I just finished my first mailings to 118 potential clients. They are mostly new businesses and found their contact through our county business license office.
I have all of their information including phone numbers. I am planning on giving them a call starting monday. In these calls, I want to accomplish two things:
- Of course the first one is to see if there have any needs that I could help them with.
- 2nd I would like to also get their email address so that I can send them my quarterly e-newsletter. This is where I need the help! Not sure how to ask them, most business owners don't like to get additional emails in their inbox: but my newsletter is really informational: it has several articles on new technologies that can help small business owners, bookkeeping tips, etc.
Does anyone have a script they use when calling a potential client? if yes, can you share?

I've never made calls like this so I don't have a script to offer you but wanted to suggest that finding out some unique bit of information about each business before you call will give you an edge in the conversation. It'll also show your potential clients that you're truly interested in and informed about what they do.

Good luck with this! I'll be interested to hear more from you about how you handle it and how it pans out for you.

__________________

No. I'm sorry I don't have one either. I have not done cold calls or follow-up calls on mailings as I have not done mailings. Will be looking forward to seeing the responses you get though.

Let us know how it goes for you.

__________________
Rhonda Holscher, Owner
Rhonda's Virtual Office - Hire a Virtual Assistant

I would suggest that in that original mailing you include a link to your newsletter and advertise the benefits of signing up. This way you have already introduced them to the information you provide.

[If the verbiage is enticing enough you might get enough people to sign on without having to ask them in your follow-up call. You can still call them but you could then thank those who have signed on for the newsletter which is a nice 'ice breaker'.]

So then when you do the follow up call you can say, "I offer free information in my monthly newsletter with bookkeeping tips and new technology which I mentioned in my mailing. May I add your email address to my list? I promise not to rent or sell your address."

This way you have an 'in' assuming they have read your mailing. They may be more interested in your newsletter contents if they know about it before you call. It may also be an opportunity for you to explain when you cold call about the benefits of reading the newsletter.

Janine

__________________
WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com