It seems clear that, if you think about something for a few days and then take 30 minutes to sculpt a message, your emails will be a little better than if you dash out a quick blurb. Only, in a lesson that both marketers and grandchildren should learn, older people prefer fast replies.
A report from the Center for the Digital Future shows that 70.7 percent of people who grew up before email was around - think snail mail or even telegrams - feel folks should write personal responses "as soon as possible" or "in one day." Business correspondents would seem to have no excuse for being any less prompt.
Alex Mundlin writes, "Internet users over 70 also check e-mail as often or more frequently than people in any other age group," so it's not as if older people are just checking timestamps during a weekly peek online, either.
People can't be too easily lumped together by age, of course - all sorts of individuals get offended when replies don't come within hours or even minutes - but the conclusions of Jeffrey Cole, the director of the Center for the Digital Future, still seem valid.
They're at least something to think about the next time you're sifting through your inboxes.
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Promptness works no matter how old you are
Doug,
You'd think this would apply to everyone these days. After all, the internet has reared a whole generation who want instant gratification.
I've found prompt responses seem to always pay off. I always keep my email open (although it does lead to distractions when I should be concentrating on other stuff!)
I often get emails from readers and subscribers, asking me questions, and from people who have tried our product and don't like it.
I make a particular point of replying to the folks who don't like us within seconds if possible, saying thanks for trying us, etc.,. and offering to help further if they don't get it sorted out with our customer service reps. I want them to think well enough of us to try us again another time. Without fail, I get great feedback, from "Gee, you are quick," to "amazing, thanks." And it opens the door to all sorts of conversations ... and other opportunites in the future.
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