In business, we know not to take things personally. Not us, as in Stand And Stretch or even marketing in general, but everyone in business. It’s simply part of working a job, and of the modern world.
Unfortunately, so is ignoring a correspondence. We get it, with email, text, social media, instant messages, voicemails, and so on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the ways people can get in touch with you. Sometimes you might not even receive a message, while others, it’s simply easier to not respond at all.
The History Behind Not Responding
Even in pop culture, characters taken different routes in dealing with the influx of notifications. Zack Morris outsourced his calls – to his brick phone – in Saved by the Bell. Elaine’s boyfriend lessened her efforts to reach him, known as “the downgrade” on Seinfeld. For instance, if she called him and left a message, he’d email back in response. And nowadays characters are going “off the grid” on purpose, just to get away from dings and rings for a short period of time.
Want Vs. Need
When someone doesn’t respond, it’s not personal. (At least not usually.) It’s not a slight, it’s the new norm – either a passive aggressive way of saying, “I’m busy right now,” or a complete oversight altogether.
But when you NEED a response, that balance of “will they answer or won’t they?” becomes far heavier of an issue. As marketing pros, we’re not out to scam you or waste your time; we need legitimate feedback to complete your project. The very project that is out to help your business grow.
Getting “Ghosted” in Action
Just like the builder, we need you to come pick out the right faucets that fit your taste. The buttons that will best represent your look, the words that express all that you do. You’re the one that will be walking on those just-right floor patterns every day, after all.
Then, if there’s still no response, we’re left to decide between the lesser of two evils: making decisions that might not fly, or putting something on hold and delaying its finish. Do either of those outcomes sound ideal? Hello? Bueller? Are you still on the line? Did your email filter get stuck?
…?
We’re here, waiting, whenever you’re ready … we think.
Bethaney Phillips is a freelance writer and editor turned SEO specialist with 10 years of professional digital writing experience. She enjoys working with clients and putting their ideas into informative content. She is also a military spouse entrepreneur advocate, volunteering, and writing in MilSpo spaces. When not working, she can be found chasing around two toddler boys.
