Comments on: Cold Feet for Cold Calling http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/10/12/cold-feet-for-cold-calling/ The adventures of a new freelance copywriter Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:47:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Beth Ziesenis http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/10/12/cold-feet-for-cold-calling/#comment-11 Beth Ziesenis Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:58:48 +0000 http://lifeonavenuez.com/?p=37#comment-11 Actually, John, one of my favorite marketing techniques is my monthly eNewsletter, which helps me keep a regular conversation with my potential customer base. I had planned on free workshops as well, but I haven't had much time to get one set up. One of my posts this week will be on the different marketing strategies I've been using and how they're paying off. Actually, John, one of my favorite marketing techniques is my monthly eNewsletter, which helps me keep a regular conversation with my potential customer base. I had planned on free workshops as well, but I haven’t had much time to get one set up.

One of my posts this week will be on the different marketing strategies I’ve been using and how they’re paying off.

]]> By: John Leach http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/10/12/cold-feet-for-cold-calling/#comment-10 John Leach Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:04:05 +0000 http://lifeonavenuez.com/?p=37#comment-10 Beth, I agree with you (I don't disagree with Peter, because I do know it's effective) cold calling is not much fun. As Seth Godin (one of your frequent visitors:-)) tells us, we are entering into an age of "Permission Marketing" where interruptions are being ignored more and more. I don't know your exact approach to cold calling, but what if you held a FREE website workshop, and you could then call on businesses that you want to work with and invite them to your event? You wouldn't be selling them anything...just inviting. The workshop then becomes your sales platform where after reviewing and giving tips, you'll have permission to market your services. Beth, I agree with you (I don’t disagree with Peter, because I do know it’s effective) cold calling is not much fun. As Seth Godin (one of your frequent visitors:-)) tells us, we are entering into an age of “Permission Marketing” where interruptions are being ignored more and more. I don’t know your exact approach to cold calling, but what if you held a FREE website workshop, and you could then call on businesses that you want to work with and invite them to your event? You wouldn’t be selling them anything…just inviting. The workshop then becomes your sales platform where after reviewing and giving tips, you’ll have permission to market your services.

]]> By: Peter Bowerman http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/10/12/cold-feet-for-cold-calling/#comment-9 Peter Bowerman Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:42:09 +0000 http://lifeonavenuez.com/?p=37#comment-9 Thanks, Beth for the kind words on The Well-Fed Writer. Keep in mind, anyone reading this, that cold calling isn't the ONLY way to build a freelancing business, but it's absolutely a proven way. You make enough calls, you'll find the work. But, networking and simple direct mail, combined with cold calling, can be a potent mix. Also, something Beth said made me want to comment. She wrote: "I’ve been the victim of a number of cold calls in the last month, and while I don’t like them at all..." If you feel you're being "victimized" by cold calls, then I'm guessing you aren't going to be too excited about making them yourself. And it's here that a crucial distinction about cold calling can be helpful in "reframing" your relationship with the cold-calling process. As I point out in TWFW: Back For Seconds (in which I dedicate an entire chapter to cold calling), There is a HUGE difference between the kinds of cold calls we, as consumers, get each day from telemarketers, and the kind of calls we, as professional businesspeople make to other professional businesspeople. There is virtually NOTHING about the the two that are the same. The first is business-to-consumer and in the case of the calls we make, it's business-to-business. No matter how much you dislike the process (and liking it is never required), as I state in the book, I PROMISE you, the people you'll be calling will NOT, in any way, shape, or form, view you in the same light as they do the people who interrupt their dinner selling aluminum siding or kitchen counters, or anything else they don't need. They just won't, and if you put yourself in the same category as the other knuckleheads, you're doing both you AND your potential clients a disservice. Just my two cents... May all your writing be well-fed! PB www.wellfedwriter.com Thanks, Beth for the kind words on The Well-Fed Writer. Keep in mind, anyone reading this, that cold calling isn’t the ONLY way to build a freelancing business, but it’s absolutely a proven way. You make enough calls, you’ll find the work. But, networking and simple direct mail, combined with cold calling, can be a potent mix.

Also, something Beth said made me want to comment. She wrote:

“I’ve been the victim of a number of cold calls in the last month, and while I don’t like them at all…”

If you feel you’re being “victimized” by cold calls, then I’m guessing you aren’t going to be too excited about making them yourself. And it’s here that a crucial distinction about cold calling can be helpful in “reframing” your relationship with the cold-calling process.

As I point out in TWFW: Back For Seconds (in which I dedicate an entire chapter to cold calling), There is a HUGE difference between the kinds of cold calls we, as consumers, get each day from telemarketers, and the kind of calls we, as professional businesspeople make to other professional businesspeople. There is virtually NOTHING about the the two that are the same.

The first is business-to-consumer and in the case of the calls we make, it’s business-to-business.

No matter how much you dislike the process (and liking it is never required), as I state in the book, I PROMISE you, the people you’ll be calling will NOT, in any way, shape, or form, view you in the same light as they do the people who interrupt their dinner selling aluminum siding or kitchen counters, or anything else they don’t need. They just won’t, and if you put yourself in the same category as the other knuckleheads, you’re doing both you AND your potential clients a disservice.

Just my two cents… May all your writing be well-fed!

PB
http://www.wellfedwriter.com

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