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#1 |
To shreds, you say?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet!
Posts: 18,449
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Business correspondance
I am now finding myself in the position of having to email potential clients and beat the bushes looking for work. I have nearly zero experience at writing letters to clients who I do not already know or have met.
I think my style may tend towards too informal and breezy and I am concerned that this may be off putting to people who don't know me. On the other hand, I think when letters sound too formal they are easier to ignore or sound like form letters. Anyone have any ideas about how to learn to write great business letters. next step google...
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The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs |
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#2 |
Your Bartender
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Philly Burbs, PA
Posts: 7,651
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I don't have a lot of advice, but I can tell you that as a person who receives a large number of cold calls & emails at work, that the chances of your message NOT going in the trash immediately is really low.
Make your message short, to the point, and include a good subject line. You'll probably get ignored anyway--but maybe not if I happen to be thinking about getting something like your product at the moment. You'll definitely be deleted if I can't figure out what you're selling immediately. Oh, and if you call and get no answer, leave a voice mail. |
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#3 |
twatfaced two legged bumhole
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,143
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There are some good books out there regarding cold calling, making smalltalk, networking etc. Check out your local library. FWIW, Red loves Zig Ziglar. I just bought him a book, I will PM you the title when I can get ahold of him to find out exactly what it was.
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Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within. |
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#4 |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
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foot, i'm sorry but i forget what type of photography you're trying to gather clients for.
i know a couple photographers have gotten business simply by going to the soccer fields on saturday and taking pictures of the kids playing and handing out their cards to the parents directing them to the website where the families can buy prints, mugs, mousepads, and the like. even if they don't buy the photos, they know what you do.
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Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
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#5 |
To shreds, you say?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet!
Posts: 18,449
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Lookout- I'm doing studio work, products mainly, but would love to move to "lifestyle" stuff. I'm looking now for a mentor in that field. I'll pm you a link to my website.
Lab- looking up Zig now, name sounds familiar. Steve, I figured a lot goes into the circular file even if the subject line *is* hot, wet, teens. I suppose there is no experience like experience, the old 20 nos for each yes.
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The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs |
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#6 |
Your Bartender
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Philly Burbs, PA
Posts: 7,651
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You might check out Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. There is a chapter on his work with the Met Life insurance sales force.
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#7 |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
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Steve Schiffman is the cold call king. just ask him. he'll direct you to his books.
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Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
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#8 |
polaroid of perfection
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 24,185
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Foot - I write a pretty good business letter, but as Steve and Lab have picked up, cold selling is completely different. I also bin many letters and put off many callers on a daily basis.
To be fair, this is mostly because we've been targetted incorrectly - we get calls re business mobiles, water coolers, vending machines etc and we're a tiny office and a registered charity. All I can say is lay out what you are offering as clearly and concisely as possible. And try to make it eye-catching. Free gifts always get your letter a second look in every office I've worked in, but of course that can involve huge outlay if you've not narrowed your mailing list down. |
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#9 |
Your Bartender
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Philly Burbs, PA
Posts: 7,651
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#10 |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
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his company actually does that. or at least they used to.
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Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
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#11 |
I know, right?
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,539
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You could hire me. That's what I do for a living.
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#12 |
I hear them call the tide
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Perpetual Chaos
Posts: 30,852
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I "know" a guy who's made it and i'm sure he'd be up to giving you a few pointers if you contacted him, he's a nice guy. His name's Andrew Wheeler and after initially aiming for the equine photography market, he found his niche in Motorsport. Here are his websites:
http://www.automotophoto.com/ http://www.whimwham.com/ of course he started out by being extremely talented, but I think rather than cold-calling, he went out there, met and made friends with the people who were his potential market, got examples of his work and put it under people's noses until they had to admit it was pretty darn good. He'll be able to tell you more. I know him from the Britnet website. He has a cool accent too ![]()
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The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart |
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#13 |
twatfaced two legged bumhole
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,143
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Book I bought for Red: Dirk Zeller, Telephone Sales for Dummies
Books he bought: Stephan Schiffman, Cold Calling Techniques That Really Work and George Dudley The Psychology of Sales Calls Reluctance. Earning What you are Worth. Good Luck.
__________________
Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within. |
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#14 | |
To shreds, you say?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet!
Posts: 18,449
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Quote:
Just checked his websites. Really astounding work and hard to believe it's by the same guy.
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The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs |
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#15 | |
Goon Squad Leader
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Seattle
Posts: 27,063
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Quote:
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Be Just and Fear Not. |
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