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Do you cold call from a list?

by iamchrisgreen
12 replies
If so, is it one that you bought, rented, scraped online??

How do you choose who to call?

Thanks

Chris
#call #cold #list
  • Profile picture of the author TheZafraGroup
    Well it depends where you got the info from. As for me, I don't cold call. It's not that effective conversion wise. It's better to let them come to you. I use an online lead generation system that uses the principle of attraction marketing wherein the leads and prospects come to you instead of you chasing them down. It's always better when they give you their info themselves. It means that they gave you permission to contact them and they will be looking forward to hearing from you.
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  • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
    Hey Chris I dont use lists, I use businesses that are already currently spending money on advertising via various on or offline means and focus on them .EG Newspaper ads, quality promotional materials through the door/post, local businesses that I know are doing something a bit special soon, as well as the usual online suspects (Google Places, FB, LI etc)
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    Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
      Originally Posted by mjbmedia View Post

      Hey Chris I dont use lists, I use businesses that are already currently spending money on advertising via various on or offline means and focus on them .EG Newspaper ads, quality promotional materials through the door/post, local businesses that I know are doing something a bit special soon, as well as the usual online suspects (Google Places, FB, LI etc)
      Cool.

      How do you systematically do that? Do you go through a whole newspaper and make a note of all the companies?

      Also, do you mention their ads when you call?
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      • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
        Originally Posted by iamchrisgreen View Post

        Cool.

        How do you systematically do that? Do you go through a whole newspaper and make a note of all the companies?

        Also, do you mention their ads when you call?
        For this I focus mainly on the repeat advertisers and the higher end bigger ticket businesses then either phone them, direct mail regarding the ad or email them

        Id find out the ad rates for what theyve done (posing as potential advertiser myself I now have a good list of various price points ) so know ballpark what theyre paying and know that I can achieve more for them for the same outlay
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        Mike

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      • Profile picture of the author s62731
        Hey,

        I have just gotten started in the last 7 days with offline marketing and have already got 3 clients! (if you cant tell im pretty happy)

        Through 2 different methods;

        Searched good maps for "City Plumbers"

        Made a list of 25ish that either had no website or were in dire need of seo. And just started calling.

        1 of those calls converted into an appointment, which today converted into a sale/client

        The other method (similiar to mjbmedia), I looked in the local paper and cut out all advertisements for business' that would be good clients (lawyers, chiropractors, accountants, day spa's etc). I sent a simple letter to the business owner, with the cut out of the ad stuck to the letter saying:

        "Hey (owner name)

        It's James, I came across your ad and a light bulb went off in my head. Call me if you want to talk about it. xxx-xxx-xxxx

        James"

        And made some pointing arrows to the ad.

        I did this for 17 advertisements, and I got 3 calls. Of those calls I closed 2 of them today in appointments.

        So out of those 2 little direct response campaigns I have brought in over $1000 in as little as 7 days of trying.

        The guys on this forum really helped me out for ideas.

        - James
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        • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
          Originally Posted by s62731 View Post

          Hey,

          The other method (similiar to mjbmedia), I looked in the local paper and cut out all advertisements for business' that would be good clients (lawyers, chiropractors, accountants, day spa's etc). I sent a simple letter to the business owner, with the cut out of the ad stuck to the letter saying:

          "Hey (owner name)

          It's James, I came across your ad and a light bulb went off in my head. Call me if you want to talk about it. xxx-xxx-xxxx

          James"

          - James
          you get that from Jims forum? at least thats where I got it from , it works too theyll either ring up intrigued or annoyed, either way they ll ring up
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          Mike

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        • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
          Originally Posted by s62731 View Post


          The other method (similiar to mjbmedia), I looked in the local paper and cut out all advertisements for business' that would be good clients (lawyers, chiropractors, accountants, day spa's etc). I sent a simple letter to the business owner, with the cut out of the ad stuck to the letter saying:

          "Hey (owner name)

          It's James, I came across your ad and a light bulb went off in my head. Call me if you want to talk about it. xxx-xxx-xxxx

          James"

          And made some pointing arrows to the ad.

          I did this for 17 advertisements, and I got 3 calls. Of those calls I closed 2 of them today in appointments.

          So out of those 2 little direct response campaigns I have brought in over $1000 in as little as 7 days of trying.

          The guys on this forum really helped me out for ideas.

          - James

          This is great!!

          How do you work out the person's name to send it to?

          Chris
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          • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
            Originally Posted by iamchrisgreen View Post

            This is great!!

            How do you work out the person's name to send it to?

            Chris
            I actually just wrote on the ad itself in black marker pen so it looked like i really had just seen it and had an idea so no name was required, just addressed it to the business.
            But you can often find those detials on the website or some listing or other if needed
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            Mike

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            • Profile picture of the author iamchrisgreen
              Originally Posted by mjbmedia View Post

              I actually just wrote on the ad itself in black marker pen so it looked like i really had just seen it and had an idea so no name was required, just addressed it to the business.
              But you can often find those detials on the website or some listing or other if needed
              What has the response been like for you with this strategy?
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              • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
                Originally Posted by iamchrisgreen View Post

                What has the response been like for you with this strategy?
                Over a year ago now I sent out around 35-40 and got 12 phone calls, 4 were pissed off Id ripped there ad out but still got to talk with them , 8 were interested, I ballsed up some of them by telling too much too soon , met with 4 closed 2 .

                Thing is its different for them to recieve that , some like that, some dont.

                Why havent I done it since? Good question , might give it a go again nothing to lose but at present doing good using other direct mail ie specific letters , telemarketing and direct fairly aggressive emails
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                Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author dudeshane01
      Originally Posted by mjbmedia View Post

      Hey Chris I dont use lists, I use businesses that are already currently spending money on advertising via various on or offline means and focus on them .EG Newspaper ads, quality promotional materials through the door/post, local businesses that I know are doing something a bit special soon, as well as the usual online suspects (Google Places, FB, LI etc)
      Yup, as appreciated above, this is cool.
      I am also looking forward to step into the offline world.
      Really nice to see people sharing knowledge will full heart.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Check out Company Profiles & Company Information on Manta. You can drill down to industry, company size, revenue, city and more. And it's free.

    So I like to pick IT firms with 5 - 100 people let's say, in certain cities. I get 20 - 100 or so results...click on the individual listing and the principle's name usually comes up. 99/100 times it's correct (I have found a couple of errors, but they were the names of other officers in the company...just not the owner. Nearly all the time it's the owner, though).
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