I LOVE stories. I’ve already posted multiple times on that topic, including here and here because I enjoy a well-woven tale so much. Storytelling can also be a powerful tool that companies harness to sell their doodads and thingamajigs. (FYI, I’ve heard that doodads are all the rage right now, while thingamajigs are a bit passé.)
The lesson for this week is that there can actually be a WRONG time to tell a good story. *GASP!* What are you talking about!? That’s like saying there is a wrong time for the sun to shine or a wrong time to smile! Oh wait… I do remember learning a hard lesson at the last funeral I attended that there IS a wrong time to smile…but, I digress.
Recently I’ve had a few situations where I sent information to someone regarding pricing, or details surrounding my artwork, and didn’t receive a response. Those are the moments I suddenly become quite Shakespearean and in my mind begin outlining a story, titled, “What Happened When They Read My Email.”
“I’m sure when they saw my pricing they were thinking “That’s crazy,” “There’s no way I’d pay that! Her artwork is not THAT great.” or “Wow, someone thinks quite a bit of themselves having restrictions like that on their artwork usage.”
Oh, I can go on for quite a while about what I think happened and, in some cases, I actually start to question myself and my choices based on NOT getting a response. But here’s the thing — I truly have no idea what has really happened and it’s a waste of time and energy to try and figure it out.
In one case, I sent requested information to someone and, when I didn’t hear back, I began making up a story about what may have happened. Ultimately, I ended up connecting with the person and found out there had been a death in the family, and my email, understandably, sat in the inbox without a response.
Obviously, tragedies happen, and not every lack of response is as serious as someone dying (SIDENOTE: that would be an awesome concept for a movie; and of course, the title would have to be, “Dying to Hear from You”)
In most cases life happens and people just get busy. A lack of response does not necessarily have anything to do with what you sent. I once had a situation where a person responded to an email about my artwork over a year after I sent the message.
It’s always a good reminder to make sure you are thorough in your communications; and that it never hurts to follow-up to verify an email made it through. You never know when that pesky junk folder gets greedy and starts taking things that don’t belong there.
Of course, there may be times when a lack of response indicates waning interest, but that’s a sign that particular individual isn’t your audience. You aren’t going to please everyone, so don’t compromise trying to win someone over.
Instead, keep putting out great content that will attract the right people who love what you do and can’t wait to get more of it. Save the storytelling for when you’re hanging with friends or maybe for getting out of a speeding ticket (that’s a story for another time).
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