Sean Failla
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To all;
First of all my apologies for the emotional outburst, but Althea hit a hot button of mine. My comment was directed at some of the things Althea mentioned and no one else. To further clarify my point, everyone in their own way is a networker, there is no textbook method. Furthermore, I envision groups such as these as resources and helpgroups, and we should use them as such. Motivate, communicate and help, we don't need to critize here.
I've been networking/selling for near 20years and I'm still learning. Let's work together, there are a lot of wonderful people on here with great ideas, go with that!
I wish you all continued success.
Sean
> Althea Garner wrote:
> Whoa! Too many communications!
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>I receive over 250 e-mails a day - outside of Ryze network communications.
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>Sorry, but I am going to have to switch off from this network. While I find that some of the content is useful, I cannot be interrupted every five minutes with a response to a response to a response, if you get my drift?
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>Three, four, five questions a day from the Network Leader to drive traffic to his network, is too much for me, as the recipient - there is work to do.
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>Thank you all...............
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>Over and out!
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>:)
>A
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>>> Eric Sohn wrote:
>>> Steve -
>>>Actually, I was talking about true cold-calls - i.e. Selling to VITO calls, where you don't know they have specific needs, other than knowing that all companies can benefit from the service.
>>>That was when I thought I'd market to large companies. I had initial success in that market when, by chance, I met a SVP from Pitney Bowes, who agreed to refer me in to the Executive Development area. But, local networking makes it hard to meet those folks - few large company reps (other than sales) show up to Chamber of Commerce events.
>>>I tried an ExecuNet meeting once, on the premise that by helping the out-of-work execs with what I'm expert at (presentation skills), I'd be able to contact them after they landed. Don't remind me - it actually was a stupid strategy, as it diluted my perceived focus.
>>>FInally, I realized I'd rather "go small". I've since tried a lot of face-to-face marketing (trade shows, speaking, networking events), with little success. I found the educational gap to be the primary problem - unless someone has a proximate need, few are all that interested in spending more than 2 or 3 minutes understanding what I do.
>>>Believe it or not, Ryze has reinvigorated my marketing. The ability to demonstrate, through posting, what coaching is and that I do it competently, is unique to the message board mechanisms. And, to be fair, I think I'm more relaxed in this medium - I respond to people with expressed needs, which (other than "wanna buy from me") is not that common in face-to-face networking.
>>>And the results show it - One client found me through my posts, someone gave me a card at one of the mixers, and yet another person posted initial interest on my GB. That's more bites in less than 3 weeks here than over a year of doing it the "old-fashioned" way.
>>>Go ahead, Steve - let's have some questions.
>>>Coach Eric
>>>> Steve Levy wrote:
>>>> E-
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>>>>I'm making an assumption that you make calls when you hear or read of a real opportunity - for example, a brand new CIO at a local company that has had "cultural problems" the past few years.
>>>>
>>>>Anyone who is a CIO probably has spoken at conferences or has been quoted in a local or national business journal - perhaps even giving you fodder for identifying "issues." Take all you can find and formulate a list of possible areas of need that may be coachable.
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>>>>Here's where it becomes creative. With the list complete, it's time to create calling plan. Hint: The CIO's assistant probably knows about the CIO's personal and professional needs better than you.
>>>>
>>>>So Eric - I'll stop here and see how you're "hmmmm" turns into questions to ask.
>>>>
>>>>See you in a few hours.
>>>>
>>>>> Eric Sohn wrote:
>>>>> Folks -
>>>>>You've probably noticed that I ask a lot of questions. Normally, I'd ask them one at a time, but the inherent slowness of doing this online (not via iChat) makes that infeasible.
>>>>>The purpose of the questions, as you might have guessed, is to get people to question their assumptions and limits, and consider other possibilities currently walled-off to them by their own hand. Coaches try to ask questions that make you go "Hmmm..." :`)
>>>>>So, how about you ask me questions to help me with a problem?
>>>>>As I said, I hate cold-calling. I don't know how to approach calling someone I don't know on the phone, and being asked what this is all about. When I've done it, I've identified myself as a business coach and asked if we could get together to talk about coaching over coffee. All but once, I got "we're not interested" and "Click!"
>>>>>To me, it feels funny to say "I just want to get to know you" - actually, it feels phony, which I don't want to be.
>>>>>So, what questions would you ask me to figure out how to market with initial phone contact - or to decide to abandon it as a strategy (my current choice)?
>>>>>I am open to the possibility of changing my attitude and behaviors about this, so... ask away!
>>>>>Coach Eric
>>>>>Some of you are coaches... I'd prefer you lay low on this one, except to comment on other's questions - Thanks! Private Reply to Sean Failla (new win) |