Episode 63: Streamlining Email Communication with Clients Using Missive with Philippe Lehoux
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Conquering Workflows & Systems for Bookkeepers & Accountants podcast with Alyssa Lang, founder of Workflow Queen and Magnetic Bookkeeping & Consulting and Philippe Lehoux, the CEO and co-founder of Missive, a collaborative email and team chat app designed to streamline communication and workflow for businesses. Episode topic: Streamlining Email Communication with Clients Using Missive with Philippe Lehoux
Alyssa Lang interviews Philippe Lehoux, the CEO and co-founder of Missive, a collaborative email and team chat app designed to streamline communication and workflow for businesses. They discuss how Missive can help you and your team at your bookkeeping and accounting firm to easily manage emails and communication with clients so you’re not the bottleneck.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How Missive helps to streamline your client email and communication
How to use Missive to train your team members to take over client communication
What automations options Missive offers to auto email, send OOO emails and weekend away emails
When the best time is to implement a system like Missive
Resources mentioned in this episode:
⚙️ Slack
⚙️ Zapier
⚙️ Boomerang for Gmail and Outlook
⚙️ Hiver
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Ever found yourself swamped with client emails, thinking there must be a better way to manage this madness? Today, I’m thrilled to share a tool that has completely transformed how my firm handles emails and client communications. If your inbox feels more like a beast than a business tool, I’ve got just the secret weapon for you: Missive. It’s seriously saved my sanity and streamlined my entire firm’s communication. Let's dive into why I’m head over heels for this tool and why you might be too!
What is Missive and Why Switch?
Missive is not just any client email management tool; it’s a collaborative platform that allows your entire team to manage emails together. Alright, let me paint a picture for you: Imagine a world where your emails, SMS, and social media messages all come together in one beautifully organized place. That’s Missive. This not only streamlines communication but also boots response efficiency. When one of my students in the Breakthrough program mentioned Missive, I knew I had to check it out. Spoiler alert: It was love at first demo!
My Experience Transitioning to Missive
During a live demo, I saw firsthand how seamlessly it integrated with our existing tools and how intuitive its interface was. It matched our firm’s dynamic needs, from handling client onboarding emails, to managing internal discussions about complex tax questions. The switch was a breath of fresh air, especially compared to the clunky transitions we had experienced with other software. The transition not only made our workflow smoother but also saved us from the hassle of juggling multiple platforms. I’m not one to jump ship on a whim, but Missive had me switching faster than you can say “inbox zero.” It was like finding the piece that made my client communication puzzle click. No more app-switching chaos. Everything now flows in one cohesive stream, making life simpler and client interactions smoother.
Deep Dive into Features
Training Team Members
I remember how we used to struggle with delegating client emails without losing oversight. With Missive, new hires can draft responses and get real-time feedback before anything goes live. It’s like having a safety net that ensures every communication reflects the firm’s standards while empowering team members to learn and grow.
Automation Options:
If you’re anything like me, you want to spend less time on repetitive tasks. Missive’s got our backs here with some awesome automations:
Auto Email Responses: Set up automatic replies to ensure no client inquiry goes unnoticed, even when you’re busy!
Out of Office Emails: Heading out for some well-deserved R&R? Set up OOO messages that tell people you’ll get back to them once you’re recharged.
Weekend Away Emails: And for those weekend inquiries? Have Missive send a gentle nudge that you’ll tackle their issues first thing Monday.
How Missive Enhances Business Operations
Using Missive feels like having an extra set of hands on deck. Whether it’s tagging a team member to take over a convo, setting up client-specific inboxes, or juggling multiple threads at once—everything is just clicks away.
Missive in Action: Real-world Applications
Since integrating Missive, our days are notably less chaotic. For instance, managing email discussions around client tax filings or year-end audits has become a breeze. We tag team members, assign tasks directly within an email thread, and use internal notes to track progress without external tools. These features not only save time but also keep everyone on the same page—crucial during the busy tax season.
Security and Reliability
Their security is also incredible, especially when handling sensitive client information. Missive’s commitment to security protocols and its pursuit of SOC 2 certification reassures us that client data is in safe hands.
When Is the Best Time to Implement a System Like Missive?
Deciding when to implement a system like Missive in your firm can feel like a daunting decision. From my own experience, the best time is when you start noticing gaps in your communication processes—when emails start slipping through the cracks, or when your team's response times begin to lag. For us, it was a moment of realization during a particularly hectic tax season when keeping up just wasn't possible with our old system.
The ideal moment could be when you're planning to scale your operations, or perhaps right before a busy season kicks in. Implementing Missive ahead of these periods allows you to streamline workflows, train your team effectively, and ensure everyone is comfortable with the new system. This proactive approach not only smooths out potential kinks but also takes advantage of Missive's collaboration tools right when your firm needs them the most.
For any firm leaders out there thinking, "Should I wait until the off-season?"—my advice: Don’t wait. The transition to Missive was surprisingly smooth for us, and the sooner you do it, the quicker you’ll see the benefits in productivity and team coordination. Plus, Missive’s intuitive design means the learning curve isn’t high, allowing for a quick transition even during busier times.
Conclusion
Implementing Missive was a game-changer, especially ahead of our peak seasons. It empowered us to handle high volumes of client interactions with greater efficiency and fewer hiccups. So, if you're on the fence, consider this: the best time might just be now.
If you’re looking to streamline your communication processes, enhance team collaboration, and improve client satisfaction, Missive might just be the game changer you need.
Have you faced challenges with managing client communications? How do you handle email overload in your firm? Share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below. I’m eager to hear how you manage these challenges and if Missive could be the solution you’ve been looking for!
About our guest:
Philippe-Antoine Lehoux, CEO and co-founder of Missive, leads a team dedicated to revolutionizing business communication. With a background in web development, Lehoux focuses on innovation and user experience, integrating email seamlessly with other business tools. Prior successes include selling ConferenceBadge.com to Tiny.com, showcasing his ability to scale niche products. Lehoux's leadership emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness, propelling Missive to the forefront of the industry. His vision extends beyond product development, aiming to foster a global culture of productivity and collaboration. Lehoux's commitment to enhancing communication and collaboration drives Missive's continued growth, shaping the future of workplace communication.
Connect with Philippe Lehoux:
Check out Missive: https://missiveapp.com/
Email Philippe: plehoux@missiveapp.com
Follow Philippe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/plehoux
Follow Philippe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plehoux/
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