Web hosts till tell you that they are always looking to build a better mouse trap when it comes to getting customers the answers that they are looking for. Love them or hate them, quick responses are a part of the web hosting business.
Bottom line? They allow support workers to get often asked questions answered as quickly as possible.
Let AutoHotkey Do the Heavy Typing for You!
Thinking outside the box though and trying to see what you really need when it comes to quickly publishing these answers – well, there just has to be a better way. Personally I set out to find something that would allow me to type in a few letters – hit enter, and automatically paste a four paragraphed answer to a question. I found my answer after spending some time playing with AutoHotkey.
AutoHotkey is a free mouse and keyboard macro program. The part your going to be interested in is the AutoText feature which allows you to write up a simple script, type in a few letters – hit enter and have your quick response typed out for you. It does have a learning curve to master but once you do get it down it is a powerful tool for anybody who finds themselves typing the same thing over and over again.
Your Own Virtual Notebook
Another tool I like to keep at my side at all times is my Google Notebook. While doing my own tech support work – it is handy to have some of the most asked questions there at my fingertips. Not much has to be said about this, because the concept here is so easy to understand.
Copy and save things you need to type out or access often inside of Google Notebook. While going through the e-mail or help desk at your hosting company, keep it open in another tab and you have yet another personal list of quick response tools.
So there you have two great ways to make your customer support work just a little easier on you.
As you might have or have not noticed, I made it into this next edition of Ping! Zine. The PDF is out now – and is well worth reading.
Do you go by the beat of your own drum or do you let the masses tell you how to do you bidding?
What is the best way to manage multiple web sites with only one hosting account? That is the question Diane e-mailed to me a little earlier this week, and there are a few different ways you could get this done. Here is Diane’s dilemma.
Johnny sent me an e-mail that was straight and to the point. The control panel solution, cPanel and enabling hotlink protection seemed to confuse him. So I told him I’d go through the process.
One question that I get from a multitude of web hosts is, “Are there any alternative methods to tech support that you know of?”. With everybody doing the standard e-mail, help desk and live chat support, people are looking for an alternative to give them an edge over the competition.
Angry Mob Running Your Web Hosting Business?
They are outside of your proverbial web hosting fortress demanding the head of the man who runs this, “Shame of a web hosting company”. You look to your left, the phone support team has vanished. You look to your right and see your server administrators cowarding under their desks. How did you find yourself in this situation and should you have been listening to that mob before they became so angry?
Are You in Trouble?
Now should you listen to public feedback? Yes! Put your personal feelings aside because the public is the ones that will make you or break you. For example, lets say you have the world greatest plan for expanding the web hosting business. You plan it for months, and then on release day – it sinks. Nobody is interested and the public is mad at you for doing it.
Learn to Negotiate to Get What You Want!
Now instead of “sticking with your guns” like an old western, you need to learn how to modify your plan to make it more public friendly. You need to find that middle ground that will make both you and the public at large happy.
There is no reason why you should have to give up on your idea totally or the public should have the final say on how you run your business. The secret is listen to what they have to say, soak it in like a sponge and play the role of King Solomon.