Coach HubChoosing your channels, and voice notes
The platform you choose tells the client what to expect from you. Choose deliberately, then live up to what it communicates.
| Channel | What it tells the client | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Instant messaging (WhatsApp and similar) | "I'm available." It's one of the best ways to show a client you're there for them. | Don't be surprised when they message at random hours. Reply at your earliest convenience. That's what the channel promises. |
| Widely understood as a roughly 24-hour response | A 24-hour turnaround is fine, but write it like a proper email: clear, structured, no shorthand |
Whatever you choose, the formal weekly check-in stays in the check-in form. Messaging is for quick questions and support between check-ins.
Instant doesn't mean casual
Instant messaging communicates "I'm available," but you get what you give. If you send super relaxed, sloppy messages full of shorthand and typos, that's the standard the client sets back. Keep your language professional and respectful, even in a chat app.
That doesn't mean being a robot. Nobody likes working with someone who has no humour. Just know the line.
Voice notes
Voice notes are fine for something quick and casual. But use them too often and:
- Professionalism drops.
- Nothing is searchable. When you need to find something you told a client weeks ago, it's buried in audio. That's not a good look.
- The standard slides. Before you know it, clients are sending you 10-minute voice notes you have to sit through.
The rule: if it's something you or the client might need to find again, type it. Set that standard early, by modelling it yourself. You get what you give.