The following KB is designed to help you better communicate with customers. Commissions can be quite complex to discuss (via email or in-person), so clarity is key. It definitely takes time and energy to draft clear emails.
When to Communicate?
If you are sure of your response, reach out immediately. This will lead to a better customer experience. Otherwise, check internally for a second opinion or check.
How to Communicate?
- Always start with a greeting
- Recap the situation / ask
- Use a subject such as "Sales Cookie - <Something>"
- They might not know you, so the subject provides context
- Try to include multiple related asks in one single email
- But use separate email threads for unrelated topics
- Avoid excessive technical lingo (ex: "dynamic filtering formula")
- Use headings to logically separate sections
- Include screenshots when helpful or to "prove" findings
- Use hyperlinks (ex: link to KBs, link to plan)
- Note: calculations links may become obsolete after a re-run
- Use NOT in capital letters when appropriate
- Highlight / bold / underline text for key points & asks
- Provide exact steps to get to the interface
- Use bullet points to improve readability
- Copy sales@salescookie.com
- If you would like a follow-up if the customer does not respond
If there is too much back-and-forth via email, ask the customer if they would like to schedule a call. Someone else can take calls for you (ex: your time zone is not appropriate).
Example of Communication
Subject - Sales Cookie - Agent Calculation Error
Good evening John,
I looked into your June calculation error ("invalid quota") and have a few questions.
===== Question #1 - Agent Quotas =====
My understanding is that all your agents should have quota for plan
Agent Commissions.
However, I do NOT see a quota for Eric and John, which is causing the calculation error.
Please do the following:
- Go to Settings > Tools
- Choose "Bulk Update User Quotas"
- Enter custom variable @@Quota
- Click on "Load All"
- Check that every agent has a quota entered
Here is what it should look like.
===== Question #2 - Agent Rates =====
Lorem ipsum...
Regards,
John Doe.