| |
| |
|
Go Back | About | Contact | Web Design News | |
|
|
|
Voice Mail That Sells
As a business owner, I receive my share of sales calls in a given month. More often than not, I'm away from my desk or out of the office which means I end up listening to the messages instead of speaking directly with the sales person. Here are a few of the common mistakes I notice and how you can correct them. Mistake #1 - The message lacks focus or clarity. You are more likely to receive voice mail today than actually connect with the person you are trying to contact. That means you must be prepared to leave a clear, concise message. Business people are too busy to listen to a lengthy message that is not focused and you lose credibility if you cannot state your objective without rambling. The average executive in an organization receives dozens of calls every day and many of them are from sales people trying to sell a product or service. If you ramble on, your prospect will probably press delete without listening to the entire message. Keep the message brief and to the point. Plan what you are going to say BEFORE you call so you are prepared. Mistake #2 - The message is difficult to understand. A sales person recently left me a message and he spoke so quickly that I did not understand most of his message. I knew it had something to do with the Internet and getting top placement in search engines but I couldn't decipher his company name and most of his message was unintelligible. If you have an accent, recognize the fact that some people may find it more difficult to understand you. That means you may have to repeat yourself or slow down in order to be understood. This also applies if you have an unusual name. Make it easy for people to understand you. Mistake #3 - Phone numbers are rattled off at lightening speed which makes it next to impossible to write them down. Most sales people state their telephone number too quickly. A general rule of thumb is to actually write down your own number as you state it in your message. This may sound simple but I'm sure you have had to listen to some messages more than once in order to capture the telephone number. Once again, you must make it easy for the person you are contacting to understand your message. If they have to replay the message several times they will seldom call you back. Mistake #4 - The message does not compel me to return the call. "Hi, it's Bob from Human Resources Plus and I'd like to talk to you about your recent merger. We specialize in helping businesses like yours manage the process more effectively." A message like this does not compel me to call you back. To stand out from your competition, leave a message that offers some form of benefit to your prospect or customer. For example, "Hi Mrs. Smith, it's Bob Jones from Human Resources Plus calling. Most companies who undertake a merger experience a significant reduction in employee morale. One way to improve this is to communicate regularly with your team and keep them updated on the progress of the merger. Learn additional strategies by calling me at?"I recommend crafting a variety of different messages and offering a different benefit each time you call. Use case studies and tell your prospect about specific results some of your clients have achieved. Make your prospect want to return your call. Mistake #5 - The message is too generic. Too many sales people try to sell their product or service to anyone who will buy it. Personalize your message by indicating that you know something about your prospect's business and/or industry. Make references to specific challenges they face and give an example of how your product or service can help them. Remember to use your prospect's name, particularly at the beginning and at the end of the message. Voice mail is a vital tool in today's business world. How you utilize this tool greatly affects your sales results and, in my experience, the majority of people fail to use it properly. Make sure your message is easy to understand and keep it brief. Enunciate your words clearly and spell out your name if necessary. Slow down your rate of speech. State your telephone number slowly so I can write it down without listening to your message three or four times. Give me a compelling reason to call you back. Lastly, adapt your message to my specific business. Personalize it and use my name. If you want to cut through the clutter and stand out from your competition you must make your voice mail messages work for you. © Copyright 2004, Kelley Robertson. All rights reserved. Kelley Robertson, President of the Robertson Training Group, works with businesses to help them increase their sales and motivate their employees. He is also the author of "Stop, Ask & Listen - Proven sales techniques to turn browsers into buyers." Visit his website at http://www.RobertsonTrainingGroup.com and receive a FREE copy of "100 Ways to Increase Your Sales" by subscribing to his 59-Second Tip, a free weekly e-zine.
MORE RESOURCES:
Sales - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Benefits of Display Mannequins Mannequins are primarily used in stores to display clothing. A display mannequin is usually a full-size dummy in the shape of a person. Now Is A Great Time To Sell! Its official. The news just came out. Ten Tips for Choosing the Right Direct Sales Company Direct sales can be your ticket to a profitable home-based business. There's low risk and low overhead - and you'll find lots of conversation, creativity, and cooperation among the company's representatives. 5 Tips to Choosing a Direct Sales Business With hundreds of direct sales companies out there, how do you choose the right one for you? Here are a few tips to make sure you choose the right one the first time:1. Find your passionBefore you even start looking for the "big money", you need to decide what type of products interest you. 3 Ways To Sell and Have Fun Doing It There are many ways to sell and have fun doing it, but some times we really need to step outside the box and do something a little different if not drastic.Listed below are the three fun and exciting ways to take that giant leap and start having fun selling your product!? The Sidewalk Sale? Supermarkets? Block PartyThe Sidewalk SaleIf you are looking to put a big push on your production and obtain a lot of applications in one day, then the sidewalk sale is the way to go!Exactly what is the sidewalk sale?Keep reading. What is a Pitch? I've been training in countries outside the U.S. Leave a Better Voice Mail Message Yesterday I received a call from a financial planner named Richard doing a cold call. My policy is to always return those calls which help me to understand why I would personally benefit from doing business with a sales person. Selling: an art of a skill? Selling is as much an art as it is a skill. The basics of the selling process can be learned by anyone, but the practice of selling is something that the super star sales people have brought to an art level. Model Dell: The Art of the Affiliate Coupon Along with having an innovative supply chain, there's another reason Dell is the largest computer company in the world. They always offer great coupon codes to online affiliates that let the buyer "in" on deals that they otherwise wouldn't get. Going Global: Communication Across Mental Boundaries A completed communication consists of a sender and a receiver. If there is just a sender - like in a pitch, or a lecture, or a commercial, or advertisement, or even a newsletter - it's not a communication, but an assertion, or a monologue, or an opinion. How to Write Testimonials that Sell CDs Like Magic "Which is your best CD?"Ever get that question? My band has five CDs that we sell at shows, and I get that question all the time. People rely on the suggestions of others to determine what they are going to buy. Selling - Remember These Ten Rules and Succeed There are thousands of books and seminars on how to succeed. What many don't make explicit is the requirement to be a great salesperson - even if you're selling an idea!Here are the ten simple but powerful rules that will guide you in all your selling decisions. Referrals: Getting Good Business By Doing Good Business Whether you're a conventional sales person, a professional - such as a dentist or lawyer or doctor - or a business owner, you've got to have clients to stay in business. There are several ways to do this: either continue to find new customers, keep all of the customers you've ever had, get old clients to return, or get customers to send in referrals. Can Barter Help Increase Cash Sales and Visability for Your Small Business? Barter is becoming an increasingly popular method of commerce. The U. How to Leverage Your Influence Why do we get into sales? Typically it is two reasons for most people. One is to make money, and the other is often that we like working with other people. Define Your Best Customer To be more effective at developing relationships, one should always take time to describe their best customer. This is the customer that gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Sales Letters - How to Write Them You could just send out your brochure to potential customersbut it's much better to personalise your mailing with a wellwritten sales letter.Personalise - Using the person's name in a sales letter willgive you the greatest success. The Truth Behind Linear Selling: Why It Can Make Prospects Run The Other Way Sean works for a major telecom company.During one of our coaching sessions, he told me, "I've been diligent about following the sales process that my company believes is requiredto make a sale -- but, for some strange reason, my prospects don't want to fit into that process. Warming Up To Cold Calls Will you do just about anything, including sending out hundreds of letters, to avoid making cold calls to your potential customers/prospects? If so, you're not alone. Millions like you have started their own businesses, only to find that the thought of making calls to potential customers/prospects leaves them paralyzed with anxiety. How To Get Face To Face Over The Phone One disadvantage of selling by telephone is the lack of face to face contact.When you are sitting with a prospect it is much easier to read there body language.
|
ChicagoAnimation's Acquisitions: Market Polls - 1pennyStock.com
Sponsors: Paving | VTL's | Religious Statues
