Those of you that have family located all over the US or all over the world will find this post particularly interesting.  Growing up, holidays were huge in my family.  As I’ve stated, my father had thirteen siblings.  I’ve got twenty something first cousins and when you add spouses and children, you’re talking get-togethers of fifty people or more.

Recently, much of the family has moved to Colorado, Florida and even some back to Greece. Keeping in touch always meant expensive phone bills.  Since 2004 I’ve been using Skype, the free internet phone/video program to keep in touch with family and friends from around the world.  Until recently, I’ve only been communicating internationally with people.  There really wasn’t a need to use it domestically. That is, until I had children.

To use Skype (www.skype.com) all you need is an internet connection and a webcam (for audio/video) or a microphone (for audio-only calls). To call other Skype users, the system is free.  Yes, free.  Currently, Skype has some 170 million registered users and since opening a Skype account is free, it is likely you’ll find someone you know is using Skype. Skype can be downloaded fairly quickly.  When you launch it, find a contact in your address book, click “call” and the next thing you know, you’re talking over the internet for free.  Click “start video” and you’ll be able to see one another, each via a webcam, in real time and nearly instantly.

Veronique in our office told me she uses Skype to chat with her niece in Canada every Sunday night. I thought it would be nice for my daughter to “see” her grandparents. So, I bought my parents a webcam. Installation is very easy.  Every weekend, my daughter speaks with and sees her grandparents on my computer.  She loves it and my parents love being able to keep in touch.  My daughter isn’t even two yet, but she sure smiles when she sees and hears my parents, “live.”

To take things one step further, this Christmas, I even put my laptop right on the dining room table so my local family could see and speak with my “far away” family in Colorado and Miami.  This made for such a wonderful Christmas. It felt like we were all together.  My eighty-five year old aunt, my ninety year old uncle and my father all had such a blast seeing each other.   They were even happier to get to see their eighty-something year old sister in Greece. They were amazed at the technology.  I was amazed at how much they enjoyed it.  I promise you, there were tears flowing. Sure, we all normally speak by phone, but being able to see one another added another element altogether.

To bring this full circle, you could do the same with your clients.  Open a Skype account and start promoting your account name and you’ll see how many customers take you up on your offer to communicate via Skype.  There’s only one draw-back to all of this; you’ll have to get yourself out of your pajamas, comb your hair and, if needed, put some makeup on. You are, after all, trying to sell something.  Are you already using Skype?  If so, let me know.  Happy selling!