Workbytes now knows how the Chinese are beating Americans when it comes to workplace productivity.
Most don't use voice mail.
National Public Radio reported recently on the preference that Chinese people had for text messaging. National Public Radio reported that "text messages are cheaper than a phone call by about half. No one in China has voice mail, so it's the surest way to get a message to someone."
It's no wonder they get more done.
They don't have to deal with ridiculously long, boring and irrelevant voice-mail messages.
Right now, Workbyte's voice mail has probably -- we haven't checked in a week -- 35 or so messages, and more than half are from someone Workbytes has never met.
Most are probably checking to see if Workbytes got the e-mail they had previously (5 minutes earlier) sent pitching the story about a company with no ties to Iowa.
Who has the time, when there are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter messages to check?
Michael Arrington generated a firestorm of blog responses when he proclaimed on his blog TechCrunch.com last week: "Voice mail is dead. Please tell everyone so they'll stop using it."
Arrington wrote: "Voice is here to stay as a data input method, but listening to messages will certainly become an increasing luxury, to be reserved for loved ones ..." Sounds like they might go the way of letters and the Pony Express.
But not so fast.
While Workbytes agrees we could use fewer voice mails, and more human interaction, not less, we aren't convinced the voice message is completely dead ... yet.
John Jantsch, author of "Duct Tape Marketing" -- who, by the way, promptly checked his voice mail and returned a call to Workbytes last week -- agreed.
"I find myself being slower to return voice mail," he said.
But the Kansas City marketing guru and blogger doesn't believe its practical for businesses, especially ones with a product or service to promote, to completely ignore voice mail.
Jantsch said there are mainly two appropriate instances when voice mail should be used:
- "If you have some bit of information that someone needs," he said. Specifically, Jantsch is talking about, well, specifics. Some people prefer to communicate via phone, or aren't as Twitter-savvy as others. They might prefer to have a voice mail with pertinent information.
Jantsch cautioned that if this is the case, be sure to leave the information on the message, but don't necessarily expect a call back.
- Voice mail also can be used to pitch an idea, but make sure you give the listeners "good, useful, actionable" information so they can make the decision without a call back, he said.
Also, don't leave a message three days in a row.
"The fact that I didn't call you back is my response," he said.
For those readers who still don't believe they should be bothered by having to listen to voice-mail messages, Workbytes offers these samples to deter would-be message leavers:
- "Hi, you've reached Workbytes, where we don't actually work and we don't actually bite - unless you leave a voice-mail message." BEEP.
- "You've reached Workbytes: We don't check voice mail, but if you need to reach us you can find us chatting away on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Bebo, Friendster, FriendFinder, Classmates, etc." BEEP.
- "Hi. Workbytes here. After the beep, hang up." BEEP.
Most important, learn how the audience likes to communicate. Find out if people let their voice-mail box fill so callers can't leave new messages, or if they have ever heard of Twitter. People trying to connect with someone should make sure they keep their preferences in mind.
Bottom line: "Be prepared to communicate in many different ways," Jantsch said.
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