I thought that with all the texting going on these days that picking up the phone and calling someone had become a rare thing. After all, did you ever notice how many – or, I should say, how few – people want to give out a phone number? Maybe it’s because of all the darn robocalls, but still it seems like those digits are kept so close to the vest! We all know the scene where you look at a table full of people at a meal and they’re all on their phones, but that’s gazing into them and not talking on them.
However, I was shocked last week at something that truly was noticeable by its absence, and I don’t mean phone calls.
A lot of people don’t make phone calls because they feel it’s easier to hide behind email. I know, I know. And maybe that’s a blog for another time. But, whether you’re writing to someone because you’re trying to avoid having to talk to them on the phone or not, it starts with having to know someone’s email address.
Did you read my blog two weeks ago when I talked about not finding what I’m looking for online? Go check it out after you finish this one, but, you’ll see that I was referring to certain people not having, say, a Twitter account or a link to a social media platform, or their bio being out of date. But, making it really (really) difficult to find an email address for you? Or for your manager, publicist, or flat out anyone on your behalf?! As they say on the NFL show on ESPN, “C’mon, man!”
Since I host “Now Hear This Entertainment,” I find myself in a lot of podcasting circles and I’m amazed at when I hear podcasters say that they think that no one is listening to their show because they don’t get any emails from listeners. (Umm, maybe it’s because they’re driving while they’re listening to your show and/or they just flat out have nothing to say!) So I say, “Look at your stats. Whether it’s 100 thousand or 100 people, you’re getting listeners. If you weren’t, then your stats would show zero.” And similarly with recording artists. People are streaming, downloading, and purchasing your music. You get the sales reports from CD Baby and/or other sources. But – yup, there’s a ‘but.’
If you act like you’re an “A” level celebrity that nobody should be able to get a hold of unless they know somebody who knows somebody, then of course you’re not going to hear from anyone. But if you’re just flat out inefficient at running your own website and/or social media to the point where you have left off some kind of email address for people to write to you at, then yes, you will be one of the people who will say, “I never hear from any fans, listeners, etc.”
Now you’re nervous, right? The good news is, it’s all just a few mouse clicks and edits away. Do yourself a favor and check. Heck, maybe you put an email address in all the right places – but that was two-and-a-half years ago when you first set it all up and your email address has since changed and you don’t look at that old one anymore.
And if you think it’s all a mess (and not just a missing email address), schedule a video consultation with me and I will look at your website and your social media and tell you what needs to be cleaned up so that you don’t miss out on opportunities because people look at it, conclude that it’s disgraceful, and move on to someone else.
Talk about this blog in our Facebook group or email me at bruce@now-hear-this.net (and don’t forget about reading that related blog from two weeks ago).