So I returned to something that I started over a year ago. It’s something that allowed me to preach (again) how asynchronous communications can be wonderful.
The benefits of asynchronous communication
Wednesday night’s OC SPARK meeting was devoted to navigating business problems during a pandemic, or during any other time. One of the issues raised was the need to save time. Specifically: how do you get project start information from potential clients as quickly as possible so that you can start creating a solution for them? (In other words, how do you move forward to billable time?)
I like to meet with my potential clients to discuss their needs. Those meetings usually go well; an agenda helps, and I have a handy-dandy form that helps me capture the client’s needs as quickly as possible.
But there are times when client meetings do not go as smoothly. In those cases, the client may spend hours and hours explaining what they want, which takes time.
But what if the client communications were pre-recorded, so that rather than sitting in a meeting to listen to them, you could listen to then whenever you wanted?
And what if those recordings allowed playback at faster speeds, and moving forward and back through the recording? If you can do this, then a 30 minute recording can be consumed much more quickly.
And if you could then record your response, which the client could again listen to at any time (at any speed, skipping the boring parts), you could both benefit from this.
Now there ARE times when you both need to be talking to each other at the same time. Weddings come to mind. You don’t want one party to say “I do” and have to wait hours or days for the other party to say “I do” also. (Although proxy marriages can be an option when one of the couple is in the military and deployed. But I digress.)
But in many instances, asynchronous communication is more effective and fits the bill.
The Volley App solution
Some time ago, I downloaded the Volley App after it was released.
Volley includes the features that I listed above: asynchronous communication, playback at multiple speeds, and the ability to move forward and backward in the pre-recorded video.
Of course, one thing about using the Volley app is that the other person needs to have some level of access to Volley. This is understandable; in 1921 if you had a phone but your brother didn’t, you weren’t going to be able to call your brother on the phone.
And since I didn’t know anyone else who used Volley (other than the “Hello Volley” people), I never really used it for any consequential purpose.
So here’s how you can contact me on Volley
Going back to the OC SPARK meeting, I mentioned the Volley app as a possible time-saving solution via its asynchronous communication feature. This prompted me to revisit my own Volley account and figure out how Volley users could contact me.
They can do so via the URL talk.volley.app/bredemarket. (Ah, another page not visited by TinEye.)
In the picture above, you can see that big button that says “Talk to John on Volley.”
But there’s a catch.
You have to set up a Volley account first.
I didn’t go through the setup process since I already have a Volley account, but it looks like people with existing Google and LinkedIn accounts can speed the account setup process.
Of course, if you already have a Volley account, you don’t need to create one.
So either way, if you want to send me a Volley, feel free to go to https://talk.volley.app/bredemarket to do so.
And I’ll respond.
When I have time.
Bredemarket 