IBuzzPro Idea? Leaving VOICE MESSAGES ONLY !

[beverly21]

Hi guys,
so I have an idea... I'd like to throw out there.
About a year and a half ago , I forked out $500 to bought IBuzzpro ,it is an auto dialer( please google it if you need to).
I used for my ebook selling business ,but the first few times didn't work so well, soI just let it die.
But recently I have been thinking of reviving it and making automatic calls to businesses and leaving voice messages ONLY ( most people don't like to talk to auto-dialers . )
Something along the line of,

"Hi , this is Beverly giving you a follow up call :)...
I am not sure if you recieved my email, but I thought I'll call you to find out if you could handle any more customers.
If you think you can , I believe you would be interested in what we are working on with other local businesses in the area.
My call back number is xxx-xxx-xxxx.
Thank you!"

Ok, the "I don't know if you got my email " part is to spike interest and create a feeling of familiarity.
This is not going to sound like an auto-dialed message. I would make it sound as personable as can be.
I would also try refining the VM a little more.
Any ideas would be highly welcome....

[sbowmann]

This seems a bit too passive to me. If you are going to go through the trouble of dialing the phone, you should be on the other end when they pick up. Otherwise, you risk starting a game of phone tag, which no one wants.

Also, how do you address the fact you didn't actually send them an email? You don't want to start your new relationship out with a lie, no matter how small it seems.

I hate robodials, even more when there is no one to hang up on. (There is something satisfying about cutting a caller off in mid sentence!)
But, if you are going to voice broadcast, then give them something juicy:

"Hi, I'm Beverly. Did you know you can have your companies special offer in every single home of zip code xxxxx for less than 5 cents each?
It's true. And all by next Friday!
The window for this incredible offer is closing fast and space is very limited.
Call me back at xxx-xxx-xxxx for details by 5 PM today, and we'll design your first ad for free"
That's xxx-xxx-xxxx. I look forward to hearing from you."

1. Everything here is factual and specific.
2. The offer is enticing, and not vague. Who doesn't want more customers? Specifics give them something to think about.
3. A time line for you and them. It's not open ended. If they need customers, they need them now, not next month, next quarter, etc.
4. Give them a sense of urgency, and be prepared to close the deal. Don't take their info, and offer to get back to them.
5. Reward them for responding now, not when they get around to it. The cost of the ad design is a fraction of the total cost, and can be built in.
6. Repeat the number. If they are interested, they are looking for a pen. If not, they've most likely already hung up.

I don't pretend to know how to write these kinda things, so I'm sure someone will come along and offer improvements.

If you do decide to robo dial, realize you're going to need to make a lot of calls, and could alienate some potential customers.

-Scott

[Mister Natural]

both of you have great idea's.
Are you talking about calling a large list at once and leaving a universal message for one and all or, are you targeting each business with a personalized message?
If you can personalize each message with the owners name, that name recognition will open all ears and attract their attention for sure.

#1. Never try to sale any product or service with your first introductory call.
#2. Your message should be vague to arouse curiosity to MAKE THEM CALL YOU.

(example)
Hello Harold <---- bizz owner
Beverly Jones here. Our company has a major event coming up and I believe your business could be an excellent location/partner/service for our large group of people. I'll need to speak with Harold to make special arrangements, and verify whether or not he can accommodate the hundred or so, new customers we'll have stopping in....

Please call me back at (123)456-7890
(end)========

See how it is vague, and arouses curiosity, plus creating the need for THEM to take action?
And at no time are you deceiving them,,,,

I get lot's of responses with this technique. And you can reword it just a little to fit different business's like lawn care requires a couple of different words than a restaurant.

Using the name of the small business owner is a powerful technique to gain attention because 99.999% of the public does not know or, even care about the owner's name. Calling larger businesses like a pizza chain is going to take a judgement call on your part. You'll have to determine the likelihood as to whether or not the owner will receive the message. If not you need a different strategy.

Of course this won't work with doctors since no group of 100 people just shows up at the dentist !

Attorneys are possible. But be careful messing with these guys. You catch one in a bad mood and he might try to sue you for violating some obscure law or procedure. Best thing to do with those guys if you can't meet them in person is, to mail actual postcard products to them so they can see the card for themselves. They're not impossible. I met a female attorney in a print shop and she was ready to sign up within 5 minutes, and I was dressed very casually.
A lot of attorneys have their home address listed in the White Pages. Collect a few addresses and mail cards to their homes. They should be able to put two and two together and realize,,,, "hey I could list my practice on here !"
Same with doctors. They used to be heavily listed in the White Pages years ago,,,, hopefully they still are.

[beverly21]

Well,
I agree that we should never start a relationship with a lie, I don't actually think people should EVER tell lies.
I guess the part that I left out is that I will be doing a massive email blast/campaign before the dialer does the calls.
So the business owner may or may not be on the list, so it will not be a lie.
Also, about hating robodials, he would not know that it is a robodial because its going to sounds very personal.

[beverly21]

This seems a bit too passive to me. If you are going to go through the trouble of dialing the phone, you should be on the other end when they pick up. Otherwise, you risk starting a game of phone tag, which no one wants.

Also, how do you address the fact you didn't actually send them an email? You don't want to start your new relationship out with a lie, no matter how small it seems.

I hate robodials, even more when there is no one to hang up on. (There is something satisfying about cutting a caller off in mid sentence!)
But, if you are going to voice broadcast, then give them something juicy:

"Hi, I'm Beverly. Did you know you can have your companies special offer in every single home of zip code xxxxx for less than 5 cents each?
It's true. And all by next Friday!
The window for this incredible offer is closing fast and space is very limited.
Call me back at xxx-xxx-xxxx for details by 5 PM today, and we'll design your first ad for free"
That's xxx-xxx-xxxx. I look forward to hearing from you."

1. Everything here is factual and specific.
2. The offer is enticing, and not vague. Who doesn't want more customers? Specifics give them something to think about.
3. A time line for you and them. It's not open ended. If they need customers, they need them now, not next month, next quarter, etc.
4. Give them a sense of urgency, and be prepared to close the deal. Don't take their info, and offer to get back to them.
5. Reward them for responding now, not when they get around to it. The cost of the ad design is a fraction of the total cost, and can be built in.
6. Repeat the number. If they are interested, they are looking for a pen. If not, they've most likely already hung up.

I don't pretend to know how to write these kinda things, so I'm sure someone will come along and offer improvements.

If you do decide to robo dial, realize you're going to need to make a lot of calls, and could alienate some potential customers.

-Scott

Well,
I agree that we should never start a relationship with a lie, I don't actually think people should EVER tell lies.
I guess the part that I left out is that I will be doing a massive email blast/campaign before the dialer does the calls.
So the business owner may or may not be on the list, so it will not be a lie.
Also, about hating robodials, he would not know that it is a robodial because its going to sounds very personal.

[beverly21]

both of you have great idea's.
Are you talking about calling a large list at once and leaving a universal message for one and all or, are you targeting each business with a personalized message?
If you can personalize each message with the owners name, that name recognition will open all ears and attract their attention for sure.

#1. Never try to sale any product or service with your first introductory call.
#2. Your message should be vague to arouse curiosity to MAKE THEM CALL YOU.

(example)
Hello Harold <---- bizz owner
Beverly Jones here. Our company has a major event coming up and I believe your business could be an excellent location/partner/service for our large group of people. I'll need to speak with Harold to make special arrangements, and verify whether or not he can accommodate the hundred or so, new customers we'll have stopping in....

Please call me back at (123)456-7890
(end)========

See how it is vague, and arouses curiosity, plus creating the need for THEM to take action?
And at no time are you deceiving them,,,,

I get lot's of responses with this technique. And you can reword it just a little to fit different business's like lawn care requires a couple of different words than a restaurant.

Using the name of the small business owner is a powerful technique to gain attention because 99.999% of the public does not know or, even care about the owner's name. Calling larger businesses like a pizza chain is going to take a judgement call on your part. You'll have to determine the likelihood as to whether or not the owner will receive the message. If not you need a different strategy.

Of course this won't work with doctors since no group of 100 people just shows up at the dentist !

Attorneys are possible. But be careful messing with these guys. You catch one in a bad mood and he might try to sue you for violating some obscure law or procedure. Best thing to do with those guys if you can't meet them in person is, to mail actual postcard products to them so they can see the card for themselves. They're not impossible. I met a female attorney in a print shop and she was ready to sign up within 5 minutes, and I was dressed very casually.
A lot of attorneys have their home address listed in the White Pages. Collect a few addresses and mail cards to their homes. They should be able to put two and two together and realize,,,, "hey I could list my practice on here !"
Same with doctors. They used to be heavily listed in the White Pages years ago,,,, hopefully they still are.

MN,
thank you for your suggestions... this technique is something I would have done in the past , but after listening to Ari Galper's "Unlock the Game" and putting it to use.
I have to tell you that one thing I have learned is NEVER to start an email, a VM or a Broadcast with the words , "I", "Our" or something referring to yourself. It does not convert well.
Always start with what you can do for them,a question or a problem that you can help them solve. It makes them feel that you care about them and not just making a sale.
Let me give you an example.

GOOD EMAIL

Dear John,

Not sure if you can help me, but thought you could possibly point me in the right direction.

(By starting off from a position of humility rather than with the typical assumptive
introduction, and by asking for help, this email gives the reader a chance to either tell the
sender that he has reached the right person or to refer him on to someone else. )

Would you happen to know who in your organization would be responsible for diagnosing
and solving productivity issues related to your technology infrastructure specifically,
underperforming servers, outdated software upgrades, or outofdate computer hardware?
(Rather than offering solutions, the writer is addressing very some real problems and issues
that may exist in the readers company. In other words, the email is about the receiver, not
the sender. Also, the writer doesnt mention any demonstration because problems must
always come first, and the solutions later. )

Im with XYZ company, and we specifically help companies solve these types of issues.

( This reinforces that the writers company solves problems.)

Any help you could provide would be very graciously appreciated. ( This statement
expresses the warmth of the writers gratitude in advance.)

Warmest regards, (The warmth of this closing humanizes the whole communication. )

Michael Johnson

Productivity Consultant

XYZ Software

How do you think you would react if you received this email?




VS TRADITIONAL SALES EMAIL(BAD!)

Dear John,

My name is Michael Johnson, and I am with XYZ company. (Starting a conversation without
asking a question can be perceived as an intrusion. Also, starting out with "My" and using "I"
immediately focuses the conversation on you, not on your prospect.)

We are the leading provider in backoffice operations software with many clients such as
XXX, YYY, ZZZ. (This sentence is a minipresentation designed to show off your client list.
The writer is assuming that the prospect is already interested in the senders software. Hes
also assuming that the prospect has a problem to be solved and that his companys product
can solve it.)

Im writing you to see if you or your company would be interested in a demonstration of our
software. It would be a brief 15 to 30minute demonstration that we could do at your
convenience. (Offering to demonstrate a solution without first determining any problem is
likely to set off negative sales alarms.)

Our website, dogandponyshow.com, lists many testimonials from customers that describe
how we have improved their productivity, as well as complete details about our products and
services. (This paragraph continues the barrage of information, all based on the assumption
that the reader is interested. If he isnt, however, this writer has come across as a typical
"salesperson." He has communicated that he and his company are aggressive and
interested only in the sale, rather than in taking the time to build trust and get to know the
issues and problems that face potential customers.)

Ill give you a call later in the week to see if we can set up a time for the demonstration. (This
is the usual "assumptive" close used by most traditional salespeople. However, it only
reinforces that this email is an obvious attempt to get an appointment so the sender can
make a sale, rather than opening communication so the sender can understand the readers
world. )

Sincerely, ( This is the traditional cold and aloof closing.)

Michael Johnson

Productivity Consultant

XYZ Software

www.evancarmichael