Instant Messenger for contact?

Anybody use them?

[DrCool]

I was looking at the email addresses of my customers and see that lots of them are from hotmail, yahoo, and aol. Since all three of those have corrosponding IM programs I am debating on having customers contact me through IM for questions, suggestions, etc. Has anybody else used this as an effective way of communicating with their customers or would this be seen as bush league? I just set it up today so it is too early to report any results but if anybody has any ideas about this I would be glad to hear them.

[richlowe]

I like email because it's not instant - it gives me a chance to think before I speak.

Also, IM is fast becoming a great way to send and receive viruses.

RIchard Lowe

[Mike_Mackin]

>I like email because it's not instant - it gives me a chance to think before I speak.

ditto

[DrCool]

I have email as well. I just want to make it as easy as possible for my customers to contact me.

As far as thinking before I speak most of the questions I get are simple ones that I can answer off the top of my head. I would prefer email as well but want to give my customers some other options.

[txbakers]

There are also good one-on-one chat programs you can install on your server which allow the customer to initiate a help session. www.clickchatsold.com is one, and there is another from xigla software.

But in a pinch any of the IMs work fine.

[ritualcoffee]

I do use IM for vendors/partners that I have almost daily contact with. Good use for that purpose but I would personally stay away from using it with customers.