Nothing about copywriting today – this has more to do with business communications.
One of the things I have noticed in this blink-a-minute internet culture is how much mediocrity is tolerated – and even accepted as the norm – in terms of business communication.
I first started thinking about this last year, when I got my iphone. I downloaded an app called “line 2” that was supposed to give me a second number that would replace my business line. I figured since the business landline was running me $40 a month, and Line 2 was $5 a month (or whatever it was), hey, why not? So I did it.
Well, I found out something really quick – it’s not as good as having a landline. It just isn’t. It dropped calls; the sound wasn’t very good; the forwarding aspect was pretty murky, etc. I would say it’s 80% as good as a landline. And in the case of a business phone, that’s totally unacceptable.
But, for many people, that IS acceptable. Mediocre service, for many people, is just fine. They’re happy with iffy phone service if it means keeping $35 a month in their pocket. Well, not me – I switched back a.s.a.p. But I know other people – businesspeople – who use Line 2 and just put up with the glitches. It amazes me, really.
Let’s stay on the phone with another subpar service (at least for business) – Skype.
A lot of businesspeople use Skype exclusively. For the life of me, I cannot understand why. Let me be clear about this – Skype is terrible for everyday business calling. It just is. Again, it’s about 80% of a landline, with a myriad of dropped calls, bad connections, etc. Now, I CAN see some use for Skype – it’s a nice IM program, and it’s fine for broke college kids to call home. And it’s even ok for international calls (which are typically still spotty with a landline). But if you’re here in the US with me and want to talk business? No, I’m not going to Skype you. Get a real phone (either landline or good cell).
I like technology – I really do. But I’m not going to put up with garbage to save a few bucks. It’s just not worth it to me.
Dan’s advice: If you are serious about business, you need solid phone tech, even if it sets you back forty bucks a month.
When I was Switzerland line2 simply didn’t work, which drove me batty because that was why we had signed up for it. Something about the Swiss government owning a majority of the cell company and not wanting competition (my understanding is still a little fuzzy on the details). But I couldn’t handle having a poor connection to my husband in the states. I bought a pre-paid cell. Problem solved.