May have some advice please from business owners

[Danny@BFC]

Hi all,

Im currently researching a company that I plan to contact for the first time on Monday so am trying to get as much information about them as possible to see if my product would be good for their business.

I have never contacted them before so plan would be to cold call them on Monday and try to arrange a visit.

However - looking through their website I have noticed 2 missing words in their "about us" section which leaves the paragraph not making a lot of sense.

My question then, As a business owner, how would you feel if someone emailed you informing you of this mistake and trying to get an appointment at the same time?, I dont think I would like it, although at the same time I'd like to know the mistake existed so I could correct it.

Im thinking I may mention on the phone on Monday rather than email but im interested in your views?

Thanks in advance

Danny
Baby's First Calendar

[ginantonic]

OMG if you are hoping to supply anything to them NEVER point out their mistakes, that's a sure fire way to alienate them and put them off you! Try to ignore it if you can, and see the company as a whole, not judge them by a couple of small errors. It could be their web designer's fault, or if they designed it themselves, even if they are not aware of it, they would be annoyed by your criticism, as it is implying you are better than them.

[Danny@BFC]

hi gina (i guess? or is it just a love of a particular alchoholic brand?!, rum man myself!)

thanks for ur view, much appreciated.

I agree with what your saying to a certain point. I can be very diplomatic and wouldnt "judge" a company by a simple mistake, I know how hard it can be setting up the simplest of websites when you have more than a few pages to create! be it their own or their design co's. and patronise I would not!. my view however is that on the whole I think I'd rather let them know in a friendly mannor (even if it ment losing their custom, for a short period)personally as a business owner I would want to know about any mistakes with anything my company had in the public domain.

Sales?, yes very important. In fact the life blood of any enterprise, but at the same time helpfulness and integrity, even if it means no sale short term, personally much more important to me.

Danny
Baby's First Calendar

[Hillyer]

Hi Danny,

Are they a local company? If they are within a short drive, I would suggest making an appearance to discuss your business.

What words are missing on their page?? Contact details? Information?

[Danny@BFC]

Hi Danny,

Are they a local company? If they are within a short drive, I would suggest making an appearance to discuss your business.

What words are missing on their page?? Contact details? Information?

Hi Hillyer, yes they are local, the missing info is just 2 words, one being this

"Safe in the knowledge that the goods will be ready for collection your baby is born. "

the word "when" is missing before "baby", so not hugely important.

I think it would be best to arrange an appointment, vist them see how they are and how the rapport goes before I mention it, what do you think?

I completely agree with ginatonic from a salepersons point of view, as I have been in sales orientated roles for 12 years, however from an owners point of view I think I'd like to know.

what to do! lol

Danny
www.babysfirstcalendar.com

[Scott-CopyandDesign]

Hi all,

Im currently researching a company that I plan to contact for the first time on Monday so am trying to get as much information about them as possible to see if my product would be good for their business.

I have never contacted them before so plan would be to cold call them on Monday and try to arrange a visit.

However - looking through their website I have noticed 2 missing words in their "about us" section which leaves the paragraph not making a lot of sense.

My question then, As a business owner, how would you feel if someone emailed you informing you of this mistake and trying to get an appointment at the same time?, I dont think I would like it, although at the same time I'd like to know the mistake existed so I could correct it.

Im thinking I may mention on the phone on Monday rather than email but im interested in your views?

Thanks in advance

Danny
Baby's First Calendar

Just imagine it from a face-to-face perspective:

"Hi there Danny how are you today" *holds hand out*
"Hello I'm good thank you. By the way you have a coffee stain on your t-shirt and that tie looks horrendous" *shakes hand*

[OPC]

I would not be just turning up on their door uninvited. I am not a big fan of this approach. I hate it when sales reps turn up on my door without an appointment.

I would send them a letter or email introducing yourself and your company and mention you will be in touch in next couple of days to see if there is a mutually convenient time to meet up and discuss what you can do for them.

Every business is different but I have always found this approach works best for me. Once you have built a bit of a rapport you can tell him about his mistakes!

Good luck with it

Colin
www.theonlineprintcompany.com

[ginantonic]

I still think telling them on first meeting would be business suicide. If someone did it to me I'd think they were a right wise guy...
Now that you've shown us what the error is, it's not exactly end-of-the-world stuff, is it? Show a little leeway here, in the grand scheme of things it's nothing. Would you rather get a sale (and a good business relationship) or get thrown out because of your principles and not get a sale? There are not many of us on here in the position to turn away business!

[EthicalEntrepreneur]

I'd only tell them a little way down the line - once you have a relationship with them.

When someone you know tells you something like that, you're grateful, but when t's someone you don't know, it can seem a bit superior.

Does that make sense?

[Danny@BFC]

"Hi there Danny how are you today" *holds hand out*
"Hello I'm good thank you. By the way you have a coffee stain on your t-shirt and that tie looks horrendous" *shakes hand*

a pesronal attack on someone else's dress sense? terrible yes. Help them improve their corporate image? slightly more appropriate in my view.

I would not be just turning up on their door uninvited. I am not a big fan of this approach. I hate it when sales reps turn up on my door without an appointment.

I would send them a letter or email introducing yourself and your company and mention you will be in touch in next couple of days to see if there is a mutually convenient time to meet up and discuss what you can do for them.

Every business is different but I have always found this approach works best for me. Once you have built a bit of a rapport you can tell him about his mistakes!

Good luck with it

Colin
www.theonlineprintcompany.com (http://www.theonlineprintcompany.com/)


Hi collin thanks for this, As stated in the op I'll be cold calling them (phone) to try and arrange an appointment, not turning up uninvited. and yes have decided to build the rapport before mentioning it.

I still think telling them on first meeting would be business suicide. If someone did it to me I'd think they were a right wise guy...
Now that you've shown us what the error is, it's not exactly end-of-the-world stuff, is it? Show a little leeway here, in the grand scheme of things it's nothing. Would you rather get a sale (and a good business relationship) or get thrown out because of your principles and not get a sale? There are not many of us on here in the position to turn away business!

Hi ginantonic, I agree first phone call or meeting probably not the best time.

I'd only tell them a little way down the line - once you have a relationship with them.

When someone you know tells you something like that, you're grateful, but when t's someone you don't know, it can seem a bit superior.

Does that make sense?

completely, and will be my approach!

Thanks all, interesting debate, if I actually manage to get the appointment Ill let you know how it went if i decided to tell them!!

Thanks again

Danny
www.babysfirstcalendar.com

[Scott-CopyandDesign]

a pesronal attack on someone else's dress sense? terrible yes. Help them improve their corporate image? slightly more appropriate in my view.

Well it was a joke... My point is though, many people will take comments against their website personally. You may consider it a favour to improve their corporate image, but they may consider it a slightly snobby remark.

Adding another perspective to my earlier example here. In theory you would be helping the owner improve their corporate image if you made these remarks about their dress sense. The only reason each scenario is different is because of your view of what constitutes a 'personal attack'. For someone to take something personally, it doesn't have to solely be about them.

Anyway my honest view is keep it to yourself. If someone pointed out mistakes on my website and then start to try and sell me things I'd tell them to get stuffed, to be blunt.

Once you have developed a GOOD working relationship, then tell them. That's the only time they will see it from the perspective of a nice favour.

[Danny@BFC]

I know, i got it, I just saw the tie thing as subjective as opposed to actual.

Anyway my honest view is keep it to yourself. If someone pointed out mistakes on my website and then start to try and sell me things I'd tell them to get stuffed, to be blunt.


yeah I think I could have worded my original post better, I should have just asked "if there was a slight error on your website would you want to know about it so you could correct it?", and not mentioned the then trying to sale to them part as thats not what I wanted to know!

But I am new here and I tend to waffle on when typing so give me time!!:)

Thanks all again.

Danny
www.babysfirstcalendar.com

[charliecorns]

Hi Danny

I think you've hit on a dilemma that many of us in the editing sector would understand. One part of you wants to help the business owner make the best impression with their web copy, the other part doesn't want to offend. It's difficult.

As a business writer I grapple with this one myself too, partly because to point out typos or poorly-written content could potentially bring me business, but only from an enlightened business owner who doesn't take it as a personal criticism. Scott, if you don't mind giving a little more advice, how do you handle this one as a copywriter?

Charliecorns

[Silverlight]

I remember being in a bank a few years back, the woman behind the till processed the deposit, and then when all was done, handed me back a small note with my pay-in book letting me know my jacket was inside out.

The key was that she told me at the end, if she told me straight off the bat over the mic for the rest of the bank to hear, I would have felt a complete pillock the whole time I was in the bank, instead of a bit of a pillock as I left.

Consequently, I came back with one of those tiny ferrero rocher boxes and a thank you note later on.

Get an appointment, and then perhaps tell them (with all possible tact) at the end to swing them in your favour?