We've forgotton how to talk to people and it's our own fault!

Every day we send out several if not hundreds of e-mails.  Our e-mail signature says a lot about us.

What is yours telling your contacts?

My e-mail signature is pretty straight forward, name address and PHONE NUMBER.  The e-mail address itself of course is easy to find.  

More and more I see that people are using only their social media links in their signature and completely omitting any mention to their phone number! 

There are icons for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and others to help people find your on-line presence

but why are you not adding your phone number?

Yes, it is easier and sometimes faster to respond to an e-mail and yes, we all want people to reach out to us via our social media pages, but haven't your ever felt that you could get a more concise and personal response by simply picking up the phone and having a conversation?

As a title agent who works very closely and personally with many lenders and Realtors I have found that rather than have an "e-mail chain" I can simply call someone and get the answer I need or give them the answer they are looking for.    For me to go back and forth via e-mail with a lender over CD "tweaks" can take an awful long time if we are both being made to read through the entire "chain" rather than to pick up the phone and discuss the changes.   You can always follow up with a written communication if you need it for compliance or audit reasons.

An e-mail can sometimes be misinterpreted because there is no personality associated with it.  A conversation conveys your personality and can often lead to a more lasting relationship.  If you are actually smiling when you are having a conversation with someone it conveys a lot more than a smiley face emoticon.  :)

The art of conversation is a dying and it's our own fault!  Take a minute today to change your standard e-mail signature line.  Add your phone number.  You may be surprised by the people who prefer to call than send an endless stream of e-mail questions responses and you may actually make a better, more lasting  connection with someone.