Re: Advertising suggestions sought, or stratagies

[tourman <robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Oct 7, 1:43=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Oct 6, 10:47=A0pm, tourman <robercampb...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> > 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 =
spare
> > > > > time.
>
> > > > > The advantage to that would be it would get people's attention be=
tter.
> > > > > Then they have your phone number there at home (you could also pr=
int
> > > > > 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 fr=
om
> > > > 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 picke=
d
> > > 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 an=
d
> > > 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 c=
old
> > > 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'r=
e
> > > diligent about it, you can pick up a lot of new business.
>
> > > However nowdays, the younger people are too lazy, =A0have no personal=
ity
> > > 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 bab=
y
> > > 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.
>
> Oh yeah! I forgot about them. But I've had a couple of the Varint (or
> whatever their new alias is now) come to my door and they seemed more
> like high school kids trying to sell chances to get money for the
> Cheerleaders club. If that's typical, then the people who would buy a
> security system from them ...... deserve what they get.
>
> > 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) =A0I think they may have
> > something there. It seems they work to live not live to work.
>
> Could be we're looking at it from the perspective of our past where it
> was necessary to work for a living because no one, including the
> government was going to take care of us .... .if we didn't. =A0Now,
> there's a free handout to anyone who doesn't want to work to maintain
> themselves. That old saying "you have to produce more than you
> consume" isn't true anymore. I'm not sure if I'm missing it or not but
> one thing I seem to notice missing in younger people, is the pride in
> accomplishment. If you don't have that then you don't have any reason
> to extend yourself , no motivation to do more than what is only
> basicly essential for your existance .... if even that.
>
>
>
> > You can't take it with you....there are no pockets in a death
> > shroud......:)) =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 (a little gallows humour...:))-
>
> Hmmmm. I'll have to talk to my undertaker about how much more that
> would cost.
>
> But, if I'm lucky, I'll have spent my kids inheritance.

RHC: Hey, is my imagination, or are we the only ones still
participating acitvely on this newsgroup ?