This is an automated article...

When it comes to letting go.. I find it hard.

I am a fully paid up control freak and someone who finds it hard to trust others to do something "as well as" I would.

Now, I'm the first to recognise there are far more talented people than me in the world - it's not the estimation of my ability that's at play here, it's my aversion to letting go of the reins and not being in control.

I digress.

I have been using Calendly since I started my business as letting people book their own phone appointments as eliminating email back and forth was something I could happily give away.

I'm experimenting with Zapier and their automations to ease my workflow overall but just wanted to talk about automating messages and what I've learnt thus far - particularly my reservations about insincerity and misleading people.

1 - It's consistent

The automated messages I send ensure I'm saying the same thing, in the same way EVERY time which is very important if you want a Clear Sales Message?

1a - It's timely / relevant

Messages can be sent based on time delays/actions and all number of things. Sending the right message at the right time (or trigger) is what we're all aiming for in sales.

2 - It's easy

Once set up (and I checked everything about 200 times to ensure no mistakes) I can sit back, relax and focus on worrying about something else.

3 - It gives me leverage

There's only one of me (thank heavens!) and I am limited in energy and time. By automating certain functions I can achieve more in my business but without actually being there.

3a - It's also easy to get wrong

I've had automated messages inviting me to events I am speaking at and then following me up to ask me why I'm not interested... Whilst automation is great, you need to do your homework and try to minimise the possibility of simple errors like this.

4 - It's expected

I've had a couple of Calendly calls not proceed because when I called the person at the booked time they had plain forgotten.

The final conversational straw that broke the automation camel's back for me was this on a recent call "You didn't send me a reminder so I forgot about it" - as though it's up to me to run this person's calendar...(!)

But I guess they had a point - why not send reminders before and thank you emails after an event?

A word of warning - don't lie about it.

Whilst automation can be cool, I've avoided it for a long time because when you receive something automated it can feel a little impersonal / lacking respect. This is even more the case when someone PRETENDS it's not automated- a bit like pre-recorded seminars purporting to be live...

So, firstname, we have to remember that pretending (lying) isn't OK. If you're automated, then own it.. or at least don't actively try to hide it.

The way I have managed to overcome the automation hurdle is to acknowledge the automation (in messages) and then link back to this very article to explain my motives.

Can you see what I did there? ;-)