What do you prefer your customers use to contact?

[scarscratch]

Hi all, I was wondering what you entrepreneurs’ preferred contact channels for your businesses were for customer service or inquiries et al. (other than "not at all" of course :P )

By that I mean, does your website (or what-have-you) use a website form, direct customer service mail, calling you directly (what I use, since we’re so small), do you use gotvmail, have a machine-answering thing, or what? What’s most efficient?

[nickthesaint]

What exactly your business does is the real question that needs answering, since that and your growth determine what kinds of channel formats are most useful.

Is your small business a mobile outfit (like a consulting firm)? Then having an advanced 800 number that ties into multiple extensions works best, since clients call only one number that routes calls to whomever agent they seek. That's just one example.

[rogercbryan]

Question is backwards... should read 'what do my customers prefer as a contact method to get in touch with my company'.... always phone over e-mail if you can afford to support it.