Here’s the way many Americans (active people with lives) feel about telemarketers – you know, people who call others to see if they’d be interested in…uhh…well you know.
Turning the Tables on Telemarketers.
This is a very useful and popular blog by J.D. Roth: “Get rich slowly.” JD’s a financial planner. At the end of his spiel he writes:
“Please remember that everything you read here is my own informed opinion. Never believe everything you read, and always form your own conclusions.”
I might add that to the end of my posts.
Bottom line for networkers: What can we do to get strangers we call to listen to us and not hang up?
Fully respect ’em.
Be interestingly & appropriately informative.
Structure the call as a 2-way exchange in which they’re willing participants.
When telemarketers call I tell them I’m busy and ask them for their home phone number so I can call them back. When they say they can’t give that out I ask them if it’s because they don’t like getting called at home by strangers. I’ve got some good laughs over the years from the ones who “get it”. I hang up feeling good and they probably feel a bit better than having the phone slammed down on them. Thanks to the Seinfeld show for that one.
Eric Woll
Kim asked: Bottom line for networkers: What can we do to get strangers we call to listen to us and not hang up?
Simple – don’t call strangers.
This is the year 2007. I’ve built my entire organization on the phone and the internet and I have not called one stranger. I have this little problem – I hate rejection. So I don’t set myself up in a position to get it.
There are so many social networking sites out there. They are there for social networking. That does not mean go there and bombard people with your offer, it simply means create relationships with people and you’ll end up with some of them asking what you do. Then you give them your number and have them call you.
Just like Kim teaches us with our NMC profiles, anywhere you have the capability to do it (company site, NMC, social networking sites, blog, etc…) put up profile about you and let people get to know you. Write an article about something you like (auto racing, football, knitting, cats, etc…) and submit it to article directories with a link back to your profile. People will read the article, like what you have to say and want to see who you are. You will attract people just like you who like the same things you do.
The majority of people who have joined my business have come from reading my articles, myspace page, comments here and on other blogs. These people have contacted me because I get my name out there and they like what I have to say. Does everyone like what I have to say? Absolutely not. And it would be a pretty boring world if we all agreed with each other all of the time.
I also have quite a few friends who I network with and bounce ideas off who are not in my business but read my comments here and on other blogs, myspace, articles, etc… and like what I have to say.
Bottom line – get your name out there and let people come to you. The right ones will come. If some people don’t like what you have to say and don’t get in touch with you, they aren’t who you are looking for anyway and that’s been figured out with no rejection.
And – don’t jump on everyone who contacts you either. Some may just be genuinely interested in getting to know you and not want to hear about your business. That’s ok too.
~Roxanne~
PS – Kim – regarding your disclaimer statement – I don’t think anyone is arguing with your RIGHT to say anything you want to say on YOUR blog. However, when you’ve been doing something for years and change the flow of the stream, there are people (understandably) who will not like that the stream has suddenly shifted and fight against it. It’s that way in anything.
However, when you feel strongly about something, you have to go with your convictions. After all, it’s your life and your business. Don’t get caught up in trying to please everyone and trying to have everyone follow. 🙂
I read this post with interest. I looked at the information on the linked site as well.
Honestly, I believe people who spend their time complaining and whining about other people are small minded.
I have never been a telemarketer but I can assure you they are people too. They are working for a living (poor souls) and most of them have a job they hate.
I always cut them some slack. In fact, I often reverse pitch them and have signed up some into my home business.
What are we saying about ourselves when we only put ourselves first and have no compassion about the fact that some people have to work traditional jobs for a living. Most don’t even know they have options.
The postman brings me ‘snail spam’ every week (almost everyday) but I don’t cuss him or yell at him or ignore him or treat him like scum. He is the messenger. Not the message. He also brings me ‘mail box money’ and he is a pretty nice person!
We live in a universe of abundance. Let’s have a little love in our lives. I get phone calls from telemarketers just like everyone else. It’s your mindset that determines where you are going. I can’t imagine being so small minded that I get upset because my phone is ringing. From where I set, I look forward to every call I receive and I am grateful my phone is ringing.
Tony Williamson
tony@fun2drink.com
Hey Kim (and Seth),
I think our key as network marketers is simply to provide the tools and resources people need to succeed. We cannot force them to succeed but we can give them all the resources they need to make it as duplicatable as we possibly can.
As a team leader my job is to help put these resources in place for my team, whether it be web sites, banners, articles, training, team events, team recognition, advertising co-ops, whatever I can provide.
If I’ve done that then my conscience is clear. I can’t and shouldn’t even try to force someone to go out and do the work. They either will or won’t.
– Ben Fitts
Interesting points of view. Rox – the guy’s disclaimer at the end is sort of Buddhist…I took it as more to remind people that whatever they read needs adjustment, usually, to fit their own style and situation.
And you’re right – having a point of view means everyone won’t love you.
It depends on what I’m doing at the moment. If I’m on the other line, I hang up before their computer switches them over to me, or I tell them they’re calling at a bad time and if I have a minute, I talk to them and recruit them into my business since most of them say they’re not doing anything proactively about staying healthy.
The website you sent me to had this link on it of someone pulling a telemarketer’s leg and although it’s a little crude, it’s pretty funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5z4Vs26-TI Enjoy!
Here’s a fun one, if you have a toddler or very young child. Hand the phone to them! I did this when my daughter was about 2 or 3 since she loved to babble on the phone. When they hung up she’d hand me the phone and say ‘all gone!’. That’s m’girl!
~Alethea Anderson
http://www.miabellasoy.com
http://www.successfulmom.com
Tony Williamson, you are right on and have provided the best comment I have read to date.
Many, if not most, telemarketers aren’t necessarily working there because it is their dream. Often it’s what they need to do to put food on the table and they may not have had an opportunity to explore options. I’ve known several people who have had a stint at this thankless task.
This doesn’t mean I like getting the calls anymore than anyone else. I just think we need to treat other human beings with respect and dignity. We need to build people up and not tear them down. Lord knows there’s enough of that in the world right now.
Several recommended actions in the comments are not conducive to valuing people. If a person is working a telemarketing job as an only perceived option and they’re constantly getting some of the reactions listed in these comments, I have to wonder what that is doing to their sense of self-value. A kind comment and a polite ‘no thank you’ could make a difference in their day.
So, Tony, my hat is off to you. Network marketing is a people business. If we’re not caring enough about other people, no matter what their circumstances, we have no right being in this industry.
I agree with Tony and Derek. Lets show a little humanity to people who are doing this job. The only thing I dont like is when they go into their spiel without asking if it is convenient to talk. I never posture myself as being above it all or not needing to do something to other people. Everyone’s job in life has a purpose whether it is the janitor the juror or the jurisprudence professional. We all need to take a look at where we have been but more importantly where we are going. A lot of these people are doing this job as a means to an end and we don’t know what is going on behind closed doors – it is certainly better than having a wellfare mentality. And yes, why not try to cross recruit them. Just say very politely, I can’t help you with what you are offering but I have something you might be interested in and give them your web site. There are worse ways to fill your funnel. Sorry about all the aliteration by the way. Juliette Gray http://www.itvsuccessline.com
I try to market in a way that when I call my prospects I ask if they remember me and also let them know they requested the info. This makes a big difference.
James Stacy