Telephones: A Key Tool to Success

In the last year and a half I have  discovered that fewer and fewer people are doing business via the phone they are communicating via email, social media, and other outlets. The phone today is being used as a way to communicate through text rather than conversation. When was the last time you picked up the phone just to say hello to a client/customer and see how they are or what is new in their life. The use of the telephone is a key tool for success. Think about it when your phone rings how do you answer it or if it goes to voice mail what message are you portraying.  I called someone the other day and received their voice mail it was hello this is leave a message. My suggestion is if you are using you phone for business then the message should be this is ____________ of ________________ with a little plug about your business so as to leave a great impression with the person calling, especially if that person ois reaching you for the first time. The telephone can become an awesome advertising vehicle as you can change your message on a regular basis and include your promotion/specials. You can have a short  testimonial from a client/customer in your message. Another important fact is if you have on hold messages make sure you have information about your company that build credibility such as years in business, people you have worked with, and  trends in your industry.

Advertisement Ideas: Return Calls Lead to Success

I have often said that when someone takes the time out to stop by your business and leave a business card or when someone calls your business and leaves a message return contact them as you never know who they may know or how they can help you. I often experience the lack of returned calls and wonder are they a thing of the past. For example I stopped by a school to introduce myself and offer my services as an announcer I left my business card and waited for a call back. After 2 weeks I called the  school to be told they weren’t interested in my services and that they weren’t planning to have an announcer at their sporting events. As I hung up the phone I  thought wow not a return call, no announcer for sporting events, and they wonder why their enrollment is down and their donations are down. The person who received my card probably didn’t think it was worthwhile to call me and thus lost out on an opportunity to enhance their sporting events and increase their fan base and donors. How many times have you not returned a call or reached out to someone for you didn’t think it was worthwhile? Think of all the times someone came into your business that could have been of service to your business and if you would have taken a  moment to call them where it may have led. The person inquiring about working with you may be someone who is connected to others that can benefit from your product or services. For example when someone returns my call and meets with me for 15 minutes they have an ally to help maximize their message as I have a database of 170 media email addresses. Think about the person at the school that didn’t return my call and the benefit they could have had. I may have been someone looking to donate to a local school but since they didn’t call back they will never know.

Retun phone calls and contacting people who leave their business card at your place of business can lead to increbible success as you never know who someone is or what they can do for you until you connect with them. It is when youa re open to receive that you take your business to the next level.  Several years ago NASCAR lost the Winston Cup Sponsorship and went looking for another sponsor. A new sales rep at NASCAR decided to reach out to SPRINT and left a message  with The Marketing Director. The Marketing Director returned the call and within a few days signed on to be The Title Sponsor on NASCAR. Imagine if the marketing person at SPRINT didn’t return the call how they would have lost out on this opportunity. It may not be NASCAR calling you but it may be a well connected individual in the marketplace or someone known for networking or marketing and media relations calling and by not returning a call you may be missing out on an opportunity to build your brand and increase your revenue.

Advertising Ideas: The Art of Making Connections

When I leave a message on a voice mail it is my goal to get a call back so as to make the connection and be or service and value to the person on the other end. There is a true art to making a connection.

1: Know who you are calling- Do your homework, peel back the onion

2: Give them a reason to call you back- leave a nugget that will entice them to return the call

3: Be short and informative- The more concise you can be the  better

4: Ask yourself would I return this call?

We all want to have our calls returned and we would expect that peoplewant to make connections.I was speaking to a leader of a charity and she said I return every call personally because I never know who is on the other end. she told the following to me one day I recived a call from a potential client who was seeking our services and I called to set up an appointment, it turned out he had a cousin who produced commecial videos, which led to me making a contact with the cousin and explaining that we had just helped his cousin and was wondering how much it would cost to do a video he said I’ll do it for free. We now have our video on endless loop and as a result have received more donations and been able to help more people.

The point is the next time you are left a card, a vocie message, or sent an email  make the connection as you never know where it may lead.