If you've got a business, you probably know that autoresponders can automate a lot of what you do for follow up. However, this isn't necessarily true in every situation. In that case, if you can, having actual people follow up for you can benefit your business greatly.

If you've got a business, you probably know that autoresponders can automate a lot of what you do for follow up. However, this isn't necessarily true in every situation. In that case, if you can, having actual people follow up for you can benefit your business greatly.

If someone joins your list and takes you up on an initial offer, it may be, certainly, that sending an email to thank them for their purchase or canned "welcome to the list" message is enough. However, some people may need more than that, and in that case, a real call from a live person, done person-to-person over the phone, speaks to the personal touch that will set you apart from your competitors. And, of course, it will also answer customers' questions in the way a "frequently asked questions" section simply can't.

If you call someone live (or you have someone do it for you), the customer can ask whatever he or she wants to and get an answer immediately. Today, we live in a world of immediate gratification, where "right now" is the norm. To beat competitors, you can do things faster and better -- and right now -- with some live calls. Do things right, and you'll stand out.

The thing is, we've begun to ignore the phone as a communications technique, what with the easy availability and convenience of email. However, it can be very powerful indeed. Imagine being a new subscriber and getting a call from the person you've just subscribed with. Wouldn't you be impressed? Oftentimes, too, subscribers like the immediacy of phone calls versus the "wait-and-see" climate an email communications technique can set up.

If the thought of live calling simply seems too inconvenient or too time-consuming, try live chat. This operates on the same premise as the phone call, with the same one-on-one interaction. And, it will benefit you as a business owner because customers know they can trust you and reach you.

With live customer service either via chat or phone, you're telling your customers that you care and that you want them to be satisfied. Being available to talk live (even through live chat) is going to make you stand apart from your competition in ways that are immeasurable. It also shows that you're confident enough in both your business and your product that you can speak to customers anytime about their concerns. That's very powerful, as you can see.

After a customer joins your list, signs up for your newsletter, etc., call or give them a live chat invite within just a few minutes. It doesn't have to be much; you can simply say, "Welcome to the company, and let us know how we can be of service to you." Customers will be amazed at this type of real, honest, personal service, so much so that they'll revisit your site within a few hours -- or better yet, tell other people about your site, too, so that those people, too, will become prospects and then, ideally, customers.

All from one little five minute telephone call or live chat online.

It's also beneficial because you can get information from a customer by chatting with them live that you could never get with email. Perhaps you can ask the customer what else they're interested in. You might have something they'd like to try. Or, perhaps they have a hobby you can help them with.

Simply talking to customers can help you find out more about them, not just to "data mine," but to get to know them so that they'll fill comfortable with you.