Phones are for more than just texting friends

For the last 20 years, technology has changed the way we communicate with each other. While phone calls were once the most popular way to reach out and touch someone, email seems to have surpassed it as a communication channel to connect with others not only in business, but also in personal use.

According to a study released by the technology marketing firm Radicati Group Inc., there were 3.9 billion personal email accounts in 2013. That number is expected to increase 6 percent, to 4.9 billion by the end of 2017. Business email accounts are expected to grow from 929 million up to 1.1 billion.

As for phone calls, the Pew Research Internet Project conducted a study where they learned that 83 percent of adults own cell phones, with 31 percent saying they prefer communicating by talking on the phone.

Email, like all technology, can be an efficient tool if it is used correctly, however it can also be detrimental or even dangerous.

There are benefits to using email. A person can send one message to people all over the country and save time, rather than calling one person at a time on the phone. Composing an email allows a person the time to articulate their thoughts clearly before sending it. If a person talks on the phone, there is a chance that what they say could be misunderstood by others on the other end of the line.

Email also allows people to screen the information they receive from others.

There are drawbacks to solely relying on email. Just because you send an email to someone does not mean they received it in time or at all. If you send an email from your office to another, the receiving party may not have the same emailing service as you, which can cause some delays, resulting in incorrect information getting being read.

People in the business world, especially younger folks, are more likely to send emails to people than actually calling them on the phone. They believe that sending an email is enough. However, not picking up the phone and calling someone can be a detriment to a business.

In the Wall Street Journal article, “Bosses Say ‘Pick Up the Phone,’” businesses like Metro Guide Publishing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, were reporting a loss in sales. Patty Baxter of Metro Guide Publishing attributed the drop in sales to employees emailing their clients instead of calling them.

Emails can be impersonal. During a phone call, you have a chance to interact with the individual you are talking to and learn more about them through dialogue. You can also get a sense of their emotions by the tone of their voice. With email, text is all you get, which lacks a sense of emotion. You don’t know how someone is feeling unless they spell it out for you.

We’re not advocating that everyone shut down their emails. We’re just asking for everyone to use the phone a little more when it comes to communicating with others.

We’re also suggesting that if someone sends you an email, show some courtesy and respond to the sender, even if it is just to say that you received it.

For individuals who prefer to send emails, make an effort to make sure the people you are sending information to got it and get some confirmation.