Running a blog takes a lot of time. Fielding emails, ensuring the content is driving traffic, responding to comments, and keeping track of deadlines.
And while it might not seem like it, answering questions and comments is close to customer service.
You are providing content to people, and sometimes they have questions. If you post sponsored content or product placement, your responses are on behalf of the brand in question. Again, very customer services based.
When you branch out and begin to build off-the-shelf products, guides, eBooks, and other items for sale, it can become much more challenging to manage all of these interactions – while still focusing on your business.
So what can you do to provide excellent customer service to your readers and customers?
Photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash
Time
Do you fit in responses to comments on Facebook, your website, Twitter, and more as-and-when?
The moment you get a notification, you quickly grab your phone to respond?
It’s time to set specific times for responses.
The first 30 minutes after posting an Instagram photo is when you are most likely to get replies – fresh content is consumed faster.
In this case, when you post a photo, you should be using the next 30 minutes to comment and like too. It’s great for engagement but also provides dedicated space to respond to your comments.
Try a Mon-Wed-Fri approach to responding to almost anything else.
Chatbot
If you have noticed you get the same questions repeatedly, then it is time to automate the responses. It is one of the most important things you can do to save time (and, therefore, money).
Choose a provider that can be easily modified to meet your branding guidelines and has experience in your sector.
A chatbot can take over answering those questions you see a lot.
You can add a modern twist by using Whatsapp integration, too; visit this website for some great information.
Virtual Assistant
If you simply have too many comments, too much work, and 100s of emails to deal with, it’s time to consider a virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant can draft your posts, find photos, tackle the endless stream of emails and comments.
This gives you time to work on the content that you want to create.
Turn email notifications off.
This might take a while to get comfortable with, but notifications break your focus flow of content creation – and when you have things to do, it’s not helpful.
Turn your mobile phone notifications off, and only check at a set time each day. Usually, 9 am and 3 pm is a good time slot.
As a blogger, it can be tempting to respond to emails within minutes for fear of losing the work or the contact. But it is time to get into the mindset that your time is also valuable, and since you’re checking twice a day, they will still see a same-day response.
Once you close your laptop or switch off the computer in the evenings, try not to check anything work-related. This will help you be refreshed and ready for the next day.
Better comms will help your blogging business run smoother, so tackle it!
