Many of you likely get the same refreerals I do where Person A says you really need to call Person B as they either want something done or know someone who wants something done. And they are adamant that you call! I probably get one of these every two weeks.
So I always call and it ALWAYS leads to a dead end. Person B always says something to the effect of “Yex, but we are not ready yet” or “Yes I was telling them about it but not sure if we want to do it” or the best one “Who is this? Who gave you my number?” Its crazy.
I call each time as I don’t want to miss any work but it never results in anything than some lost time or confusion. And sometimes I feel like an idiot or a pushy salesman trying to get a job.
Am I the only one or does this happen to you as well?
Replies
Use to happen. Now I give Person A some of my cards and tell them to have Person B call me when they are ready, I will be happy to help
saves a lot of frustration on both parts as you are finding
Ditto.
I don't call anyone in those situations. They have to call me. I am very easy to find and get ahold of.
Ditto. THEY must call me. I don't feel there is ANY way I can call them-and not come off as a desperate hard sell salesman. on the other hand- if my satisfied and happy customer- gives the prospect one of my cards,or some of my promotional lit., or one of my magazine articles-well they are going to be a better salesman on my behalf- than I could ever be!
stephen
I don't play that game. I ask the person to give them my card and if they are serious about needing something done, they'll call me.
Just relay your experiences to the next guy that asks you to call someone.
These are all great examples of why NOT to call. I keep telling myself to do them and NOT call but each time someone new hits me with it, I figure, what the heck....and each time its a dead end.
OK, from here on out...NO CALLING!!!
Mike,
i did a small project on monday for a customer I did a BIG project for 2 years ago.- they have referred me to at least 3 prospects-one of whom turned into a nice sized project. anyhow- customer says" remember that guy with the barn roof we referred you to down the road?- saw him a couple of weeks ago and he says he REALLY wishes he had you do the job because he ran into "issue after issue after issue" with the guy who DID eventaully do the project" I hope they tell that story to a DOZEN other people! but have THEM call me, not the other way around. you gotta know how to set limmits. just now I am going to return a call on my answering machine. I can tell from the adress given in the message- that it is almost ceertainly a rental property-which I will confirm-and then gently decline the project because" we really only work on owner occupied properties"
stephen
Yeah Stephen, there is something to be said about controling the situation and not looking needy or too eager.
Kind of like in high school....no girl wanted to go out with me until another girl wanted to go out with me...then 3 others did too! If none were interested and you called them, you heard No...but if they saw you with another girl, then they would call YOU.
Its my High School Dating in Business Theory....I just need to follow it more often.
well- i have been married to my high school sweetie for over 25 years now-so my knowledge of women is statistically limmited-
but this topic actually came up here at the house monday night-as a result of a conversation involving my 20 year old son and one of his buddies i pointed out to my wife- that if I had known THEN( circa '79-80)---( what I know NOW about women-that I could have nailed---( and I named 3-4 of the girls that were her friends back then) she burst out laughing and said( how do you figure THAT"?so i walked her through it-and she ended up agreeing" yes, that probably would have worked"we do get too smart too late,don't we?
stephen
Its true. I have been married for 15 years so likewise I am no Ladies Man but had I known this whole concept back when I was 16-22, I would have ruled the High School like a king!
Sadly yes, the older I get, the more I know and the less usefull it is.
I did some work for someone who couldn't keep her mouth shut. It was annoying. I found myself inventing ways to get her to stop bothering me while I worked, or wanted to leave etc.
Anyway, I finished the job, she liked the work. I got many calls from her telling me to call her friends because they had a project in mind.
None resulted in actual work.
When she would bring up her new improvements to her friends, they would say that they would like that done too, and she would say "You should get my guy to do it!" Then wouldn't stop talking about it. Finally they would say, "Get him to call me" so that would get her off their back.
I could be wrong about this, being hear-say and all, but I have a strong feeling this occured.
Too soon old, too late smart.old German proverb I think I learned here :-)
Mike ,
Someone in my town recently called me and asked that I call a Trustee for a Town Library severals towns and one County away .
Seems their roofing contractor was trying to gouge them .
I called this gentleman , looked at the work , was awarded the bid , and my deposit check should arrive in a day or two .
I think thats the first time I've done that since I can remember , but I'll now have them as a long term client I bet .
Walter
Sounds like you were being brought in as a Jedi Knight to save the day. Nobody says no when a Jedi calls....
;0)
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....
Mike,
I've never had this happen to me, but here are my thoughts: Look at it as an opportunity.
Mrs. Smith: Hello?
RDW: Good evening, this is mitch with RDW, and I was given your name and contact information by Mrs. Jones. I was finishing up a project and she said you might be looking for a reputable company to build an entertainment center.
Mrs. Smith: Oh, well, my husband and I were talking...but we're not really ready to do anything yet.
RDW: I can understand your position, there are a lot of things to think about when doing a project like that. How about I send you one of my brochures in the mail, that way you can see the quality of work I do. My website address is also in the brochure, and you can take time and look at some of the past work I have finished. When you are ready to go forward with the project you can contact me at any time.
At this point, get their address(or even an e-mail addy) and thank them for their time. And get the brochure sent first thing the next day(or even that day if it was a morning call). One thing that might help is put a handwritten note (written inside)in the brochure thanking them for their time.
Now I'm no marketing whiz, but this is my thought: Even if they never call you, you put yourself on top of their mind. And when they receive the brochure(with the handwritten note) you will be brought back to the top of their mind. You made a personal connection, even if it was slight, and they will remember that. And if you have little post-it pads, or grocery list pads, or fridge magnets with your name and logo on them, wait a week and send one in the mail explaining how you thought they might come in handy for Mrs.Smith.
Maybe that sounds too pushy. Maybe I'm all wet behind the ears. But if you don't try, you won't get the job. I just think that it will take a different approach in these times to meet certain goals in selling yourself and your business.
Oh, and those replies "Who is this? Who gave you my number?".......I haven't a clue.
Mitch
http://www.rdwoodworks.com
http://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/