Thursday, January 04, 2007
Message to Vendor Sales Folks...
Yesterday, I finally cleared my voicemail. I had 23 messages from different sales folks attempting to pitch their value proposition via voicemail with zero success. I understand that you guys are on the road and that using your cell phone increases your productivity but you really have to be sensitive to the needs of those you are targeting as well if you want to be successful. Here are some things to consider:
| | View blog reactions- Consider not leaving a message: Even if I have had prior interactions with you, please say why you are calling not just how to reach you back. I tend to not spend a lot of time at my desk and therefore need to prioritize which calls I return. If I don't know why you are calling, then you go to the bottom of the pile.
- Please be cognizant of the characteristics of your own name. If your name is Sam or John or Fred, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. However if your name isn't familar to the vocabulary of American's of the 60's then you should minimally consider pronouncing your name a lot slower so I can understand what you said.
- Leave alternative contact information. Don't just leave your phone number, also include your email address. If you have ever noticed, many folks in corporate America now have these wonderful portable devices known as Blackberries. They use them whenever they are in meetings of nebulous value and can multitask and probably respond to your question a lot quicker instead of waiting to return back to their desk.
- Don't invite me to breakfast briefings if they are not local: Do you know how many briefings I get invited to that happen to be in New York City? Do you know that NYC is 3 hours away? Do you really think I am going to wake up at 4am, hop the train to attend your briefing? Please be considerate of geography. Your simple one-hour breakfast for me will turn into an almost all-day event.