Have you checked out your local leads groups lately?

Caterina Rando — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:12:28 +0000

Outside of the “big guys” like BNI, you might be amazed at the number of groups that are set up in your local area that only allow one person per business category and may not charge very much for membership or meetings. Becoming a member of a leads group can be very fruitful for your business, especially because it provides an opportunity to develop a close network of people who you see frequently (every week or perhaps every other week) and as they get to know you, are set up to provide good quality leads for your business.

Most groups these days do not have a requirement that you bring a lead for someone to the meetings. However, the more you look out for the other members of the group, the more they are likely to give you referrrals to people in their lives.

To find groups in your area just do a Google search
networking+(your geographic area)+ 2009

I am sure you will get lots of search results.

Otherwise start your own group. I have a innovative strategy to make this a business breakthrough strategy. I call it a Circle of Eight. Check out this concept here.

To Cold Call or Not To Cold Call – That is the Question

Caterina Rando — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:06:09 +0000

I get asked this question a lot. The short answer is – it depends. If you are in a business-to-business business, then it is possible that cold calling is part of your sales plan.

If you are in a personal service business, life coach, image consultant, or professional organizer, it is a lot less likely to be an effective strategy. The whole idea of value-based marketing, which is one of the principles I teach in my Business Breakthrough Program, is that you give people value of some kind first before you ask them to be a client. I think you will find that far more effective than cold calling for personal services.Consider whoever you would cold call and instead invite them to a live workshop, special event or a free teleseminar; that way they will have a personal experience of you and be ready to sign up by the end of the event.

Let me make an important distinction here. Cold calling is selling not marketing, and you want to have provided some value to your prospects before you try to sell them. Remember that potential clients sometimes need up to as many as 11 contacts with you and your firm before they are ready to buy.

If you feel you have no choice but to cold call, you are failing at your value-based marketing. Begin by building up your value-based marketing strategies and then go to your warm leads, focus on creating more warm leads and you will never have to pick up that icy phone.

Create a Thriving Business » business-to-business

Have you checked out your local leads groups lately?

To Cold Call or Not To Cold Call – That is the Question