November 23, 2009
How To Leave A Voice Mail That People Might Return
Voice mail is voice jail. You don’t want to leave a voice mail unless you simply have to. But sometimes you have no choice. So when you do leave a voice mail, do you ever wonder why people don’t return your calls?
How many times have you listened to a message and you could not understand the name or the number? Have you ever made that mistake?
Analyze this:
Leave your number twice – SLOWLY!
When you leave a voice mail, leave your number twice: at the beginning and at the end.
And say your number SLOWLY!!!
There is nothing more annoying than to have someone leave their phone number and rattle it off so fast that you can’t comprehend it. Don’t ever make that mistake!!
(You have been through the drill. You replay it twice. You don’t understand it. You delete it. Don’t let it happen to you!)
Here’s an example of how to do it right:
| Hi, Dave! I’m Steve Savage. (SLOWLY, PAUSE.)
My number is 678-594-7570. (SLOWLY, DISTINCTLY, PAUSE.) Please give me a quick call. Our mutual friend, John Evans, suggested we get acquainted. My strategy increased his business by 27% in 180 days. (PAUSE.) He thought you’d like to hear about it. We can do a quick analysis in 6 minutes. (PAUSE.) Again, my name is Steve Savage. (SLOWLY) Please call me at 678-594-7570. (SLOWLY, DISTINCTLY, PAUSE.) |
This works! Go slowly. Be calm. You won’t get 100% response. But…you will increase your response rate dramatically.
© Copyright 2009, Stephen Savage
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Filed under Blog, Sales techniques by Steve Savage
A soft approach
When I sold books door-to-door in college, my sales manager, Ted Welch, taught me a “soft” approach to a customer. We would always ask who lived next door, so we had a name. We also found out where the kids went to school. (We were selling Webster’s Dictionary and Student Handbook.)
So the approach went like this: “Hi, Mrs. Jones. I’m Steve Savage. I’m calling on the folks whose kids go to Washington Elementary. Do you have a place we could sit down?” (Ted taught me to talk very slowly, which was definitely not my normal speed!)
Filed under Sales techniques by Steve Savage
April 13, 2009
How to Get Past the Nasty Receptionists – the Guard Dogs.
Receptionists, secretaries and assistants are trained to be guard dogs. Their job is to protect their boss from interruptions. Your job is to make sure the boss has a clear vision of how your product or service can make the boss a hero and make the company prosper. You can accomplish your mission if you work skillfully and tactfully with the guard dogs.
Think of a puppy you have trained. You made that little dog lovable and cooperative. Now think of “Stella Rasmussen,” the guard dog, with her arms crossed, her forehead wrinkled and her eyes glowering. Your job is to make Stella lovable and cooperative just like you did your little puppy.
Filed under Sales techniques by Steve Savage