|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 | ||||||||||
HypnotizeAmerica Veteran user 399 Posts |
Danny -
The reason I do it that way is simple - if you can't pick up the phone and call me toll free to talk to me about the event you must be simply window shopping and not serious. Think about how easy email is to hide behind. Now I use email for follow up instead of phone calls but in order to contact me initially it's through the web via a contact form or via phone. If you can't pick up the phone and call and leave a message for me then I don't want to work with you. Simple as that for me. |
|||||||||
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Tim -
You can still end up on the phone for the consultation, even though they inquired via a different means. I give information on my website about how to contact me by email and by mail, as well as the phone, but I make it clear I will respond to their inquiry with a phone call. I used to have a dedicated fax line as a way of contacting me as well. I give them many ways to contact me, and I will respond to them in the means I prefer. If a person is online looking at your website, often it is easier to send an email than to pick up the phone. Sometimes they are online late at night, or while at work, or it is a bad time to talk on the phone, or sometimes they are not close to a phone or the phone is tied up. Just because those conditions exist, doesn't mean they are window shoppers. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
|||||||||
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-11 11:19, Donald Dunphy wrote: Tim the very idea that someone has people they don't want to work with, when they have NO IDEA WHO THEY MAY BE, to me is just not good business. The more people calling the better off you are. It is really that simple. Very few success manuals will tell you to be tough to get ahold of. You are right, maybe someone is tied up in meetings for the rest of the week, maybe they wanted to gather info via internet to show at a meeting, maybe maybe maybe. Limiting their options is not a very good idea.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
|||||||||
Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Hey, Donald:
Good point about timing when asking for contact data. Whenever a prospect calls, I'll ask who's calling, what sort of party they're having, the date, and so on...attempted rapport building, as others have mentioned. But when I see that "XXX" exchange on caller ID, I know the first thing they're going to ask is "What's it cost for a show?" Often, they'll simply rebuff my questions and repeat their inquiry. At that point, I give a quick "good, better, best" pitch and write off the call. As Al suggested, it's probably not worth schmoozing the lead. Next! At some point during conversation with a warmer lead, talk of logistics will arise; they'll ask something along the lines of "how does this work?" which means "how do I make the booking?" At that point I inform the prospect of my show agreement and deposit requirements. The caller may, reasonably enough, be hestitant to send a cheque to a stranger. If I sense that hesitation in their voice, I change the script, empathising with their hesistancy. "Most people want to see what they're getting before they buy, so I'm happy to do a complimentary audition." Based on their telephone exchange, I suggest a Starbucks near them and ask whether this Tuesday or Thursday would be more convenient for a brief close-up show. At that point they usually either agree to the booking and send the deposit, or arrange the audition (to which I bring the show agreement). In either case, the probability of a close is very high. If they defer, I then typically acquire their contact info in order to send the show agreement, an SASE, a small gift, and some marketing materials. The probability of a close is still quite high, and I then have a warm lead to add to my database. Thought provoking comments, Magi -- thanks for the input Leland |
|||||||||
HypnotizeAmerica Veteran user 399 Posts |
Donald -
I can't build rapport, custimize my sales pitch, etc over the first email. If they want to use to me they can call me or fill out a contact form. Now after the first contact we can use email, faxes, snail mail, I don't care but for that inital coversation it's done 99.999999999% of the time by phone. And I don't make it hard to contact me - I pay for the call and they get me 99.99% of the time. When my website is finished here a few weeks all of my marketing material will send them to it, they can read up, etc. Then they can fill out a booking form or contact me for more info, promo pack, etc. Again it may not be for everyone, but it seems to be doing good for me. Tim PS: I've toyed with the idea of having them leave a message and I can return it later but I hate doing that myself so I try to answer the phone everytime. |
|||||||||
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Tim -
I don't think I ever said that you had to e-mail them back, just because they e-mailed you. I just said to give them multiple ways to first approach you, according to THEIR preferences. The way you are wanting to do it, you never will really know how many you lost because of not being accessable for first contact by THEIR preferences. People like a non-threatening first contact, or at least want to feel that way. Some have this idea that they will be pushed into something they aren't sure about, or end up on some mailing list. They need to feel that security / trust (that you are there to help them, not to help yourself) before they contact you, and also while they are talking with you, and also after they have contacted you. Giving them multiple ways to first contact you is about making yourself more trustworthy / accessable. It's about inviting more people to contact you. - Donald P.S. I use a submit form on my website. I view that as the same as allowing them to e-mail me.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
|||||||||
HypnotizeAmerica Veteran user 399 Posts |
Donald -
I agree with you - I want to make the funnel as big as possible at first. I have the toll free number and a submit form just like you described so I guess we are a like. Maybe I'll add some more (like my cell number), fax machine, etc. |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricky business » » Phone Quotes, Part II (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |