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| | Post New Topic | | Business Contacts | Views: 595 | | Aug 06, 2008 3:13 pm | | Business Contacts | # |
mark adams | | We all need business contacts. We should open this thread to discuss various ways. The best way is cold calling. You will be surprised what you can get. You need to know your product and how to approach. I use the yellow pages for alot of my cold calling locally but you can find Internet resources that can give a wealth of business information on potential prospects.
What are some ways you cold call? Anyone?
Mark Adams
Telecommunication Consultant
Total Business Solutions Communication
Private Reply to mark adams | | Nov 28, 2008 12:13 pm | | re: Business Contacts | # | 
Jeff Beeman | | Tons of possibilites here, and I agree cold calling is going to get you a number of opportunities. Along with that I might add the following...
1) Don't be afraid to just introduce your self and hand out a business card. The trick to this is to be ready to respond to something as simple as the basic "Head nod or Hi, how you doing comment. You don't have to be the Car Salesman with the big handshake, arm around the shoulder "Hey great to meet you come on down next week and I'll get you a great deal kinda guy". Just be ready to take the simple "Hi, how you doing comment" to the next step. Try to keep get a conversation flowing or hang on to it long enough to get a business card in there hand.
2) When opportunity presents itself, and it does daily for me because people are always texting or answering calls. I just ask...What cell phone service are you using? How's that working out for you? Be ready to go from there. We offer all the national name brands so if they are having issues we can make some dollars $$!
3) Obviously advertising - A bit tacky but flyers out at the local shops have gotten me a couple sales here and there. Just make them professional looking to stand out from all the "Car for sale" and "Lost dog" flyers.
4) Classified ads in smaller papers can be affordable. Go out and get in small community weekly papers. Normally dedicated readers and a lot less expensive than big city stuff.
5) A huge mistake I have made...Make sure people (friends and family) know this is what you do! Don't try to sell them on it all the time just make sure they know Uncle Bob or Cousin Jeff sells this product. I have people I talk to every few days or at least weekly that think all I do is my "mainstream job." They have no clue (sometimes no clue about anything but that's another story) and that is totaly my fault for a lack of advertising myself and my business. Maybe they never will buy from me directly but if I give them some good advise they may refer me to another friend or family member. That is basic Networking and I have seen that happen!
These comments and thoughts are all fairly basic information and maybe more appropiate for the newbie Networker. Always possible though the more experienced folks might feel they need to go back to the basics in these areas as well.
Happy Selling,
Jeff Beeman
JBNET
Home/Business Solutions
http://www.virusbusters.biz
Private Reply to Jeff Beeman | | Feb 16, 2009 9:39 pm | | Business Contacts | # | 
Lukeither Willingham,MBA | | I make cold calls (which dosen't seem to work as well for me) because I have to get pass the gate keeper.
Approaching clients in person has proven to be effective for me so weekly I go to mini malls and stip malls and talk directly to the owners.
I also keep business cards/flyers with me and hand them out to everyone.
I have also gotten clents from participating in local events.
Private Reply to Lukeither Willingham,MBA | | Feb 18, 2009 12:38 am | | re: Business Contacts | # |
gazellems | | I've had the same results as Lukeither so I stopped cold calling years ago when those pesky automated answering machines became popular. Now I attend at least 4 networking meetings a month and get to meet the business owners while they are far away from the gatekeepers. LOL! Take care and God bless.
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Gazelle Simmons, Virtual Asst/Owner of Admin Services, http://www.admnsrvcs.com
How to become a VA - http://vatools.frugaladnetwork.com/index.php/book-intro
Satisfied Customer and Marketing Executive at Melaleuca
Private Reply to gazellems | | Feb 18, 2009 12:52 am | | Business Contacts | # |
Lukeither Willingham,MBA | | Gazelle, you've just reminded me of the benefits of locating a local business networking event to participate in regularly.
Thanks for sharing that tip.
Which networks have you found to be beneficial for your business goals?
Private Reply to Lukeither Willingham,MBA | | |
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