Instant messengers (IM) can be a lot of fun, and a great way to chat with people online. However, they can be extremely distracting and cause you to waste your time instead of using it for productive purposes.

For the most part, instant messengers and business don’t mix. The reason is because they can often do more harm to your business then good. If you don’t have the willpower to ignore an IM or shut it down, you’ll likely end up losing focus on work and become less productive.

There are plenty of different instant messenger programs available that you can use. Popular ones include:

* MSN
* AIM
* Yahoo
* ICQ

To help you deiced if you should keep instant messengers up and running while you are working, below are some pros and cons you can consider when combining instant messengers with business:

Pros

Unique communication tool – instant messenger programs can be used for communication with clients, employees, or those you have outsourced work too. Just remember that those whom you choose to communicate with over an online messenger service, must have the same program and be connected to it at the same time.

If you choose to use this method of communication, it is a good idea to schedule a time when you’ll be on to chat, instead of leaving it on all the time. This will help you avoid being seen by other users or clients you do not have appointments with.

In addition, you may want to create an IM that is set up for only business purposes, and create a list that includes only business associates and clients.

International convenience – if you are out of town, instant messaging can be a great way to get in touch with clients if it is necessary you speak with them.

Cons

Distraction – This is the only con that will be listed, but you will discover that it carries with it many negative aspects.

Your instant messenger can be a huge distraction from your work for a number of reasons and can cause:

* Temptation – if you are feeling a little sluggish at work, you may feel the need to pop on your instant messenger to see if your friends are online.

* Personal Chit-Chat – If your friends are online and they see you are too, they’ll likely message you and want to start chatting.

* Disorganizes thoughts – Any time you want to send a message via your instant messenger program you need to pull yourself away from whatever it is you are working on and can lose your train of thought.

* Kills motivation – if you get too wrapped up in a personal conversation you will fell less interested in going back to work. It may also stir up personal emotions that can make it difficult to focus on your daily business goals.

* Games – Many instant messenger programs such as MSN and ICQ feature games, which is another temptation you need to avoid.

Finally, don’t forget that if you use a VoIP program that allows you to speak with your customers over the internet, these programs can also be used for instant messaging purposes. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make sure you only activate instant messengers you intend to communicate with a client.

If you simply don’t have the willpower to ignore your IM program and need it on all the time, it’s in your best interest to get rid of it altogether.

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