There’s an aspect of my writing life that I often just don’t understand — people not returning my phone calls. Now, if I were a scoop-getting investigative reporter calling about your involvement with a certain Mr. Blagojevich, I’d certainly understand not getting a call back. But when I’m calling to get your opinion on whether red is an “in” colour for jackets this year or not, I don’t get it. It’s free advertising, people. You call me back, answer my questions, I put your name in the story and presto! You’re in a magazine and you didn’t even have to pay for it.
Some people get it. And I love those people. They’re always the first to call me back, always the first to help me out or get me what I need. And guess what? Those people, those brands, are the people I go to whenever the opportunity presents itself because I know I won’t have to chase them and that they won’t string me along. They get twice the press (from me) than other people.
I know people are busy. I get it. I am too. But a two-minute call back is just two minutes. And it’s free. And nowadays, what’s better than free??
-KB
