Re: Advertising suggestions sought, or stratagies

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Oct 6, 6:41=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Oct 6, 9:13=A0am, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Oct 5, 8:38=A0am, "Bill" <billnomailnosp...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > Perhaps you could have say 4 inch by 12 inch cards printed up and a
> > > door knob hole punched out, then go stick those on doors in your spar=
e
> > > time.
>
> > > The advantage to that would be it would get people's attention better=
.
> > > Then they have your phone number there at home (you could also print
> > > one of those cell phone graphics to dial the number for them).
>
> > > And you could do just a little at a time. Then if you got a good
> > > response, you would not be overwhelmed with phone calls /
> > > appointments.
>
> > > Or if you got "no response", then change what the card says, the
> > > offer, etc.
>
> > RHC: I tried that early on in my business with marginal success.
> > Expect a !% response rate at best and it will usually be someone from
> > the "something for nothing crowd" who calls back.
>
> The only thing that worked for me is now too common-place to work any
> more.
>
> Back in the 70's I got the idea to go to the library and check the
> Cole's Directory which lists =A0people by zip code, telephone number
> town etc, etc. (There wasn't any Internet as there is today.) I picked
> Zip codes in high end areas and cold called them on the telephone. I
> spent a considerable number of evenings calling people but ultimately
> was landing appointments with about 2 or 3 people out of 10. I was
> offering a free small fire extinguisher or simple door alarm as a
> giveaway. That turned out to be a pretty good source after awhile.
> After I learned what to say and how to tell if I was going to have a
> chance at an appointment or not. After about 3 or 4 hundred calls and
> a number of sales calls, you begin to get the "feel" of who's good and
> who's not.
>
> Nowdays, that's all old stuff and the Federal Do Not Call law put an
> end to that. Other things I've tried have never produced enough to
> make it worth the expense. Yellow pages, local newspapers, mailers,
>
> Another thing that "would" still work today, however, =A0is walk-in cold
> calling on small retail businesses. That was always a successful
> method for getting work for me. Ya gotta keep track of who you talk,
> their location and when and really do a lot of follow up but if you're
> diligent about it, you can pick up a lot of new business.
>
> However nowdays, the younger people are too lazy, =A0have no personality
> nor the balls to do cold calling. They'd rather stay home and take
> care of the house and baby while the wife works and gets free medical
> benefits. Besides, if they were out working, how would they ever get a
> chance to try out the scented crystal bubble bath powder when the baby
> takes a nap?

RHC: Uh...what about all those door knockers for the phoney "free
alarm systems" and all those other utility contracts near scams? These
people are usually young students trying to sell whatever they can,
and they are both young and hungry. So I'm not sure that what you say
about the young folk is always true. And cold calling has always been
the hardest way to sell something for the person involved. Yah gotta
have a very thick skin to take all the "no" responses to get that rare
"yes" response.

But I do share your sentiment about many of the younger workers today.
It seems they don't have that "nose to the grindstone" work ethic that
we do. And you don't find many that will put the job ahead of other
personal life issues.

And sometimes (not always, but sometimes)  I think they may have
something there. It seems they work to live not live to work.

You can't take it with you....there are no pockets in a death
shroud......:))           (a little gallows humour...:))