I responded to a few ads on craigslist the other day and received an email back from someone. In it he was a little *sarcastic*:...Here is what this person said:

"How do you greet my clients, open my mail, make copies, send faxes, etc etc. when you are not here? Virtual does not work for this office. Thanks anyway."

How would you reply to this person? (I am a newbie)

Mystiqua

I wouldnt respond! Dont waste your time or energy I know, makes you want to send a "smart azz" reply, but If it were me - I wouldnt. And, do you really want a client with that kind of attitude from the start?


I'm sure someone else might view this differently. That's just my opinion.

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Kena~
Everyone smiles in the same language

I agree! I wouldn't even bother to reply. Actually he is doing you a favor showing his true colors and working behavior up front. I would just move on to the next prospective client with a smile!

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Delilah Smith
Caliber Virtual Services

How did you word your message?

I don't think the guy was being sarcastic, I would say straight forward and to the point - I'm guessing he was bombarded with replies or else wasn't getting anything and was frustrated - and it's very easy to read tone incorrectly in email messages.

At least he took the time to respond to you. I respond to RFPs for virtual work all the time and don't even get the courtesy of a reply or acknowledgment of my reply - out of about a dozen responses to RFPs, I received one acknowledgment.

If the guy was advertising for an in-house staff member, virtual probably wouldn't work for him. When I respond to ads for admin staff, I preface it by saying that I am not applying for the position but if they need help in the interim, I can be available if the work can be done virtually; sometimes they may be able to outsource some stuff to a VA and hire a more junior person to do the in-house work. I did this with an ad in the local paper and they engaged me to do the minutes from their Board meeting (they gave me the tapes) and my contact at the organization is going to see if she can get the money in next year's budget for me to do this for them a few times during the year (and I would attend the meetings to take the minutes on my laptop).

I think when responding to ads, it is important to remember that a lot of people don't get the virtual concept and some may in fact need in-house staff.

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Julia

Originally Posted by JuliaW

How did you word your message? If the guy was advertising for an in-house staff member, virtual probably wouldn't work for him. When I respond to ads for admin staff, I preface it by saying that I am not applying for the position but if they need help in the interim, I can be available if the work can be done virtually. I did this with an ad in the local paper and they engaged me to do the minutes from their Board meeting (they gave me the tapes) and my contact at the organization is going to see if she can get the money in next year's budget for me to do this for them a few times during the year (and I would attend the meetings to take the minutes on my laptop). I think when responding to ads, it is important to remember that a lot of people don't get the virtual concept and some may in fact need in-house staff.

Thanks everyone...JuliaW, Yes, that is what I stated when I applied...Which I understand, I was only sending a general request to see if I could be a good fit...but I guess he just wanted to say something anyway? LOL Oh Well, NEXT! LOL Thanks guys!

Mystiqua

Mystiqua,
My reaction was, "How rude". My response would be, "I wish you all the best, and if you change your mind, contact me to see how I may be able to assist you."

I am very careful in responding to ads, and only choose those that lend themselves to virtual work.

Frankly, I'm thinking you said something right because at least you GOT a response. That is very encouraging, even thouh his response was somewhat rude or sarcastic.

Our job as business owners may be, in part, education of potential clients. Some just can't imagine how it would work. Face it, there are some things that you just can't do virtually, fetching coffee for the 'boss' is one of them.

--Kathy

Good answer, Julia.

It's so easy to go with that knee-jerk reaction but once you think it through, there's almost always a better way.

Julia has given us good info to use when responding to newspaper ads. So you see, we can learn from this situation, too.

As for people that don't 'get the virtual concept', once I have explained it to the best of my ability I remind them that if they change their mind or need more information, we can talk again. Seems better than just walking away.

Gladys

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EMERALD VA SERVICES
www.emeraldva.ca

Originally Posted by kathyscache

...fetching coffee for the 'boss' is one of them. --Kathy

LOL Kathy!

Yes, I appreciate all of the support on these boards...I will be more careful next time...Thanks again everyone!!

Originally Posted by mkimble

Thanks everyone...JuliaW, Yes, that is what I stated when I applied...Which I understand, I was only sending a general request to see if I could be a good fit...but I guess he just wanted to say something anyway? LOL Oh Well, NEXT! LOL Thanks guys! Mystiqua

Remember, you sent an unsolicited email to him, so that's something you have to expect when cold calling. Just don't take it personally, it wasn't you he was being snarky at, it was the cold call

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Julia

I would look at that remark as a challenge and not as an obstacle. I'd look at it is as one more opportunity to change their attitude about virtual work even if it led to no work. (Practice makes perfect for next time it happens.)

I love stuff like this when it happens because I can use what I know to turn the situation around.

I might have made a video and sent it to him (if you had his email) and send a personal message how it is all done virtually. I might have sent him an e-fax to show him faxes can be sent 'virtually'. I'd explain about logmein and how that works. I might have explained that you were opening and answering and forwarding his email, he'd have time to open his physical mail.

It is true that you can't physically greet every client that walks through the door but you can free him up (or his assistant) with their tasks so that they can greet their own clients as, they should.

Jan

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