Got my first appointment!

Congrats!

Have fun.

Just listen. Listen a lot. I've worked several sales jobs over my life and I can tell you one thing about business owners. They LOVE to talk about their business. It's their baby.

Listen to what they are doing. Ask what they are doing as far as advertising now.

Then talk about what you can do... SEO, Facebook, website design, Twitter, email marketing... whatever you are good at.

Honestly, I've found the appointments are pretty much the easiest part of this business.

Good luck!

That's what I'm thinking...I plan on sitting down and just saying "So tell me about your business". I WANT to hear about it, to be honest. I mean, I'm really, genuinely interested, LOL.

And I agree...the actual meeting will be the easiest part. The hardest part is making these darn phone calls.

Congrats, Lisa!

In additon to Mike's suggestion, make sure you do some good research on their current website and online presence before your appointment. It only takes a few minutes really.

That way, you will be better prepared to explain exactly what their business needs while meeting with them.

Plus, I have found that business owners are really impressed when they see that I've taken some time to actually research their business in particular instead of just trying to sell them something.

Good luck!

Congrats

Congratulations, Lisa. Can I ask what your script was? What services are you offering?

Awesome Lisa! Now get 5 more! Get that pipeline full and close em' up.

Totally agree that telemarketing works! I love the idea of just calling and getting in touch with the owner.

Have two appointments for this week. One with a lawyer and one with a beauty salon owner!

Mr LE

Don't meet them at their place of business.

At their place of business or NOT?

From my experience i totally disagree with meeting them at their place of business (but it depends on the industry)

If you do meet them at their place of business it is best to make sure it is before they start trading, after they close or in a lunch hour.

Why?

Well, speaking from my own experiences (it may differ for others) you walk into their place of business during trading time and you don't have their full attention. You feel like a salesman standing over a counter trying to understand their business and suggest possible solutions.

Now this may vary industry to industry. Hair Salons, Beauty Salons, Clothes shops, restaurants or any other buisness like this and you will most likely end up feeling like a salesman selling over the counter. You on one side, them on the other with you only having half their attention. The business owner has this sense of power over you and it all comes across as a pitch as opposed to a consultation.

If it's a lawyer, accountant or any other business of this type then meeting at their place goes a lot better than other industries.

Meeting at a mutual place like a local coffee house or library cafe makes the meeting go a lot smoother.

Like i said this is just based on my own experiences when i was building my client base and others may have different experiences.

Riz

Congrats Lisa!

Calling local business owners as much as most dont like going there, but it just flat out works you get a lot of no's but you will close business...especially sending out a letter or email first. Just do it!

Okay, just talked to the business owner...we're meeting at 10AM on Wednesday at her home. (They don't have a business location actually...they have a mobile kitchen/bath showroom...how cool, eh?) She sounded very receptive to talking, so YAY!

Congrats,

Try not to undervalue your services, talk about benefits and paint a picture of how you can help. I tend to try to stay away from a lot of techie jargon that will make the business owner's eyes glaze over.
You are the authority on what you do , best of luck.

When you're talking to your client - Feel like YOU ARE the authority on that area, and you know back and forth what you're talking about - Visualization works great for me!

Hope it helps, kudos to you!

Henry

Well done Lisa!!! I have a feeling this is the first of many and you know what - when I read your posts it shines through how determined you are. That pays! I'm going to get some wine now and toast you from across the pond. V x

Ups to u Lisa! way to take action! ur absolutely correct on setting and not selling on the initial call, ur gonna do great! keep it up

I interview all my potential clients by phone. During the summer a new potential client in my county talked me into coming to their office. They ignored me for 40 minutes, then when we got to the room they kept answering the phone or answering staff questions. They didn't hear one thing I said. I had to go back twice before the contract was signed. From now on I interview only over the phone like I do for my virtual clients.

Bonnie

Lisa! Great job! I am confident that you will find as much success as you want. Be fearless, be confident, be authoritative.

Fake it till you make it you have doubts and always endeavor to take control of the situation.

Don't ever forget that they really need what you have and that they need to listen to your advice and counsel.

Hi Lisa

Thats cool.

All you need is ONE appointment as that starts the ball rolling.

Best of luck with the appointment.

Regards

Bronwyn and Keith

Aw man, thanks for all the support everyone. I am nervous, but of course I'm going to be nervous...if I weren't nervous, I'd probably be dead! LOL I'll take nervous any day.

I'm now going to go b@lls-out until Christmas!

Congrats! Looking forward to hearing the results of your meeting. G

Nice work!

I hope to be posting the same thing in the next day or so.

Hi Lisa! I was curious if you had any updates on how your meeting went with your client.

Cheers!

Awesome Lisa. The way to not be nervous is to just have a pipeline full of appointments like Michael said. Then you really dont depend on any single customer... also if you use the Haines criss cross directory for prospecting, you can schedule all of your appointments on the same street and make your driving time more effective. There is a little investment for that, but its well worth it if you can do it. You can literally prospect just by the street name. There maybe free versions, but I am not familiar with them.

Good going! Bravo!

If I know you Adam, success is inevitable. You will ABSOLUTELY be posting success within days.