How are companies finding sales help to contact their present and old customer bases?
A couple of my clients are looking for help directly contacting their old and current client lists, for example by telephone. Is this a high-need area and how is it currently being served?
One of the most overlooked and easiest ways to grow a business is with their existing client base. One of the easiest and most effective ways to fix that is with a customer rewards plan. Text messaging is a great way to set one up. Texts have about a 97% open rate, customers must opt-in to join and can opt-out at any time. By offering something of value in exchange for opting-in a text list can grow quickly. You can then simply text special offers, new products, news that can benefit them, or nearly any message you want. Depending on the business, texts can literally bring in results within minutes.
The best thing you can do is stay relevant with your clients. The only way to do this is by consistently sharing information that matters to them. If they feel like they're being sold to, they won't by. The last thing you want is for them to see you email or voicemail and think, "Great, Cliff is selling me something." However, if you become the guy who shares interesting links to case studies or stories that are relevant to their business and problems they face in their day to day jobs, you will create curiosity.
I suggest conducting an audit of each client. Are they worth it? Then create a plan for each one for the next 3 months. Take the time to think about what would interest them and share relevant information to create curiosity. That will spark a more qualified and interesting conversation.
I have templates for this type of outreach. Let me know if you want to talk more.
Every business that sells needs a selling strategy. Leveraging existing and former clients is an important part of it. Outsourcing will play a very straightforward role and I don't know why you'd give away key touches with potential opportunities to a stranger! A good sales person not only keeps connected to past accounts but if the experience was good knows how to create referrals and/or references. My question is what are your clients doing to sell their products/services now? I think the help comes from executing good sales strategy with people who are accountable to the actions needed to get results.
Cliff, yes there are companies your clients can outsource this activity to. You will need to make sure there is a good fit in regards to the size of the campaign and the third party you contract to handle such campaigns. I would be most happy to have a call with you to discuss this further as I may have a good solution for you. Personal message me for more information.
Regards
Dave Kielkucki
It depends on the product or service category, relationships, user or non-user status and contacts, plus "People, in the "Nine P's of Marketing." Contact could be by phone, in person, by email or think about trade shows. It's really about networking and Awareness/Interest/Desire/Action of the potential and present audience with Promotion and sales force. Hope this helps.
Online surveys evaluate your products, services, brand
Coupons and promotions
Telemarketing or Business Development
A dedicated business development professional / partner, with proven processes and abilities to open doors and leverage relationships is more important than anything. What business are you in, who is your buyer, what industry, etc.? Dave Cochran, Seattle
Thank you all for very useful ideas. I know of several businesses that do so little to capitalize on existing clients. Would any of you have a package with options - sort of a deli approach?
Most people in a business where they make less than $100K personally shudder at cost of corp. services, even if they are spending major bucks on ads.
Thanks, Cliff