I was asked by a reader recently that same question:

How long should any wedding vendor go before responding to an Email inquiry?

His/Her argument was that he/she does not like answering an email immediately after receiving it because it makes it seem like they have no work and are desperate to take the event.

I think that’s a load of BS that you feed yourself so that you can make yourself feel important.

I usually answer an email or a phone call immediately because I know if I call a business or a friend, I want to talk to them at that exact moment. Not 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days later. It’s then and there that I want to talk to them.

It’s important, if not vital that you return phone calls, or in this case, emails as soon as you get them. It’s a part of the selling Psychology. They are interested and more open to trusting you when they call you as opposed to hours or days after they’ve called you. Who knows if a few hours after the initial phone call they will have time to talk to you, or if they’ve already found someone who did return the phone call or actually answered the phone, or if they even recall calling you.

How many times have you gone to a store, and this happens in just about any store, pizza place, or restaurant. You stand in line for minutes or hours, you get right to the counter and the phone rings. Who is that clerk going to assist first??? Of course, the person on the phone. WHY? Why is it so important to answer the phone when you know that the person right in front of you might give you a hard time for doing so?

Now I don’t know for a fact, but I can bet that their managers and supervisors advice them to do so and have probably stressed the importance of the phone calls.

Phone calls and emails should be answered immediately or as soon as you can. It’s people calling you to find out about your products or your services. They have taken an action, and action that most people who are not interested do not take. They have an immediate urge for you to answer their questions, or come to their rescue, about/with your services. If you don’t do it, then in that short time that they have, they will find someone else who will. I know I’ve heard the comment, many, many times.

We loved the fact that you answered our call/email almost immediately after we contacted you (if not immediately)

I think that fills brides/clients with a sense of security, where as not answering an email or the phone immediately fills them with a sense of doubt.

One recent bride said the same thing about the main reason she went with me was that I always answered her calls and always answered her concerns. Whereas the other DJ’s could go days without calling her back and when they did, they would not give her straight answers. She also said that the preferred vendor at the venue did not call her back until the week of the event! WTF (dubya-tee-eff)? He shall remain nameless, but that was very-unimpressive.

So the answer to the question, for me, it is to answer an email immediately if not as soon as possible. It feels good, and it’s impressive, to have an email response almost as soon as you hit the send button. I think it makes the bride feel like someone there, and some one cares about her, and if they are that quick in responding to an email the they can only imagine how helpful the person on the other side will be when it relates the the most important day in her life. And winning over the bride’s emotions is almost guaranteed to be a right step in winning the trust and the opportunity for you be of service to the bride that wonderful day.

Happy Bloggin!

–
Francisco H. Perez
Bloggin Professional DJ in Houston