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October 22, 2007
Are You on AIM?
By Tyler Hoelting
Affiliate Manager
CPA Empire
Every day AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and other IM services allow millions of users to send messages and hold conversations via the internet with other people, and CPA Empire’s Affiliates are no exception! Affiliates and Affiliate Managers are plugged into this outlet for real-time instant messaging. For many of you that are familiar with AIM, it probably has become a large part of your daily communication. For those of you who are not accustomed to AIM, you might consider this free downloadable service, not only to communicate with friends but to utilize for business purposes.
AIM was born in the late 1990s and became a revolutionary program that allowed friends to communicate with each other without having to leave the house, write letters or even pick up the phone. The program allowed users to chat in real time, sending and receiving messages in "text boxes" which, like any program, would occupy a designated space on the computer screen. It began innocently enough, appealing to people from all walks of life. But unlike other electronic fads of the day, AIM has outlasted its novelty status and become a permanent and lasting trend in communication.
There are benefits to using AIM that should not be overlooked. It is a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, family, and business partners. It’s extremely fast and easy to use and the program is free to download. Despite these advantages there are some clear shortcomings of communicating in this manner.
Multitasking can be overwhelming, especially when several AIM conversations are open all at once. Above all, habitual chit-chat can make it hard to focus or accomplish any work that you may be trying to get done. With these interruptions and distractions, you can miss deadlines and push back personal goals. After comparing the pros and cons of using AIM, it may be worth evaluating the extent at which you use this service.
As Affiliate Managers we regularly communicate with many of our Affiliates via AIM. However, we also know that strong business relationships are built over the phone when they cannot be done in person. So if you have become too reliant on AIM, you might want to consider doing things the old fashioned way. Pick up the phone and add a personal touch the next time you contact a business partner. I’ll bet they will appreciate hearing your voice and you will be delighted with the outcome.
Posted by Tom at October 22, 2007 01:50 AM