What Works Good Email or Cold Call or Door to Door Sale?

17 replies
I have just stepped into the offline market and was looking for which marketing method I should focus on to develop their website, facebook and other stuffs.

Does emailing to local business client is good or bad. Does any body have any conversion with emailing to local business clients.

Does Cold calling to local business clients is good or bad. Does any body have any conversion doing cold calling to local business from your home.

and does B2B is still effective to sell my service..

Which one do you prefer more for marketing to get local business client.. share you history and story so I can learn from it...
#call #cold #door #email #good #sale #works
  • Profile picture of the author s62731
    If I was you I would steer clear of emailing for 1 simple reason;

    - Your grammar sucks.

    If you send an email that makes as much sense as the post you just made, the few people who do read it will not want to do business with you.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6281736].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Giftys
      Originally Posted by s62731 View Post

      If I was you I would steer clear of emailing for 1 simple reason;

      - Your grammar sucks.
      You seem quick to criticize his grammar yet you show a great lack of diplomacy and respect. Where did you learn to be so rude and who taught you that that was an acceptable business practice?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282022].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author rhealy29
        Emailing is a tough game. That isn't to say that it can't work, because it can work. It's a numbers game just like cold calling is. However, sourcing emails is much more difficult than sourcing phone numbers.

        If you want to email a business owner how do you get his email? Go to their website? Maybe. What if they don't publish it there? What if they don't have a website? Hell, what if they don't have an email address?

        How do you find their phone number? There's a big 'ol book just packed to the brim with phone numbers and contact info for your local businesses! Much easier to build your list.

        Besides the difficulty factor in souring email addresses compared to sourcing phone numbers, people are very, very, good at ignoring promotional email. Again, that isn't to say you can't find clients through email, but the success rate is generally extremely small. Likely significantly smaller than cold calling. That means you have to send a lot of emails, which leads us right back to problem number one with email.

        If you're faced with the decision to choose emailing local businesses vs. cold calling local businesses, I'd recommend you pick cold-calling just about every time. It's tedious, time consuming, often soul-crushing work if you do it yourself, but it's a numbers game that is proven to work if you're willing to put in the dials.

        Again, I'm not saying you can't or won't succeed with email, but for the amount of time and effort it takes, you'd almost certainly get a better return from cold calling. Sure, you get to avoid the personal rejection factor, but in the end it's all about maximizing the returns on your effort.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282082].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author mojo1
        Originally Posted by Giftys View Post

        You seem quick to criticize his grammar yet you show a great lack of diplomacy and respect. Where did you learn to be so rude and who taught you that that was an acceptable business practice?
        There are a few around here who are rude and get the red carpet rolled out for being that way.

        Not sure why they communicate that way but they yet do.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282118].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PhilaPM
    I think any more pro active approaches work best...cold calling or door knocking.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6281952].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TamilYoung
    Beyond Doubt, EMail marketing is the best and cost effective and further, scientific means of marketing to masses!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6281985].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
      They all work....

      A better question to ask yourself is... Am I willing to work?... Am I willing to cold call... am I willing to face my fear of rejection and constantly improve my approach and presentation skills?

      If you learn an effective sales approach and presentation and then work the numbers... the more prospects you contact and ask...

      I'm a local SEO and Web Design Guy (or whatever you are selling) I wanted to introduce myself and ask if you need any help with your web pages or marketing? .... the more yes you will hear!

      At first you may have to contact 20 prospects to make one sale but as you get better and tweak your approach and sales presentation the better your conversion rate will be.

      After a few months you may only have to contact 3 qualified prospects to make one sale.

      You can put the odds in your favour by doing whatever you can to improve your sales skills but the best way to do that is to make it a daily ritual to send 100 emails, make 100 phone calls and meet face to face with as many business owners as you can.

      If you do cold door knocking but the odds in your favour by carrying along a digital camera and a pocket video camera like the flip or a Kodak Zi8

      Then walk into a business and say... hey, is it all right if I make a video testimonial about your great customer service and put it on the internet?

      or... I'm going around taking and giving away professional portraits to all
      local business owners for them to use on their Facebook Fan pages. No strings attach...


      Like Zig Ziglar said... You can get what you want if you first help others get what they want.

      Here's a Video With Some Cold Calling Tips That could Help You!


      http://www.youtube.com/embed/jlVBwasfc78
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282130].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author payoman
        Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

        At first you may have to contact 20 prospects to make one sale
        Can we be a little more realistic here? Try 100.

        Sorry to sound whiny, but honestly, 100 on a good day would get you a new client for web design or SEO if you are relatively new to cold calling. And that's 100 attempts while getting directly through to business owners.

        If anyone else averages better than that, please let us know. That's got to be my average at least.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6283426].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
          Originally Posted by payoman View Post

          Can we be a little more realistic here? Try 100.

          Sorry to sound whiny, but honestly, 100 on a good day would get you a new client for web design or SEO if you are relatively new to cold calling. And that's 100 attempts while getting directly through to business owners.

          If anyone else averages better than that, please let us know. That's got to be my average at least.
          Yes you are right.... I'm use to making 3 calls to get one $1000 sale but fantasy portraits are a lot easier to sell than SEO or websites as there are new babies being born everyday. Plus I have the advantage of the parents showing off their portraits and people calling me.

          It sure beats cold calling!

          Cheers,
          Steve
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6283728].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sue Bruce
      For local B2B marketing, we started with sales people cold calling to set up an appt with the decision maker.

      We added email and fax marketing for those businesses that it was obvious we would not be able to speak with a decision maker or that the decision maker said "no"

      I prefer fax because the potential client receives a hard copy. The offer was profesionally designed and includes a strong reason to use it within a timeframe and a call to action.

      Great sales staff are your ace.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282181].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author npsol
        Would you please provide more info on the email and fax marketing. Did you hire a service to do this? Did they provide the leads?

        Thank you!

        Originally Posted by Sue Bruce View Post

        For local B2B marketing, we started with sales people cold calling to set up an appt with the decision maker.

        We added email and fax marketing for those businesses that it was obvious we would not be able to speak with a decision maker or that the decision maker said "no"

        I prefer fax because the potential client receives a hard copy. The offer was profesionally designed and includes a strong reason to use it within a timeframe and a call to action.

        Great sales staff are your ace.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6333781].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bruce Wedding
    There's a little thing you haven't mentioned... Direct Mail.

    The right package is devastatingly effective and much easier on the shoes.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282218].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SteveSki
      Originally Posted by Bruce Wedding View Post

      There's a little thing you haven't mentioned... Direct Mail.

      The right package is devastatingly effective and much easier on the shoes.
      You're right...

      One Good Sales Letter Can Make You Rich!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282239].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Michael Bucker
        Originally Posted by SteveSki View Post

        You're right...

        One Good Sales Letter Can Make You Rich!
        To market the best do all three of, cold calling, direct mail and dorr to door. Find the best on the forum at all three and market in all three areas.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282266].message }}
  • yes i think Direct Email will work really effectively,i am not saying that it always works but yes atlist you will get inquiries around 20%..whats say?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6282948].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Nguyen
    email cold calling has worked for me. I first tried this in Dec 2011. Met up with the client, got the deal and he's refereed me ever since. I've gone into business with a client of mine and we're starting a new SEO business. My last day at the day job was on Friday so today is my first in the new business.

    Oh damn, gotta get back to "work"

    Best regards
    Michael
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6284128].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
      Originally Posted by Michael Nguyen View Post

      My last day at the day job was on Friday so today is my first in the new business.
      Just had to drop a congratulations on you ...

      I love it when i see people sack up, and take control of their destiny.

      I wish you the best of success.
      Signature

      Selling Ain't for Sissies!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6284162].message }}

Trending Topics