Turn OFF your Auto-Response

In the fast-paced world of luxury wedding planning, clear client communication is key! However, relying too heavily on auto responses can sometimes do more harm than good.

I’ve seen too many Planners with this auto responder –

”I work between these hours and these hours, You can expect a response within 24 hours”

Now, there is certainly a time and place for auto-responses (out of office days, vacations, etc.) but your client shouldn’t be receiving one after every email they send to you. When you exchange over a thousand emails with your client – wouldn’t that just get… annoying? And honestly, at some point, they just stop reading it and your information is getting lost.

But guess what? We can do better than that!

I’m spilling the tea on TWO reasons why it’s time to ditch the auto response game. ☕

#1: Flexibility is the name of the game, my friend! If you are instantly replying at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, you have set that precedent. You’ve set yourself up for failure from day one. It’s nearly impossible to be creative on-demand so it’s important we train our clients to allow for some flexibility. This way you won’t be scrambling when, you know, life happens!

With the magic of Gmail’s schedule-send feature, you can work whenever inspiration strikes. Whether it’s 5 a.m. or 10 p.m., schedule your emails to be sent during regular business hours. By doing this, you train clients to expect responses within that times, rather than noting it in your auto responder!

#2: Consistency is key! Instead of always replying within minutes, it’s perfectly okay to respond within a reasonable amount of time that suits your workflow and availability. We’re human beings, after all!

Now, here’s the secret sauce…Building authentic client relationships isn’t about a laundry list of rules and regulations. By being reliable and responsive within reasonable timeframes, you’ll be professional without the need for strict rules!

By embracing flexibility, clear response timing, and managing expectations without strict rules, you can grow stronger client relationships and provide the personalized service that luxury clients crave.