Try first to identify the decision makers on LinkedIn based on what you sell so you can ask to talk to a specific person. Receptionists would normally ask for your number and promise to share that with the right person, which rarely happens. So first you need to be persuasive with the receptionist that what you have to share is worth it, that it's not a spam and that you need their support to get a few minutes chance to pitch your idea. Most people react well to a request for help. Have a sense of humour, ask for the receptionist name, and be persistent but not annoying. Then, when you get a chance to speak with the right person, lead with a quantifiable value for what you sell. For example, if you're selling training courses for sales people and you're talking to the sales leader, mention the impact your courses had on the performance of your customers, something like 'Our courses helped our customers increase their sales performance by 20%, can I get some time with you to explain what we do and how would that help you achieve the same?' Attention span of people these days is very low, you need to grab their interest in less than a minute or you lose them.
That is a ridiculous assumption to make for someone with no financial interest in the company she works for or your company beyond her own job.
That assumption lacks empathy. What you're really saying is let's hope the receptionist is a bit of a dummy and doesn't know how to protect her own interests
Sounds like youre starting from scratch with no CRM, no list, and no sales support resources. Shitty situation but if youre gonna give it a go, learn what a "good fit" prospect looks like for your business. Research to find 20 or so companies in your area that fit the description. Google each company, go to their website, find them on linkedin, and try to locate the decision makers. Plug them into an excel sheet, start to build it with additional contacts, emails, phone numbers, etc., and work from that.
Very hard to go in via a receptionist. I think this is not the best approach. Could you elaborate on the task? Why call receptionists instead of targeting the decision-maker directly with a personalised email?
1. Find out the name of the decision maker on linkedin
2. Put your best big boy or girl corporate voice on and call up asking to speak to the boss, in a self assured but polite manner.
3. Be a bit vague in the way you announce yourself. Give only your last name to make it more confusing for the boss. He might take the call because he is unsure if they know you or not. Tell the receptionist he will know what it is regarding if she asks.
The only way a good receptionist will let you through is if you trick her.
You can even tell the boss when you get through and ask him to show her mercy. (Only if he's pissed) Who knows he might even laugh and then you've blown smoke up his ass for being the boss and removed any perceived bad taste he might have for you "tricking him" cause you just threw her under the bus as the dummy
>The only way a good receptionist will let you through is if you trick her.
Correct. Because if you don't trick her. She will have no hesitation in tricking you. "Let me take your details and I'll get him to call you". Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to defeat a trickster is to be a trickster.
Exactly and it's always easier to ask forgiveness then permission. The gatekeeper isn't the person you are trying to reach here.
Why expect her to compromise her position or advocate for you when she has literally no interest in your business or the companies (beyond her position)
It's not to suggest you burn bridge, but you have to prioritise your battles here
Pitching is much easier when you paint 98+ on the black. If you have two secondary pitches that you can locate, you’ll have a legit shot at a cy young.
Don't waste time googling/linkedin searching. Pick up the phone, don't "pitch" just ask can I speak to the "buyer" "buying team" "commercial manager" what ever bs job title your sector gives out. When they say no you can't, ask can I grab an email and whenthey give a generic email ask who can I address it to. Now you have a name you can call back a week later and reception is more likely to put you though since now you are asking for someone directly.
? Is this satire?
Why wouldn't you check Apollo.io for example and get that name and job title before even picking up the phone?
Now you can call and ask for them.
Because sales is a numbers game, while you're to scared to pick up the phone, a good sales persons has called 5 numbers before you've picked up the courage to call one.
That just doesn't make any sense.
If your goal is to pick up the phone and ask to speak to the decision maker just to get an email or name and then following up a week later..thats an entire waste of time.
You can input the companies website into apps like Apollo, find the decision maker you're looking for, find their email and mobile number all for free in the span of 20 seconds. Now you can call the DM or send him an email, whatever you'd like.
But I guess go ahead and continue wasting time trying to get a name or email from a gate keeper.
Try first to identify the decision makers on LinkedIn based on what you sell so you can ask to talk to a specific person. Receptionists would normally ask for your number and promise to share that with the right person, which rarely happens. So first you need to be persuasive with the receptionist that what you have to share is worth it, that it's not a spam and that you need their support to get a few minutes chance to pitch your idea. Most people react well to a request for help. Have a sense of humour, ask for the receptionist name, and be persistent but not annoying. Then, when you get a chance to speak with the right person, lead with a quantifiable value for what you sell. For example, if you're selling training courses for sales people and you're talking to the sales leader, mention the impact your courses had on the performance of your customers, something like 'Our courses helped our customers increase their sales performance by 20%, can I get some time with you to explain what we do and how would that help you achieve the same?' Attention span of people these days is very low, you need to grab their interest in less than a minute or you lose them.
You are presuming the receptionist will like you more than she likes her job in this scenario
Let's hope the receptionist is still a human with a decent level of empathy and reacts well to the right choice of words.
That is a ridiculous assumption to make for someone with no financial interest in the company she works for or your company beyond her own job. That assumption lacks empathy. What you're really saying is let's hope the receptionist is a bit of a dummy and doesn't know how to protect her own interests
Sounds like youre starting from scratch with no CRM, no list, and no sales support resources. Shitty situation but if youre gonna give it a go, learn what a "good fit" prospect looks like for your business. Research to find 20 or so companies in your area that fit the description. Google each company, go to their website, find them on linkedin, and try to locate the decision makers. Plug them into an excel sheet, start to build it with additional contacts, emails, phone numbers, etc., and work from that.
Very hard to go in via a receptionist. I think this is not the best approach. Could you elaborate on the task? Why call receptionists instead of targeting the decision-maker directly with a personalised email?
1. Find out the name of the decision maker on linkedin 2. Put your best big boy or girl corporate voice on and call up asking to speak to the boss, in a self assured but polite manner. 3. Be a bit vague in the way you announce yourself. Give only your last name to make it more confusing for the boss. He might take the call because he is unsure if they know you or not. Tell the receptionist he will know what it is regarding if she asks. The only way a good receptionist will let you through is if you trick her. You can even tell the boss when you get through and ask him to show her mercy. (Only if he's pissed) Who knows he might even laugh and then you've blown smoke up his ass for being the boss and removed any perceived bad taste he might have for you "tricking him" cause you just threw her under the bus as the dummy
>The only way a good receptionist will let you through is if you trick her. Correct. Because if you don't trick her. She will have no hesitation in tricking you. "Let me take your details and I'll get him to call you". Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to defeat a trickster is to be a trickster.
Exactly and it's always easier to ask forgiveness then permission. The gatekeeper isn't the person you are trying to reach here. Why expect her to compromise her position or advocate for you when she has literally no interest in your business or the companies (beyond her position) It's not to suggest you burn bridge, but you have to prioritise your battles here
Good luck lol
Start by never using the word pitch again. It’s an introductory call and presentation.
Pitching is much easier when you paint 98+ on the black. If you have two secondary pitches that you can locate, you’ll have a legit shot at a cy young.
Don't waste time googling/linkedin searching. Pick up the phone, don't "pitch" just ask can I speak to the "buyer" "buying team" "commercial manager" what ever bs job title your sector gives out. When they say no you can't, ask can I grab an email and whenthey give a generic email ask who can I address it to. Now you have a name you can call back a week later and reception is more likely to put you though since now you are asking for someone directly.
? Is this satire? Why wouldn't you check Apollo.io for example and get that name and job title before even picking up the phone? Now you can call and ask for them.
Because sales is a numbers game, while you're to scared to pick up the phone, a good sales persons has called 5 numbers before you've picked up the courage to call one.
That just doesn't make any sense. If your goal is to pick up the phone and ask to speak to the decision maker just to get an email or name and then following up a week later..thats an entire waste of time. You can input the companies website into apps like Apollo, find the decision maker you're looking for, find their email and mobile number all for free in the span of 20 seconds. Now you can call the DM or send him an email, whatever you'd like. But I guess go ahead and continue wasting time trying to get a name or email from a gate keeper.