Killing Your Own Bussiness

[suesheboy]

So I call an businesses who often posts here on the phone which was answered "Corporate Office" and left a message on Friday for a call back.

They have no idea what industry I called from (place I called is both mainstream and adult) nor who I was. My was inquiring about how to initiate the considerable size of the paid business I was looking to give them.

Still no return call.

Wonder why so many fail?

[blackmonsters]

So I call an businesses who often posts here on the phone which was answered "Corporate Office" and left a message on Friday for a call back.

They have no idea what industry I called from (place I called is both mainstream and adult) nor who I was. My was inquiring about how to initiate the considerable size of the paid business I was looking to give them.

Still no return call.

Wonder why so many fail?

If they have no idea what industry you called from or who you are then maybe you should have left a better message.

[Vadame]

So I call an businesses who often posts here on the phone which was answered "Corporate Office" and left a message on Friday for a call back.

They have no idea what industry I called from (place I called is both mainstream and adult) nor who I was. My was inquiring about how to initiate the considerable size of the paid business I was looking to give them.

Still no return call.

Wonder why so many fail?

100% agree!

[Captain Kawaii]

If we can not tell who you are or what you do it is usually spam, wrong number or crank call.
We do not return such calls either.

[suesheboy]

If we can not tell who you are or what you do it is usually spam, wrong number or crank call.
We do not return such calls either.

Let me qualify, I told the receptionist my name, mainstream company name and phone number as well as what I wanted.

No mention of adult or GFY was made.

To make matter worse I know they spent money on marketing here and they troll for business as well.

[Captain Kawaii]

Let me qualify, I told the receptionist my name, mainstream company name and phone number as well as what I wanted.

No mention of adult or GFY was made.

To make matter worse I know they spent money on marketing here and they troll for business as well.

Sounds like they really blew it. Hopefully someone is reading this from their company and gets their act together. Good luck.

[96ukssob]

So I call an businesses who often posts here on the phone which was answered "Corporate Office" and left a message on Friday for a call back.

They have no idea what industry I called from (place I called is both mainstream and adult) nor who I was. My was inquiring about how to initiate the considerable size of the paid business I was looking to give them.

Still no return call.

Wonder why so many fail?

I see this WAY to much with small businesses... I think it is due to them not caring about "the little guy" and everyone waits for the big fish to roll in.

A few months ago I needed to get some work done on my car and called three local body shops for quotes. One got back to me ASAP and the second a few days later. The third one called me over two weeks later, then was pissed when I told him the job was already done. WTF do you expect?

Just recently I tried to order flowers from a small place nearby. I was traveling and couldn't call them so I filled out their contact form on their page telling them what I wanted and I would be by to pick it up when I returned that day. I even got a confirmation... but when I called to verify, no answer, so I had to go to a different place. Few days later I get an email saying "do you still want this?"

[suesheboy]

Next time they troll for business I will link to this thread.

[PR_Glen]

we don't take cold calls ourselves. If we did we'd never get anything done. Compared to a detailed email or an icq/skype conversation its no contest. People tend to be VERY vague on the phone in comparison.

we DO work online after all..

[JimmyStephans]

I'm on the side that doesn't accept cold calls or messages. There are too many of them daily.

While the person calling feels he is important and feels he has a good idea... the business on the receiving side gets so many calls that they simply can't return them.

My toll-free number has been online about 17 years. I get maybe 15-18 calls each day trying to sell me something. If I spent just 5 minutes with each it is over an hour each day listening to them propose something they think is great but I may not need.

Each minute spent dealing with them is a minute taken away from customer service, building traffic, etc.

Just ten minutes ago I got such a call saying they could lower my merchant fees (but we know from experience they don't handle adult so waste of time)... and before that some body calls and says "I'd like to talk to the owner" and I ask what they are selling and who they wish to talk to... they have no idea who the owner is... they just call every number they can find.

No, no, no.... I can't give over an hour each day to cold callers or returning the message they leave.

The original poster here sounds as if he feels his message is they only message they may have gotten that day. The truth is, those with a business phone number get dozens of calls and messages daily from unknown people with ideas they think are great and should demand attention.

Best approach - clear, detailed, professional letters. On paper if possible. Addressed by name to the person you wish to speak to. Then he can review it and decide if it is interesting enough to dedicate time to. Or, second choice, email that is professional. Clear, well typed, correct spelling.

[MarkDeus]

The reason why so many fail, is because everybody can make porn.

[CDSmith]

I'm on the side that doesn't accept cold calls or messages. There are too many of them daily.

While the person calling feels he is important and feels he has a good idea... the business on the receiving side gets so many calls that they simply can't return them.

My toll-free number has been online about 17 years. I get maybe 15-18 calls each day trying to sell me something. If I spent just 5 minutes with each it is over an hour each day listening to them propose something they think is great but I may not need.

Each minute spent dealing with them is a minute taken away from customer service, building traffic, etc.

Just ten minutes ago I got such a call saying they could lower my merchant fees (but we know from experience they don't handle adult so waste of time)... and before that some body calls and says "I'd like to talk to the owner" and I ask what they are selling and who they wish to talk to... they have no idea who the owner is... they just call every number they can find.

No, no, no.... I can't give over an hour each day to cold callers or returning the message they leave.

The original poster here sounds as if he feels his message is they only message they may have gotten that day. The truth is, those with a business phone number get dozens of calls and messages daily from unknown people with ideas they think are great and should demand attention.

Best approach - clear, detailed, professional letters. On paper if possible. Addressed by name to the person you wish to speak to. Then he can review it and decide if it is interesting enough to dedicate time to. Or, second choice, email that is professional. Clear, well typed, correct spelling.

Spot on from the 1st to the last word.

I find it's always best in such situations to contact someone from the company by email first, lay out whatever it is I'm trying to get across to them. Then provide my phone # and proceed with a phone conversation only when both sides know a little more about what it is that's on the table.

[suesheboy]

So some of you won't take a phone call from a potential customer (not a telemarketing call)?

While I love the convenience of email, it is far from the most efficient way to do business often and not the way I will communicate to try to get a read of off a potential vendor or courting a large customer.

I am also the type to drive or jump on a plane to meet new vendors or clients.

Guess I must be old school.

[JimmyStephans]

So some of you won't take a phone call from a potential customer (not a telemarketing call)?

While I love the convenience of email, it is far from the most efficient way to do business often and not the way I will communicate to try to get a read of off a potential vendor or courting a large customer.

I am also the type to drive or jump on a plane to meet new vendors or clients.

Guess I must be old school.

That is not at all what I happen to be saying. The entire reason my toll-free number is on my websites is to take phone orders and service customers in a timely manner.

That, in fact, is why I don't / can't / shouldn't waste time with cold calling salesmen that want to give me a new alarm system, health care, insurance rates - or as happen within the last hour a call from a guy saying he is the "Local Google Specialist" and can get me in the top of Google, guaranteed! (He didn't ask what business I was in or what keywords I would want).

[fuzebox]

B2B phone spam is soooo massive.... As soon as your company line is publically available you may start getting hourly cold calls from tons of "seo" and "marketing" companies trying to get their foot in the door.

It's also conceivable that the company you contacted uses a virtual office. All they do is forward calls and take messages.

If they troll for business so often here, surely you can find contact info of a relevant representative?