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Fear of the Phone
SoireeGuru
subscriber Posts: 1
Greetings all!
This is my first posting of a plea for help! I own a business which supplies "best-in-class" vendors for various types of events (ex. weddings, corporate meetings, galas, etc.). For instance, if you are an event organizer and need such services as a caterer, dj, photogrpaher, A/V, etc., you would give me a call. We don`t plan the events, but we do provide the services providers.
I am naturally chatty by nature and LOVE talking to people. But for some reason, I have a fear of picking up the phone to call potential vendors of interest that I would love to add to my roster. I have a great pipeline of customers and need to beef up my supply capabilities, but for some silly reason, I have a fear of approaching potential vendors.
Any tips for approaching folks you don`t know? Getting over the fear of cold-calling?
This is my first posting of a plea for help! I own a business which supplies "best-in-class" vendors for various types of events (ex. weddings, corporate meetings, galas, etc.). For instance, if you are an event organizer and need such services as a caterer, dj, photogrpaher, A/V, etc., you would give me a call. We don`t plan the events, but we do provide the services providers.
I am naturally chatty by nature and LOVE talking to people. But for some reason, I have a fear of picking up the phone to call potential vendors of interest that I would love to add to my roster. I have a great pipeline of customers and need to beef up my supply capabilities, but for some silly reason, I have a fear of approaching potential vendors.
Any tips for approaching folks you don`t know? Getting over the fear of cold-calling?
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Comments
I am not a real phone talker either, but I overcame some of my fear of talking on the phone by recording messages. You might feel silly doing it at first, but call your own answering machine and talk to it like you are talking with a client.
You could also solicit the help of some of your family and friends by role playing with them. Don`t do this face to face, though. Use your office phone, or whatever phone you will use to call prospective clients, to call and walk through the information you will be relaying to prospective clients.
The more practice you get, either with your answering machine or with friends, the more confident and natural you will become in live situations.
I am sure with practice you will be a pro at this before long.cjpeeps2007-1-11 20:21:54
I suggest joining Toastmasters. The CTM program, the first program, Competent Toast Master (a series of 10 speeches), will get you over your fears. I have never seen it fail. I did it many years ago and was one of the best business decisions I ever made. After the CTM program, you may decide to continue into more advanced programs. A wonderful, supportive, and positive organization with a super reputation. Worth looking into. Not expensive ... and a great networking source, too.
R@
Just remember you are talking to vendors that you will be giving business to.
They will be excited that you called them. You are a blessing to them.
As soon as you state you reason for calling they will take it from there-or
should. Just think your going to make someones day when you call. You
have the customers and thats the hard part. Good luck
Cartess3, thanks for the website. I will check into it next week. Great to meet a fellow Hotlantian! Thanks everyone.
Borned, raised and still live in west midtown ATL off Howell Mill.
R@
EXCELLENT Suggestion on the classroom idea. I`m stealing it . It is officially in my bag.
On a side note ... woodworking (read your profile again) ... I was a partner in an antique replica furniture building business for a couple of years. Learned a lot about old-style woodworking. Would love a shop big enough where I could get back into it. I will, one day.
Later - R@
One thing I have done recently is that I found a former head of a toastmaster`s club through a friend of mine. (Thanks again Cartess for jogging my memory regarding Toastmasters). I invited him to dinner and practiced my speil on him, which was an awesome opportunity and learning. As luck would have it, he offered to work with me 1:1 as a coach for FREE.
I do have a script with bullet points and of course the more you practice, the more you feel comfortable. Thanks everyone for your support.
My company provides Telephone Communication Associates who call prospects on behalf of business owners. We do a great job. We have no problem striking up a conversation with a cold call prospect. Need more clients, customers, appointment, or what ever we can get them for you. Our clients decide what they want to spend on marketing. There is a short time committment of 90 days of marketing. The hours of marketing in the 90 days can be many or few depending on your need. We call Nation wide. We have a New Years special at 10% off and a Free Script Developement at this time.
See our web site or give us a call at 702-982-3635.
J Max Marketing
Director of Sales and Marketing
Gail Austin
These are all great suggestions. I think zzzagman has a great point -
if you have some cashflow - hire a coach. A sales trainer can really
boost your confidence and your ability to get leads. I`m planning on
contracting one in the near future - they can actually do a mock sales
call with you and critique how you handled it.
If you don`t have the cash or you don`t want to ask a stranger, go to a
family and friend and ask if they can act out the scenario. It will
help eliminate alot of the anxiety because it will be like you`ve
already done it before. Play all the angles and ask your counterpart to
purposefully keep you thinking. This will all help you prep and will
keep you on your toes for the actual call.
Luckily, my girlfriend works for free and she absolutely LOVES to give me a hard time with this stuff. Give it a shot!
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Dan, awesome feedback as well. Actually, I could afford a coach. I have my friend from Toastmasters, but true business coach may also be helpful. I think I`ll put an RFP out to the International Coaching Federation or does anyone have any coach recommendations?
I`d like to calrify if your fear of the phone is really a fear of the phone or a fear of rejection (rejection of what you have to offer). A lot of great suggestions have been made here but if the problem is that you don`t like hearing "No, I am not interested, then you have to deal with this first. Because despite the coaching and the scripts, you will be back to square one after 3 back-to-back Nos! The answer to this is a belief in your products and services. Think of it like you have the best service in the entire world and the person you are phoning is being offered "gold dust".
The other things I`d like to add is that if it is a cold call, you should ask if you caught them at an appropriate time to speak.......they may be having lunch, at a meeting etc. It is polite to ask for permission to intrude.
On the issue of "No, I am not interested" ask if you can follow up in a specified time frame (3 months has been suggested). Also, don`t forget to ask for a referral. They may not have a need for your service, but may know someone who does.
Your posting and the responses herein have been very educational. Great post. Thank you.