The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

USING EMAIL AND TEXTS EFFECTIVELY / 279

Texts as a business tool

Using text messages to reach out to

customers is established practice in

many businesses, but relatively few

companies use texts for other types of

business communications. The reason

for this is that the content of a text

message can be perceived as being

trivial, impermanent, and not tied to

any coherent communications strategy.

However, texts do have their place in a

work environment, as long as you define

Environmentally

friendly—creates

no paper waste

what they should—and should not—be

used for. Texts are an ideal medium for

alerts, such as notifications of downtime

of computer servers; they can be used

for company announcements, to motivate

staff, or to quickly introduce new

members of a team to the company.

Avoid using texts to explain complex

ideas, or when you need a verifiable

information trail.

An inexpensive way
to reach out to
customers

Concise—your message

must be less than 160

characters in length, so

is more likely to be read

and absorbed

Almost

instant

delivery

Texts have their

Communicating in a crisis

environment, as

long as you define

what they should

and should not

be used for

US_278-279_Using_Email_and_Texts.indd 279 30/05/16 3:04 pm