Slow down. Stop. Slow down. Pretend you’re talking to a kid, one that just learned how to answer the phone AND write.
I got a voicemail today from a company that said if I had questions to call them. She spoke so quickly, then repeated, that I couldn’t have gotten the number if I wanted it.
If you want a chance at people replying to your voicemail, slow down. Tell me why you’re calling, tell me WHY you want me to call you back, and SLOWLY leave your phone number. Then leave your number again, and your name.
I won’t lie- my biggest obstacle to calling someone back is if the phone number they called from isn’t the number they want me to call them back at. I am VERY lazy. If I can hit “return call” I just might do that. But if I have to write down a number and then dial it? I’ll have to really like you and want to talk to you for that to happen…
Ask Yellow Dog: The 2 Company Conundrum
Occasionally people will email me with a sales & marketing challenge they need a bit of help with. In the latest edition we’re talking about running 2 companies and not confusing your network in the process…
I have two separate, but related companies. My questions is: I obviously can’t market one product at some events and another at another event, but I have two cards and think it is weird. They are two separate companies. Sometimes I hand out both cards to different people at the same meeting. Is that weird?
Promote what sounds right to you depending on the event you are at. The fact that you are getting referrals instead of finding your own clients is AWESOME, most of my work comes from referrals as well, and it’s so nice to not have to go out and hunt for the jobs! So, spending time at networking events and with people who are actively referring you business is a good place to be (and your target market!).
I think having two cards is no problem- some people will be interested in one business, but have no need/interest in the other business. When you are giving your elevator pitch at an event, just pick ONE of these two companies to “pitch” but keep listening to what everyone else at the table is saying and doing. This where FOLLOW UP is key. “hey great to meet you, I didn’t get a chance to mention this to you at the event, but I also do…” That’s if you don’t get a chance to talk more with them over lunch or afterwards.
If you have a burning sales or marketing question- you can always Ask Yellow Dog!
Fake Out Emails
In the past 24 hours I’ve received emails that aren’t in an approved newsletter program, but are obviously sent to multiple people. The first email stated at the bottom “if you’d rather not get this kind of news from us, just let us know and we’ll unsubscribe you.” And that’s fine. I emailed the person, who’s a colleague, and mentioned throwing it into a newsletter program. They said they want people to open it if it comes directly from their email program. Well, okay.
The second email came from an insurance sales person (always my favorite, right after financial planner emails…) and the first line was cheesy and obviously they did an email merge program for “Hey Elizabeth” and then onto the canned “call me so I can sell you stuff.” No opt out option, and nothing personalized.
If you want me to give you my money, spend some effort and time being personal, OR be honest. I send out my monthly newsletter that is obviously going to a lot of people in my network. But there’s no hiding it. If I want to reach out to you individually, or to a smaller group, I’ll make sure to be a real person to you, in hopes you’ll be a real person to me.
Otherwise, you’re burning bridges you didn’t know might be there.
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