Warning - rant alert

[LJatSpear]

I run a telemarketing company and I know that makes me unpopular with some people but I cannot hold my tongue any longer.
On another site, that shall remain nameless, someone posted a comment along the lines of 'oh cold calls are so annoying' I made the point that everyone can TPS and CTPS their numbers however you might be missing a call of value and that its mostly the big companies who hire phone monkeys and have rigid scripts which are annoying. To which I got the snotty reply of cold calling does not work, I dont need any help with MY business, I put the phone down on cold callers etc etc
THEN...
THEN.......
4 posts down they were saying how they had received a call from a company who took the time to reasearch their company and they set up a meeting and now are doing business together
OMG!!

so cold calling DOES work then! and you just proved you're a dilbert

honestly!

people who dont understand that every service and product has the good the bad and the ugly and tars everyone with the same brush really annoys me.

Im going for a lie down now

p.s. would it harm my networking greatly if i sent them a message saying they are a numpty?

 

[MASSEY]

Its the business your in cold calling is annoying

You just have to deal with it.

Whats the term they use "smile while you dial" lol.

 

[LJatSpear]

lol, i know, i know
I enjoy my job, most people are nice, it was the saying cold calling didnt work and then demonstrating it did! lol

 

[Kernowman]

It is unfair to tar every TELESALES cold caller with the same brush, because there are the (rare) exceptions.

I was rung this afternoon by a cold caller and had a pleasant exchange with a young lady that was most courteous and attentive. She followed the golden sales rule by shutting up and listening then absorbing all what I was saying. She gave me some good pointers that effectively lost her the business today, but said she would call next Monday to follow up on how I was progressing with her suggestions. Marvellous.

Later on I was rung again by someone who was plainly and obviously reading from a script without even pausing for breath, it sounded monotonous and very much mechanical, so it was easy to detect that I was her call number 121 or whatever today. This call DID annoy me.

Why is it that those that manage these call centres believe that a script formulated by a dyslexic pigeon, which then gets delivered by a cheap bargain ventriloquist's dummy of an operator who has no responsibility, no authority and no brain either can be classed as "successful" when the best they can manage is to annoy?

 

[captaincloser]

I have been at the sharp end of this business for years and the rock solid advice is to stop the 'rant' and focus on the people who do want your services and there will be plenty.

Check this forum for endless moaners about cold calling..it's the same message repeated a million times ! 100% of these 'business'people complaining about cold pitching would love you or me to bring them new clients..FACT.

I took a look at your website and it is very good.

2 suggestions. Drop the discounting idea...it does not work in this business. Give value for money and get the results and then there is no need for 25% off gimmicks. Such a big discount may also suggest to some that you are overcharging ?

Second, get some testimonials up there. Word of mouth and testimonials will eventually be how you get most new clients.

 

[Newbus]

Great rant.......

I have been in the telemarketing industry for years and like you I have seen and heard every possible insult. Primarily based around the low quality of calls or that it is just annoying etc....

However, I have to make the following observation...Sales calls have real value. They are promoting products and services that other people believe "could" make your life easier, cost less, make you money or save you time... Difficulty is by ignoring every sales call you ignore the real existing introductions that improve your business....

I always tell this story when this subject comes up. I think it totally explains the dilemma and illustrates the point made in the rant....

The Indian Chief and the salesman.

The salesman knocks on door of the teepee and the Squaw answers.... "Hello, I'm a salesman can I speak to the Chief please." The squaw goes to see the Chief. "There is a salesman at the door. DO you want to speak with him?" The chief is too preoccupied his tribe is fighting the cavalry and getting slaughtered. "Tell the salesman that I am too busy....I don't have time for him....I'm not interested in anything he has for sale!" The squaw goes back to the salesman and says "I'm really sorry but the Chief does does not have time to see you. Whatever your selling he is not interested!" The salesman look puzzled, he has the perfect product for the Chief. "Never mind" says the salesman and he turns and leaves.

Little did the Chief know that he was a Gatling Gun salesman and his product could have won the battle with the cavalry.

You can debate the moral of the story.....but I always feel this little tale gets to the meat on the bone whenever I speak about this issue.

 

[Bri]

I would like to think there is a distinction between cold calling and telesales.

Cold Calling is what I do myself which is relevant to my business, telesales is employing an external body to sell my business for me, and the latter are the ones we dont like as they tend to lack the passion and drive that I have for my business.............Discuss?

 

[LJatSpear]

Morning Captain Closer

thanks for the feedback.
Testimonials are on the way. All my past clients were subcontracted from another agency so couldn't give me testimonials. This is also where the big discount comes in, happy to greatly reduce my margins to get a diverse client base and testimonials.
I suppose we're all a bit jaded by discounts now, the DFS curse

 

[LJatSpear]

Morning Newbus and Bri

Newbus - great story, like you say, illustrates the point perfectly.

Bri - I'd post that as a seperate thread as it raises a good point.

 

[James1980]

Whatever your selling he is not interested!" The salesman look puzzled, he has the perfect product for the Chief. "Never mind" says the salesman and he turns and leaves.

Little did the Chief know that he was a Gatling Gun salesman and his product could have won the battle with the cavalry.

To be fair, sometimes the salesman is just selling teepee wax or SEO solutions.



James

 

[bdw]

so cold calling DOES work then! and you just proved you're a dilbert

How to endear the general public to cold callers eh?

.

 

[Piqueperfumes]

We get a fair number of cold calls and some are fine, you have a decent chat about your requirements etc and its amicable. The problem comes with, what are clearly large call centres whose interest seems to be to get you to part with money there and then and/or get you offthe phone ASAP and who usually end the call by putting the phone down abruptly. So, no they are not all the same, its just the latter tend to stick in the mind!
Cheers, Phil

 

[MagnifyB]

I have no objection to receiving telemarketing calls either personally or for business as long as they are relevant to what I need or might need.

What gets me cross is the lack of targeting of the products or services to me and them not listening to the answers given!

For example:
Personally - I got regular calls from a company trying to sell me Sky TV. The first time they rang I told them I used cable TV and I was happy with the service and did not wish to change. I thanked them for the call. However, they cont inured to ring every day for a period of nearly 3 weeks until it got the point I had to literally scream down the phone.

Business - There is such a lack of research on what my business area is. I get calls asking if I want a website? Hello....I have one and a good one thank you! I get calls for Do you want PPC management? Hello....I am an online marketer and offer this service!

My fav business one has to be from BT who call me on my BT business line and ask me if I want........ a BT business line!

 

[Newbus]

To be fair, sometimes the salesman is just selling teepee wax or SEO solutions.



James

The great difficulty is that the Indian Chief will never find out if the salesman is selling Teepee wax, seo or gatling guns unless he speak to salesman. If we want to be offered the equivelent to the Gatling Gun for our business we have to find our what the other salesman are offering too..... It is not possible to have your cake and eat it.

Personnaly I respond to all approaches to my companies and find out exactly what is being offered and assess whether this will add value over and above what I am currently doing and assess the potential ROI. THen I make a desision. I beleive my business is better for having taken this approach than having ignored all salesman that have something to offer.

 

[bdw]

Personnaly I respond to all approaches to my companies and find out exactly what is being offered and assess whether this will add value over and above what I am currently doing and assess the potential ROI. THen I make a desision. I beleive my business is better for having taken this approach than having ignored all salesman that have something to offer.

You know what? I find this very hard to believe.

 

[directmarketingadvice]

I cannot hold my tongue any longer.

On another site, that shall remain nameless, someone posted a comment

So why are you ranting on this site?

so cold calling DOES work then! and you just proved you're a dilbert

A "dilbert"?

p.s. would it harm my networking greatly if i sent them a message saying they are a numpty?

Maybe not, but it might say something about you. Seeing people as "dilberts" and "numptys" probably isn't a good thing for a salesperson.

I'm not quite getting why you're ranting on this site about something said on some other site.

What you do interrupts people. And some of those people will find those interruptions annoying.

I don't understand why you think ranting about it is going to change that fact.

Steve

 

[pudding1354]

You know what? I find this very hard to believe.

BDW are you saying telesales/cold calling doesn't work, or just that you don't like receiving the calls?

 

[Sarah Harvey]

I would say the person was right. Cold-calling doesn't work- Especially when the person is only interested in selling you a product you would never consider buying in a million years. Companies actually waste a lot of money that way.

However, if your list is properly researched, your target is drawn into a conversation and the telemarketer can present a real solution to a problem the person is actually experiencing and not 'imagining' they are experiencing, then you might get a sale.

Most telemarketing companies 'imagine' that their target audience is experiencing the problem and they will provide the solution.

A classic example is how they teach telemarketers to be the loudest, most obnoxious bunch of people (not that these professionals saw it that way- but really... I would rather have a quiet and engaging nature that enjoy intelligent conversation and be someone that actually listens to the customer).

I remember when I attended training in a similar situation with a company that were responsible for inbound calls and had a telemarketing department as well, that I felt sorry for the market the people were targeting. Most people never experienced the 'imagined' problem and they (company) were chasing ghosts to obtain one sale out of so many failures. However, I got to give them credit for trying.

What you have to realise is that people are adverse to telemarketing calls. I can actually recall this one annoying company that keeps on calling and the script they had were horrible. Sure they were affiliated with Microsoft, but who cares. Supposedly this technician was going to show me what junk files are left behind on my computer due to viruses and trojans.

Mistake one was assuming I was a complete noob at computers. Sure they may have my telephone number from any of the software I may have registered online, they may even have my age, my email address and know things like I have a computer. What they didn't anticipate is that I have a custom built computer that I lovingly put together and have dealt with more viruses and trojans in my life than I care to admit.

I know exactly what to do and what not to do, and unlike a typical person with no knowledge of this area, I would find it highly insulting if a telemarketer tried to talk to me like I was a 5-year-old that 'obviously' did not understand anything about how these viruses and trojans leave behind destructive files on my computer.

It is also laughable to think that after the 4th time, ringing me and explaining this all to me, that I will somehow warm to the idea that this will solve my problem and make it all disappear... like magic!

So cold-calling can only work in a situation where you are engaging your customer. I wouldn't call it cold-calling then I am afraid, and perhaps will call that a warm lead and warm conversation.

 

[Bri]

I think thats the main point we've been trying to get across to telesales on this thread Sarah, the technical side and passion for our business doesnt come across.

Another example away from this but similar, I went for a sales job with my old firm I was an engineer at. The branch manager, lovely guy, interviewed me and I gave a good account of myself. He said sorry Bri your not what we're looking for, youre too honest about the service and product, ie I sold the technical benefits and not the box. I told him he was after baked bean salesman(no offence to baked beans salesmen/women), but sell em quick type. Yes he said, I want someone to go in and sell the box on the wall and get out of there to the next one.Sound familiar.

 

[bdw]

BDW are you saying telesales/cold calling doesn't work, or just that you don't like receiving the calls?

I don't have a clue whether it works or not. I assume it must do to some extent or the major companies would not be doing it.

I am saying that I don't like the calls. I don't know anyone who does and traditionally the only people who defend cold calling in here are those who are directly involved in it. It's a business that needs to get itself regulated and sorted out before pressure from businesses forces the government to put a stop to it.

 

[LJatSpear]

I would like to apologise to anyone who has taken offence to this thread.
I was merely trying to humourously point out a close minded and aggressive attitude to cold calling and the turnaround of attitude when the cold call was regarding something they wanted. Forgive me if my humour is not for everyone, humour is very subjective.

 

[S-Marketing]

I would like to apologise to anyone who has taken offence to this thread.
I was merely trying to humourously point out a close minded and aggressive attitude to cold calling and the turnaround of attitude when the cold call was regarding something they wanted. Forgive me if my humour is not for everyone, humour is very subjective.

Dont take it personally. People round here tend to say what they think, well the ones that are worth listening to do. You need to take the rough with the smooth sometimes

Personally, I am of the opinion that cold calling, mailing lists, e-mail lists, lead generation and suchlike are all for businesses that dont know what else to do, so give it a go, often out of desperation (obviously there are exceptions). Thats my opinion, its not aimed at you or anyone else in particular. There will be loads of people who disagree with me, and will probably be along soon to point it out. Oh the fun of a forum.

 

[bdw]

Regulation.

How about making cold callers use a formal introduction?

"Hello, this is an advertising call. Will you allow us to tell you about our water coolers, web design services, car insurance, fitted kitchens, etc.?"

Yes/no

 

[S-Marketing]

Regulation.

How about making cold callers use a formal introduction?

"Hello, this is an advertising call. Will you allow us to tell you about our water coolers, web design services, car insurance, fitted kitchens, etc.?"

Yes/no

Like you would even let them get as far as the Yes / No bit.