Everybody uses email. Now use it right.
Email has been an indispensable service for franchises even before the invention of the web. All franchises use it and will use it for the foreseeable future. Email workflow sits at the center of the franchise office’s productivity; the more each franchise employee gets out of email, the more productive the entire franchise will be. Here are some tips to help you do just that:
Turn off email alerts.
You’re producing at a stellar clip and you hear it–the sound on your computer or phone that tells you an email just landed in your inbox. You’re curious, so you get distracted and your productivity hits a screeching halt. Unless you’re waiting for a franchise-critical email, don’t give yourself an excuse to keep checking. Silence notifications and set aside a few times during the day to read email. Your franchise will be much more productive for it.
Don’t unsubscribe from bogus emails.
Does your franchise detest spam? We do, too, but hitting an Unsubscribe link in a message from an unrecognized sender will probably increase the likelihood that they will spam your franchise again. Clicking the link allows the spammer to verify your email address and give it to their spammer buddies when they get together for Parcheesi or cooking club. Then, of course, you will get exponentially more. Don’t fall for it!
Don’t use email to discuss sensitive topics.
If someone needs a good talking to, don’t do it on email, especially if the discussion is likely to cause disagreement or if someone could be hurt or offended. It’s much easier to read someone’s reaction via video chat, on the phone, or in person. (Yes, there is still a physical world out there where you can sit down with live humans, look directly at their actual face, and tell them something.)
Don’t scan and fax.
If your business is emailed contracts to physically sign and return to someone, you know what a pain in the neck this can be. You either have to print it out and find an actual fax machine or take the time to scan, save, and attach each page to an email. Instead, use an online fax service such as Hello Fax.
Promote your network inside email.
Rapportive shows you everything about your contacts right inside your Gmail inbox.
You can immediately see what people look like, where they’re based, and what they do. You can establish rapport by mentioning shared interests. You can grow your network by connecting on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and more. And you can record thoughts for later by leaving notes.
Type in the recipient just before sending.
There’s nothing worse for your franchise than accidentally sending a message with misspellings, knee jerk reactions, and grammatical train wrecks. Save yourself this embarrassment by leaving the “To” field empty until your dispatch is perfect. Gmail users can also use Google’s Undo Send feature, which gives you some time after you hit Send to change your mind. To turn it on, go to Settings (the cog on the right of your Gmail window), then Labs, where you’ll find the feature plus some others you might find helpful.
Use arcane passwords and vary them on your accounts.
You’ve heard this one before, but it bears repeating because lots of franchise staff members are hacked and spammed for not heeding this advice. Your email password unquestionably has to be one that someone can’t guess and one that you don’t use with another account. If you have trouble remembering your passwords, try LastPass.
To learn more about franchise opportunities with High Touch High Tech, visit us online at ScienceMadeFunFranchise.net.
High Touch High Tech is the leader in innovative hands-on science and nature experiences for children, serving over 4 million children annually with 27 franchise locations across the United States, Canada, Turkey, Singapore and South Korea.