Phone or Email?

[cburns-inter-pack]

When you are selling a new product and you have researched your list of potential clients and it is time to make contact should you make a call or email?

I prefer an email but I am starting to think a telephone call is more effective?

Does anyone have suggestions?

 

[leemason]

As with any marketing you need to get your message across using multiple media. People tend only to start noticing after they have seen your product about 3 times so you might want to consider both e-mail and phone plus another media (e.g. post or online ads) in the hope that people will see your product on a number of occasions. Probably the phone call comes last as you want at least some recognition when you call them so they don't ignore you.

 

[Simon Forder Ringhello]

I would do the emailshot and follow up with phone calls, it means you have a valid reason for calling and talking. Cold email read rates are low, so calling boosts the numbers.

 

[stone955]

I will do email first and see what happens.If nothing happens,then maybe you need to make a phone call...

 

[CoretiumMedia]

I would say that phone calls in general will be more effective, but this of course depends on your business. This will be more expensive, but response rate will be respectively higher. I believe that if you prepare well for this, it is worth to invest time and money.

As previously said the power of integration should not be underestimated, so use various tools to reach your customers - in your case combine email with phone calls.

Good luck,
Coretium

 

[PayPoint net]

You may get a quicker response on the phone. However with email you can keep reminding them you are alive and how you can benefit them. Sometimes it ultimatley depends on the person though as some people prefer to do business over the phone while others prefer emails so its just a matter of knowing your audience.

 

[Jet Virtual]

Definitely follow up first with a phone call, then send an email. Phone calls are always more personal and is a better way of finding out what is holding the potential client back from going forward with you. Email can easily be ignored, deleted etc.

Best of Luck,

Daniel

 

[captaincloser]

Tried and tested method for many years both here and the USA is

Get a list.

PHONE (some response and at least you find out who to mail/email)
+
MAIL/EMAIL (some reponse to targeted email)
+
PHONE (best response)

Just emailing lists and waiting for the phone to ring is atrociously bad but still the most common method in the UK

 

[tgstechnosis]

Phone calls are better.. But written contents will remain a piece of evidence

 

[MoonlightEnts]

1. Phone - Establsh who the key decision maker is. If their not available ask for their email address

2. Email - Make sure your email is to the point. Send your business brochure as a PDF. Make sure you have a strong call to action - ''Ill call you on____ to discuss further.

3. Follow up phone call - Did they receive your email? If yes - Do they have any questions? Are they in the market for your product? Do they want to buy? Agree next steps! If no - Resend email and agree a call back time

4. Call back - You have called, sent your brochure, resent your brochure, answered any questions, identified if they do or dont require your product/service

5. Close the sale!!

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

It completely and utterly depends on the product or service you're trying to sell.

 

[cburns-inter-pack]

1. Phone - Establsh who the key decision maker is. If their not available ask for their email address

2. Email - Make sure your email is to the point. Send your business brochure as a PDF. Make sure you have a strong call to action - ''Ill call you on____ to discuss further.

3. Follow up phone call - Did they receive your email? If yes - Do they have any questions? Are they in the market for your product? Do they want to buy? Agree next steps! If no - Resend email and agree a call back time

4. Call back - You have called, sent your brochure, resent your brochure, answered any questions, identified if they do or dont require your product/service

5. Close the sale!!

Thanks for this!

Great template that I will be trying today!

 

[captaincloser]

In most situations ''completely'' covers utterly...and where utterly is used then completely is covered.

However, as a general rule phone -mail phone is what works best. I utterly believe that.

Completely too.

I cannot see any situation where a blind email s better than a call nor can I see any situation where follow up calls are not better than follow up emails.

Utterly, completely. with nobs on.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

In most situations ''completely'' covers utterly...and where utterly is used then completely is covered.

However, as a general rule phone -mail phone is what works best. I utterly believe that.

Completely too.

I cannot see any situation where a blind email s better than a call nor can I see any situation where follow up calls are not better than follow up emails.

Utterly, completely. with nobs on.

You're not very good with idioms, are you? First it was "gift of the gab" and now this!

I can see plenty of situations. Dozens, in fact. One prime example is where the total cost of sending an e-mail and making a telesales call (factoring in data lists, conversion rates and time) is more than the value of the product or service being sold, so every sale ends up being a loss.

It also depends on the subject of the product or service. There are plenty of products and services involving very sensitive issues where no one would be comfortable talking about it with a stranger.

They're niche examples of course, but it confirms the point that many of these situations exist.

I don't know what the OP is wishing to sell, and until I do, I'm not comfortable enough to formally suggest a specific method.

 

[cburns-inter-pack]

You're not very good with idioms, are you? First it was "gift of the gab" and now this!

I can see plenty of situations. Dozens, in fact. One prime example is where the total cost of sending an e-mail and making a telesales call (factoring in data lists, conversion rates and time) is more than the value of the product or service being sold, so every sale ends up being a loss.

It also depends on the subject of the product or service. There are plenty of products and services involving very sensitive issues where no one would be comfortable talking about it with a stranger.

They're niche examples of course, but it confirms the point that many of these situations exist.

I don't know what the OP is wishing to sell, and until I do, I'm not comfortable enough to formally suggest a specific method.

Perhaps I should have pointed out what our company sells.

Firstly, we cater to the beverage industry and supply brand new filling equipment. Secondly, we sell the labels, caps, and packaging for bottles.

Hope this helps.

 

[telemax]

Perhaps I should have pointed out what our company sells.

Firstly, we cater to the beverage industry and supply brand new filling equipment. Secondly, we sell the labels, caps, and packaging for bottles.

Hope this helps.

Definitely pick up the phone, and go for the meeting.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

Definitely pick up the phone, and go for the meeting.

I agree. If you're looking for quite large clients which would be making large repeat orders, then use the phone with the aim of organising a meeting.

I would only send a post-call sales email as a backup if you fail to arrange a meeting in the initial phonecall.

 

[captaincloser]

You're not very good with idioms, are you? First it was "gift of the gab" and now this!

I can see plenty of situations. Dozens, in fact. One prime example is where the total cost of sending an e-mail and making a telesales call (factoring in data lists, conversion rates and time) is more than the value of the product or service being sold, so every sale ends up being a loss.

I was spot on with the 'gift of the gab' idiom as it is patronising-do you feel an inner urge to keep proving me wrong ? I dont get it ? Thats an old thread..is this more baout me or answering the OP. I am flattered,

I also dont get the 'dozens' of situations where costs of sales are above the unit cost of what is being sold unless a company is a complete nut job at sales.

Sorry to be a bore but success in sales has been my business for a very long time, Can you give..... oh I don't know....say two dozen other examples as you must have them?
Regulation smiley.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I was spot on with the 'gift of the gab' idiom as it is patronising-do you feel an inner urge to keep proving me wrong ? I dont get it ? Thats an old thread..is this more baout me or answering the OP. I am flattered,

It was simply in response to your very patronising use of the words 'completely' and 'utterly' in your previous post.

And of course you were.

I also dont get the 'dozens' of situations where costs of sales are above the unit cost of what is being sold unless a company is a complete nut job at sales.

The cost of sales won't be above the unit cost if you choose the right form of marketing. That's my point.

Sorry to be a bore but success in sales has been my business for a very long time, Can you give..... oh I don't know....say two dozen other examples as you must have them?
Regulation smiley.

So you keep saying.

And no. If you've been in sales for a "very long time" then it should be obvious that details should be sought on exactly what is being sold before any advice is given on how to sell it.

You can give your "general rules" as much as you like. That's your choice. I just prefer to find out the finer details first.

 

[captaincloser]

It was simply in response to your very patronising use of the words 'completely' and 'utterly' in your previous post.

And of course you were.

Of course I was what ?

Flattered ? Of course I was.

But did you feel patronised ? I was making light of the overuse of words ? But if you felt patronised what can I say ? How do I unplunge the dagger that has effected you thus ?

 

[dustinscott]

yeah,
i will prefer to email first and if i get positive reply from the customer then only 'll for call.

 

[Yuriy]

Personally I hate phone calls.
And I don't like people calling me. It's much easier to handle all the matters via E-mail, because everything is recorded. Even when having a call I'd ask the person to send me the E-mail with his thoughts or propositions. Not because I can't remember, but because in future it's easier to refer to something that is written down.

So, I believe the E-mail is a must, yet it is really easy for someone to skip it and not give a damn. People tend to be brave on the internet, yet when it comes to phone calls everything changes. That's why I think it's good to send an E-mail first, and then to make a call. If the reply was positive and fast - no need for a phone conversation. Probably that person also hates phone calls, yet loves E-mail way of settling matters. Otherwise you need to make a call to confirm the person got your message.

 

[Daxo]

With today's spam filters it is very likely that sending an email to those who do not have your email address in their 'safe' list means your cold email is likely to be recieved straight into that persons junk mail folder, regardless of whether it's a business email or personal email address. As you know, the contents of said folder are automatically deleted at fixed intervals.

With the above in mind I believe that the chances of you getting a reply from a cold email is very low indeed, primarily because the recipient will simply never come to know you sent it and it will sit in their junk mail folder awaiting automatic deletion.

 

[captaincloser]

Daxo, You have been elevated to top of the class.

At last, sense on this thread. It doesent mateer who likes or does not like making phone calls or receiving them...you are always going to be on a hiding to nothing sending blind emails.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

With today's spam filters it is very likely that sending an email to those who do not have your email address in their 'safe' list means your cold email is likely to be recieved straight into that persons junk mail folder, regardless of whether it's a business email or personal email address. As you know, the contents of said folder are automatically deleted at fixed intervals.

With the above in mind I believe that the chances of you getting a reply from a cold email is very low indeed, primarily because the recipient will simply never come to know you sent it and it will sit in their junk mail folder awaiting automatic deletion.

That's not really true. It's fairly simple to send a commercial sales e-mail which will land safely in a person's inbox.

Spam filters are good at blocking the vast majority of spam e-mails about the usual 'spammy' topics. However, the content and sending pattern of a bespoke, well-written business sales e-mail is very different to what spam filters usually look for.

I'm not saying that it's better than a phonecall in this situation, but I've worked on numerous e-mail marketing campaigns and seen the cash from sales in the bank as a result. It does work.

 

[leemason]

That's not really true. It's fairly simple to send a commercial sales e-mail which will land safely in a person's inbox.

Spam filters are good at blocking the vast majority of spam e-mails about the usual 'spammy' topics. However, the content and sending pattern of a bespoke, well-written business sales e-mail is very different to what spam filters usually look for.

I'm not saying that it's better than a phonecall in this situation, but I've worked on numerous e-mail marketing campaigns and seen the cash from sales in the bank as a result. It does work.

Totally agree. Modern spam filters don't rely on white lists of e-mail addresses. They are more likely to take a more sophisticated approach to spam filtering and will use various methods to weed out legitimate e-mail from "spam" such as:

Bayesan Filters
DNSBL/RBL services
SUBRL database
SPF records
Address Spoofing checks
Greylisting
Reverse DNS lookups
Text searching
Tarpitting
etc

If you send e-mail from a legitimate e-mail address that is setup correctly it will still get through all of these checks and be delivered successfully.

One thing to mention though. Always put in the e-mail why the person has received this (e.g. opted into a service, registered interest, etc). Always have an opt out link so that people can opt out if required.