Texting Clients Makes Me Uncomfortable – What Can I Do?

Let’s face it: when it comes to texting clients for your photography business, you’re likely to fall into one of two camps.

You’re either excited and eager to embrace it, or you feel uneasy, anxious, and maybe even a bit uncomfortable.

Both reactions are completely valid, and in this post, we’ll dive more into those feelings of discomfort and how to address them.

Our Experience with Texting Clients

For some photographers, texting comes naturally.

Marshall is one of those people (he’s one of the co-founders of Shoot and Thrive). For him, it’s a quick and easy way to communicate with anyone, including his clients. He even prefers it over email or phone calls a lot of the time. I tend to think this is because his naturally outgoing and extroverted personality has him more in touch with people, and maybe a little more open-minded to trying new things like this!

On the other hand, there are those who, like myself (Chris – the other co-founder of Shoot and Thrive here), don’t love texting—even when it’s with family and friends.

For me, it can feel invasive or anxiety-inducing, especially when thinking about communicating with clients through such a personal medium. And look, I have my reasons for feeling this way (which we’ll talk more about in a second!).

If you’re in the latter camp, let me assure you that you’re not alone, and there are ways to make texting feel more manageable for your business.

Why Texting Can Feel Uncomfortable

So – why does sending a simple text message make some of us uncomfortable?

There’s a ton of reasons for this, but a few I’d like to highlight are these:

1. Your phone is a private space: For many of us, our phones are deeply personal, and the idea of using them for business can feel intrusive.
2. Privacy concerns: You may worry about giving out your personal phone number to clients or potential clients, especially if you’ve had negative experiences in the past.
3. Texting is a new thing: It can be anxiety-inducing to do something new – and while most of us send texts, not all of us do it with people we don’t know like inquiring customers or actual clients.
4. Fear of boundaries being crossed: There’s always a concern that clients will start texting you at all hours, turning your phone into a constant stream of notifications that you feel obligated to respond to.

These are valid concerns, and it’s essential to acknowledge them before figuring out how to navigate this form of communication.

Do you have any other reasons why sending texts makes you feel uncomfortable?

So – Do You Have to Text Clients?

No.

If the thought of texting clients feels overwhelming or affects your mental health, you don’t have to implement it.

There are plenty of successful photography businesses that don’t use text messaging at all.

However, it’s worth noting that text messages have an open rate of 98%, significantly higher than email, which can lead to more engagement and bookings.

Texting can create stronger, more personal relationships with clients and help you stand out from competitors who may only rely on email. It’s about finding a way to integrate texting into your workflow that aligns with your comfort levels.

Finding Solutions That Work for You

Let’s answer the main question of this post – what can I do if texting clients makes me feel uncomfortable?

If you decide to explore texting for your business, here are a few solutions to make it feel more manageable and less anxiety-inducing:

1. Use a Separate Business Number: One of the most effective ways to maintain boundaries is by getting a separate business phone number. This can be done through VOIP services like Google Voice, which allows you to manage business texts without giving out your personal number. By keeping your business and personal lines separate, you can decide when you want to engage with clients and when you want to “clock out.” It also eliminates some of the privacy concerns that come with giving out your personal phone number.
   
2. Treat Texts Like Emails: For those who feel uncomfortable texting from their phone, services like Google Voice allow you to send texts from your computer. This gives texting a more professional and email-like feel, which can be easier to manage. You can even use templates for common messages, allowing you to send consistent, concise texts without having to overthink each one.
   
3. Set Clear Boundaries: If your concern is clients texting you at all hours, make sure to set expectations early. Let them know when they can expect responses and establish your work hours upfront. This can be included in your contract, onboarding emails, or even the first text you send them.
   
4. Start Small: If the idea of texting clients feels overwhelming, start small. Begin by sending text messages to confirm appointments or follow up on inquiries. You don’t have to dive into constant text-based communication right away. By gradually introducing texting into your workflow, you can gauge how it feels for both you and your clients.

My Personal Experience with Texting

For years, I avoided texting my clients because it made me uncomfortable. Like many of you, I had privacy concerns and felt that texting was too personal for business. Not to mention, I’ve had some issues in my life where texts got misinterpreted and led to other issues for me that I won’t talk about here.

But after speaking with other photographers, like Marshall, who had great results, I decided to give it a try!

As a business owner, while I might have my hesitations, I do often try to make an effort to step out of my comfort zone to at least see if there are other opportunities out there to make my business even better.

Texting was one of those things for me I had to at least try a few times before judging it too harshly.

So, a hard boundary for me was that I didn’t want to be texting clients from my personal phone (or, well, my phone at all if I could help it).

By setting up a Google Voice number and using templates I created, I started slowly integrating texting into my client communications – specifically doing it through my desktop computer. I was nervous at first, but over time, I found that it helped me build stronger relationships with clients, streamline communication, and even increase my bookings.

What surprised me the most was how well clients responded to it.

I found that texting helped make the experience feel more personal and informal, without crossing the professional boundaries I had set.

The Power of Text Messaging

Texting doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach.

You can use it strategically for key touchpoints, like following up on inquiries, confirming session details, or sending a quick “hype” message when galleries are ready.

Clients often appreciate the convenience of texting, and it can help you create a more personal connection with them. Remember, it’s all about finding a balance that works for you and your business.

If you’re someone who feels hesitant or uncomfortable about texting clients, I encourage you to explore some of these solutions. You don’t have to fully commit to texting, but trying it out could open up new opportunities for communication, stronger client relationships, and even more bookings.

In our Client Experience course, we dive deeper into this topic, show you how to text for better results, and even share our text message templates for photographers to make this communication even easier.