To AIM or not to AIM

I have one client who hates talking on the phone. I mean, someone pretty much has to die to make her want to pick up the receiver. Fortunately, she is an ace e-mailer, but for her, regular e-mail is “so last year.” No, she wants to be AIMed – that’s instant messaged for the unaffiliated – and has been very persistent about encouraging me to join AIM as well.

I’m not sure I want this. When I write, I must have no distractions – especially not from pop-ups. If I have to respond to every client request – the split second I get it – I’d never get any work done. I’m told that I can make myself “invisible” on AIM, but that if I do, my client would get a message saying that I’m “unavailable.” That’s not what my client wants to hear.

If I sign up for AIM, is there any way to keep my client happy – and keep my sanity, too? I’d appreciate hearing from AIM users.

Special thanks to Alan Kravitz, copy writer/editor/consultant who founded The Infinite Inkwell. 

Comments

[deidre]

Alan, Thanks for bringing this up. I say don't do it! I have a few clients who Skype chat or G-chat me and I tell them the best way to reach me for non-urgent matters is via email or phone. I find it too distracting!

Maybe I'm being stubborn, but if it's too protect my sanity and the quality of my work, then so be it.

I feel like sometimes we are expected to be "too" available. This might work for some people, but I personally need to put my foot down. I mean really, if you adopt every single client's preferred method of communication, you'll have information streaming at you every second... and you might as well call youself a data center instead of a copy writer.

Your post reminds me of Tom Tumbush's recent post, Smile for the Camera... another good post asking how available we should be.

I suppose I can see the other side of the equation though... What if this client really wants you to be available via AIM and would consider working with someone else if you weren't?

And an even bigger question might be, how far out of our comfort zones are we supposed to go for our clients?

Thoughts?

[Lynne]

Perhaps you could sign onto AIM but turn down your volume completely and change the settings so that it doesn't alert you when there is a message. Tell your client that you will be available via AIM but will only check for messages once an hour because your work quality suffers when you can not work uninterrupted for at least an hour at a time.

[TurtleBlueBird]

.

Once an hour? How about adopting a modified Tim Ferriss and tell your client you check that stuff once a day?!

Unless, of course, she wants to pay you a handsome retainer for your availablity at pre-determined times?

(What would you say if a client said they wanted 'round-the-clock telephone access to you ... and they seemed to call all the time? New technology, sure, but it's a problem that has been tackled before. Unless she's paying for access to your time, she doesn't necessarily get access to your time.)

[deidre]

That's another good point, Turtle Blue Bird.

[Stephanie M. Cockerl]

I had a client contact me on Christmas Day several years ago. That was the last straw.
I don't like talking on the phone either, but I do pick up the phone when I need clarification.
That being said, its up to both you and the client to lay down the ground rules for communication. Else when things change, you at least have a reference point.

[Lynne]

I see your points. I guess I am always at the computer when I'm working, so clicking the AIM button once in awhile seems like no hassle to me, and wouldn't leave them expecting an immediate response.

[Jezra Kaye]

Greetings, fellow introvert! Your question is, "is there any way to keep my client happy – and keep my sanity, too?"

Unless you're 20 years old or love being interrupted, the answer (IMHO) is, "No."

[Alan Kravitz]

Great feedback here and thanks to everyone for the posts so far. I think I will resist AIM for now.

[color copies]

Communication is needed when you want to clarify something and there many ways to communicate not just in a phone.

[Conrad Winter]

Alan, I wouldn't resist it, but I would temper its use. I mean you want to look like a team player and you don't want to look like a Luddite. Say yes, and sign up, but just don't be available to it during your writing hours. I think it's like any other form of meeting--best scheduled for your nonproductive writing hours. I have an opinion about IM in general. But it seems like the crux of the issue here is that your client is going to be taking up your time and limiting your availability. If it's for something like a brainstorm session or a round of feedback on copy, it should be billable (which isn't such a bad thing.) However, I understand your reluctance about not wanting to get sucked into the black hole of "just being online for questions that come up in the day." As a writer, that will surely ruin your life.