You can be an eagle or a horse, or even a mouse, just don’t
be a hippogriff.
I’ve signed up for a slew of online services in the last
year or so and I’ve noticed a trend. Whatever the industry, be it development
tools or services, social media ego stroking or anything else, companies seem
to be getting really good at getting that first message out; they are almost
universally great at sending out that first lifeline.
But then.
I’ve had a few e-mails from such companies asking me to get
in touch, to suggest times I might be free for a chat, to solicit my feedback.
And I think, ‘great, here’s an eagle’. But then no-one replies to my e-mail and
I’m left disgruntled and perturbed. I thought I was dealing with an eagle but
actually it’s part-horse. It’s a hippogriff!
If you’re going to ask me for my opinion have the decency to
respond, even if it’s just to say thanks. And please, oh please, do not send me
another e-mail asking for my input. That will just make me mad.
By all means, be a mouse, keep to yourself, that’s cool by
me but if you want to start like an eagle, finish like an eagle, otherwise you’ll
lose some of your audience because no-one expects a hippogriff.
