It's your call, I question the validity and credentials of anyone phoning my house for business because, lets face it, there are a lot of drive-by businesses punching numbers. The exposure is good, but in my opinion, it doesn't project an image I'd want. my 2 cents.
Our new telemarketing campaign
Even though, I hate telemarketers calling me, I ordered an auto dialer today and I am going to hire a telemarketer. Almost every sales person I have been speaking to has been saying that telemarketing is the way to go. I tried telemarketing about 40 years ago and I hated it, but today one auto dialer allows you to make contact with up to 90 customers per hours (or something like that). The calls come in at a fast pace so the telemarketers don't worry about people hanging up and they never get bored.
The auto dialer dials several numbers at the same time. When a live person answers the phone a light comes on and the telemarketer instantly turns on his telephone headset. The dialer connects to a computer and it automatically logs leads and gives the telemarketer to put the customer on a 'do not call list'.
This is the unit I bought and I thought the $2500 price was fairly reasonable for a campaign that is one more arm reaching out to offset this ecomomy.
http://www.kolkersystems.com/
Also, I think this is going to be a great opportunity because I plan on using this campaign to put some relatives to work and manage the telemarketing room. I think I will have two telemarketers so there is competition and to keep each other company.
I'll let you know in a few weeks.
The auto dialer dials several numbers at the same time. When a live person answers the phone a light comes on and the telemarketer instantly turns on his telephone headset. The dialer connects to a computer and it automatically logs leads and gives the telemarketer to put the customer on a 'do not call list'.
This is the unit I bought and I thought the $2500 price was fairly reasonable for a campaign that is one more arm reaching out to offset this ecomomy.
http://www.kolkersystems.com/
Also, I think this is going to be a great opportunity because I plan on using this campaign to put some relatives to work and manage the telemarketing room. I think I will have two telemarketers so there is competition and to keep each other company.
I'll let you know in a few weeks.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
I agree with you
I changed this entire post and have been thinking about the bad image. I am going to use my company's name because we already have a good presence.It's your call, I question the validity and credentials of anyone phoning my house for business because, lets face it, there are a lot of drive-by businesses punching numbers. The exposure is good, but in my opinion, it doesn't project an image I'd want. my 2 cents.
Yuck.
You of course need to be aware of FCC Do Not Call regulations and potentially hefty fines for violations.
I realize I am not the typical consumer, but the minute I get that "delay" when I pick up the phone, in a good mood, I simply hang up. In a bad mood, I chew out the telemarketer and advise the caller of Canadian CRTC (something like FCC) rules re telemarketing. But there is no secret about my own feelings about intrusion like this and I have always been blunt about canvassers.
Frankly, I'm thinking you could have put that $2,500 to better use on web-internet based initiatives as the demographics shift and more of your potential clients move in the online direction. I realize it is quite hard for old-line marketers to get the online stuff right (I'm still learning and revenue generation from web based stuff is still low) but 2.5K can go a long way in the "free" online space.
But you can prove me wrong and I'll always keep an open mind.
You of course need to be aware of FCC Do Not Call regulations and potentially hefty fines for violations.
I realize I am not the typical consumer, but the minute I get that "delay" when I pick up the phone, in a good mood, I simply hang up. In a bad mood, I chew out the telemarketer and advise the caller of Canadian CRTC (something like FCC) rules re telemarketing. But there is no secret about my own feelings about intrusion like this and I have always been blunt about canvassers.
Frankly, I'm thinking you could have put that $2,500 to better use on web-internet based initiatives as the demographics shift and more of your potential clients move in the online direction. I realize it is quite hard for old-line marketers to get the online stuff right (I'm still learning and revenue generation from web based stuff is still low) but 2.5K can go a long way in the "free" online space.
But you can prove me wrong and I'll always keep an open mind.
Definitely be aware of the fines involved with the fcc in regards to the do not call list.
With that being said,.....are you going to be generating these phone calls from a "pre-scrubbed" list? Because from my understanding, there's extra costs (and they can add up quickly based on your out-going call volume) involved and these days, because of the strict ordinances involved with the FCC, MUST use a pre-scrubbed list for outbound telemarketing calls.
I also agree with the delay issue with the automated dialers--As many calls as I make to potential clients in a days time, I do so from a land line. When I get those types of calls at home and hear the 2-3 second delay after I pick up, I say hello a couple times (while listening to the person on the other line scramble to catch up) and then I hang up the phone.
I'll wish you good luck, though~
With that being said,.....are you going to be generating these phone calls from a "pre-scrubbed" list? Because from my understanding, there's extra costs (and they can add up quickly based on your out-going call volume) involved and these days, because of the strict ordinances involved with the FCC, MUST use a pre-scrubbed list for outbound telemarketing calls.
I also agree with the delay issue with the automated dialers--As many calls as I make to potential clients in a days time, I do so from a land line. When I get those types of calls at home and hear the 2-3 second delay after I pick up, I say hello a couple times (while listening to the person on the other line scramble to catch up) and then I hang up the phone.
I'll wish you good luck, though~
I am not even going to touch that one. I think I made my feelings about this kind of stuff clear in a previous thread.Even though, I hate telemarketers calling me, I ordered an auto dialer today and I am going to hire a telemarketer.
I agree with you 100% about the image. I'm going to use another company's name I have with a separate license, or maybe, since I have a good presence I will use my company name. Not sure.
I wouldnt be ashamed at all. Geico,sears,the president all telemarket. It still works and plan on doing some this year. Also people arn't as smart as you think. They will remember your name but not in a bad way.
Keep us informed how it goes. I think it will be one of your best lead sources.
One of the largest plumbers in the U.S. telemarketing
Here is a link to their Craig's List ad.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/sls/1540145745.html
This gets me excited!
Here is a link to their Craig's List ad.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/sls/1540145745.html
This gets me excited!
Years ago I became friends with another company owner located a few hours away. He was wildly successful. The company had a big telemarketing department, canvassers, home show staff, and did every kind of marketing you can imagine. All that plus well trained, aggressive salespeople.
So every now and then I would run into a homeowner who lived in this other company's territory and I would ask them what they thought of XYZ Company. Most of them said, " I can't stand XYZ, they call me all the time, they knock on my door, XYZ's people bother me at the county fair, they're always bugging me. I can't stand XYZ!".
Guess who they bought from when they wanted or need one of XYZ's products? People don't like the attention when they are not in the market, but when they do get ready they flock to the guy with the top of mind awareness. The XYZ owner retired very comfortably in his early fifties and the business is still thriving doing all the same things they did to become a huge success.
Plumbing is an excellent industry in which to have top of mind awareness. It's not something you need every day, but when one of your audience needs their toilet fixed, top of mind awareness will make the phone ring. Go for it PC, but please don't call me!
So every now and then I would run into a homeowner who lived in this other company's territory and I would ask them what they thought of XYZ Company. Most of them said, " I can't stand XYZ, they call me all the time, they knock on my door, XYZ's people bother me at the county fair, they're always bugging me. I can't stand XYZ!".
Guess who they bought from when they wanted or need one of XYZ's products? People don't like the attention when they are not in the market, but when they do get ready they flock to the guy with the top of mind awareness. The XYZ owner retired very comfortably in his early fifties and the business is still thriving doing all the same things they did to become a huge success.
Plumbing is an excellent industry in which to have top of mind awareness. It's not something you need every day, but when one of your audience needs their toilet fixed, top of mind awareness will make the phone ring. Go for it PC, but please don't call me!
I agree with you about 95% but, I had lunch with
I agree you people can be too pushy, but we don't jump in people's faces and we don't have a reputation for being high-priced. We are the opposite of your description and people love to hear from us because we always leave an ink pen, coffee mug, or calendar at their door with every flyer. We get many smiles every year when people tell us they love our ink pens because they are easy to write with and the rubber grip makes the pen very comfortable. We are buying our customers with gifts.
At home shows we give away the same items plus large balloons and we have our 6-foot candy tube filled with a large selection of candy. We have about 50 people call us every year to make sure we are going to send them a calendar.
I still agree with you about being in a person's face too much, but when you consider the amount of advertising people get every day if they come into contact with my company's advertising 6 times a year that is not much during a 365 day period of receiving advertising and one telemarketing call during a 365 day per year period is not going to break a camel's back.
You have valid points and I will take them into consideration, but will not abandon something I have been wanting to do for 37 years. I have been doing a lot of research on the internet regarding telemarketing and it has a horrible rap sheet by the public. On the flip side telemarketers swear that telemarketing is the way to go because a telemarketer can have personal contact with 50 people per hour (my 90/hr number was incorrect). With telemarketing we will have better control over our sales people. One major problem with door canvassing is it often takes 20 to 45 minutes of knocking to find one person who is home. I purchased a machine that will continuously dial numbers, relentlessly, until it finds someone who is home.
There are a lot of laws that govern telemarketing and I intend to abide by the laws. I have not come up with the perfect script, but we may start our conversation with something like:
"Hello, I'm Jack from Acme Plumbing and I'm calling to confirm that you received our annual calendars, ink pens, and coffee cup gift packets. Oh, you already received our packet. By the way, have you ever used Acme Plumbing before. Oh, you have heard of us? Have you ever used Acme Plumbing before? You must have at least one drain that is slow and when is the last time you had a really thorough safety inspection for your furnace and only with this call we are offering .........................."
I don't have anything refined, but this is something I am thinking.
Last night, until 2:30 a.m., I have been making a full job application on my web site for plumbers, telemarketers, and canvassers. I am getting tire of personal interviews that waste a lot of my time. In the next few weeks I intend to hire a human resources person.
As stated in many posts, everything is not about the money. As mentioned, in a previous thread, I am taking hang gliding lessons. Since I started lessons about 3 months ago, I have been going to 2-hour lessons 3 to 4 times every week and I am doing so bad I am still (or can't) get past what I should be able to do after taking only 5 lessons. During my first lesson I realized hang gliding was not an extreme sport and was disappointed. I don't even think hang gliding from high mountains will be the kind of fun I was looking forward to, but I stick with it every day because it is fun to experience new things. If I never personally experienced hang gliding nor telemarketing I will never know whether or not I am missing out on something big.
the owner of Mike Diamond Plumbing (Mike Diamond) 2 times and went to 2 of his Plumber's Success International seminars. While you nor I will always agree with a person's methods, I am guessing that Mike Diamond's take home pay is $5 million per month. If you and I could tweak his methods a little to something that satisfies both of us I would settle for a little under $500,000 take home per month.Years ago I became friends with another company owner located a few hours away. He was wildly successful. The company had a big telemarketing department, canvassers, home show staff, and did every kind of marketing you can imagine. All that plus well trained, aggressive salespeople.
So every now and then I would run into a homeowner who lived in this other company's territory and I would ask them what they thought of XYZ Company. Most of them said, " I can't stand XYZ, they call me all the time, they knock on my door, XYZ's people bother me at the county fair, they're always bugging me. I can't stand XYZ!".
Guess who they bought from when they wanted or need one of XYZ's products? People don't like the attention when they are not in the market, but when they do get ready they flock to the guy with the top of mind awareness. The XYZ owner retired very comfortably in his early fifties and the business is still thriving doing all the same things they did to become a huge success.
Plumbing is an excellent industry in which to have top of mind awareness. It's not something you need every day, but when one of your audience needs their toilet fixed, top of mind awareness will make the phone ring. Go for it PC, but please don't call me!
I agree you people can be too pushy, but we don't jump in people's faces and we don't have a reputation for being high-priced. We are the opposite of your description and people love to hear from us because we always leave an ink pen, coffee mug, or calendar at their door with every flyer. We get many smiles every year when people tell us they love our ink pens because they are easy to write with and the rubber grip makes the pen very comfortable. We are buying our customers with gifts.
At home shows we give away the same items plus large balloons and we have our 6-foot candy tube filled with a large selection of candy. We have about 50 people call us every year to make sure we are going to send them a calendar.
I still agree with you about being in a person's face too much, but when you consider the amount of advertising people get every day if they come into contact with my company's advertising 6 times a year that is not much during a 365 day period of receiving advertising and one telemarketing call during a 365 day per year period is not going to break a camel's back.
You have valid points and I will take them into consideration, but will not abandon something I have been wanting to do for 37 years. I have been doing a lot of research on the internet regarding telemarketing and it has a horrible rap sheet by the public. On the flip side telemarketers swear that telemarketing is the way to go because a telemarketer can have personal contact with 50 people per hour (my 90/hr number was incorrect). With telemarketing we will have better control over our sales people. One major problem with door canvassing is it often takes 20 to 45 minutes of knocking to find one person who is home. I purchased a machine that will continuously dial numbers, relentlessly, until it finds someone who is home.
There are a lot of laws that govern telemarketing and I intend to abide by the laws. I have not come up with the perfect script, but we may start our conversation with something like:
"Hello, I'm Jack from Acme Plumbing and I'm calling to confirm that you received our annual calendars, ink pens, and coffee cup gift packets. Oh, you already received our packet. By the way, have you ever used Acme Plumbing before. Oh, you have heard of us? Have you ever used Acme Plumbing before? You must have at least one drain that is slow and when is the last time you had a really thorough safety inspection for your furnace and only with this call we are offering .........................."
I don't have anything refined, but this is something I am thinking.
Last night, until 2:30 a.m., I have been making a full job application on my web site for plumbers, telemarketers, and canvassers. I am getting tire of personal interviews that waste a lot of my time. In the next few weeks I intend to hire a human resources person.
As stated in many posts, everything is not about the money. As mentioned, in a previous thread, I am taking hang gliding lessons. Since I started lessons about 3 months ago, I have been going to 2-hour lessons 3 to 4 times every week and I am doing so bad I am still (or can't) get past what I should be able to do after taking only 5 lessons. During my first lesson I realized hang gliding was not an extreme sport and was disappointed. I don't even think hang gliding from high mountains will be the kind of fun I was looking forward to, but I stick with it every day because it is fun to experience new things. If I never personally experienced hang gliding nor telemarketing I will never know whether or not I am missing out on something big.
the owner of Mike Diamond Plumbing (Mike Diamond) 2 times and went to 2 of his Plumber's Success International seminars. While you nor I will always agree with a person's methods, I am guessing that Mike Diamond's take home pay is $5 million per month. If you and I could tweak his methods a little to something that satisfies both of us I would settle $500,000 take home per month.
.
LOL at this one :shutup:
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
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