. 

 

The very next thing I'll do (as this is a massage client) is to ask his permission to contact him via E-mail. 

 

I'll even make it really simple for him, letting him know WHY I want to contact him via E-mail, (one of us may lose contact on the social network site, E-mail is much more reliable, etc., etc.,) as well as provide an exact statement for him to use, such as:

 

Kris, I give you permission to contact me via E-mail.  John Doe

 

John can then copy and paste this line, re-type it, whatever, but I need those words from him in the message prior to contacting him using another method other than the social networking site. 

 

I even go one step further and copy and paste the discussion, especially his acceptance of me sending him an e-mail, to a Word document or such.  (With the perspective client’s permission, of course!)

 

I actually take a picture via iPhone of the acceptance, but I'm not getting into that at the moment.

 

I want no question as to his allowing me to E-mail him.

 

Now, for those who want to receive further information from me, I'll direct them to my opt-in box on my ezine, mailing list, etc., etc.  Everyone already knows that if you take action to agree to receive information, it's all OK.  The client is willingly choosing to acquire the information.

 

Now I do realize I've skipped over a bunch of 'tips' here, but wanted to get this out ASAP.

 

Have a beautiful Monday!

 

Kris