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Collecting AIM Screen Names
Do you use IM? Do your customers? Just as the collection of email addresses is difficult as people are spam averse the collection of Instant Message (AIM) usernames is also difficult. The good news is that it can be incentivesed. Simply offer a value exchange.
Set up a special AIM account with a special away message that could include something like a special code for a discount on their current invoice. Change these codes frequently. Log this account so that you can go back and capture the screen names and add them to your buddy lists so you can know next time your customers are online.
Once you are set up simply use your other communication tools to promote your special discount. Add it to your e-newsletter, voicemail greeting, e-mail signature file, etc.
Once you have the screen names find useful value added ways to use them. Don't just feed the same content through the new channel. This is especially true for IM since it's a very personal communication channel. You want to use it to follow up on orders that have shipped or very simple questions/verifications regarding open orders.
"Sue, did you get the order we shipped on Tuesday?" or "Tom, I see you only ordered three widgets this month. Last month you ordered five. Is this correct?
December 30, 2004 in award winning newsletter, Blog Outsourcing, blog publish, build credibility, Building Customer Community, Business Marketing, Business newsletter, CMO | Permalink
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Comments
i love aim
Posted by: tastetherainbow | Jan 8, 2005 6:56:38 PM
If you are at all a good business person, you should have your customer's AIM names already, if that's how they want to communicate. If I were contacted by a business associate that I did not explicitly give my name to, I would discontinue any form of business relationship with that person or company. This is simply the new wave of spam. What does it take for companies to just learn about their customers and then communicate with their customers the way that their customers would like to communicate?
Posted by: Business Guru | Jan 25, 2005 12:53:16 PM
i need AIM but the aom place wont let me have it for some reason. help me please!!!!
love jess
Posted by: jess | Feb 1, 2005 8:28:19 PM
dude aim is so cool. i use it everyday and all my friends have it. it saved my life
Posted by: Linz | Nov 27, 2005 4:41:34 PM