How to deal with clients via whatsapp
Hi! I have a VERY annoying problem, you may have it too. I run a web development agency, we offer support, design, etc, so as you know there are many request from clients, questions, problems, etc etc.
Many of them have my personal phone number and really it ruins my day when they talk to me via whatsapp. Its so intrusive, i cant live like this anymore. Sometimes i copypaste them a message that says they should contact our support email, but with good clients this is not so easy.
I should say im 80% introvert and when im coding i dont like being intrrupted. Of course if it is a sale i may make the exception :p
Anyone else has this problem? I do support but other things too, so i dont like being interrupted when im working on something else, also, i have employees in support which answer all enquirys via email. People dont understand im paying some guys to do the work of support? They talk to me directly because im CEO, and thats is understandable , but i have a LIFE TOO!
MTH*** CLIENTS LEAVE ME ALONE!
Tim Ferris talks a bit about this in his book the 4 hour work week.
To paraphrase, he basically recommends having two phones numbers. One for work, one for personal. The work one needn't even be a physical phone - there are services where you can rent a number.
The work one almost always goes straight to voicemail, advising the person to either leave a message or for more prompt service to send an email to an address.
Basically, his theory is that if you continue to enable their 'bad' behaviour, no amount of asking them politely is going to change it. Why should they? They just got the outcome THEY wanted.
He also talks a bit about how he broke up with a few clients... but it doesn't sound like you're needing that.