yellow page ad sales, having trouble getting an appointment

Hi everyone,

I started this week selling for a yellow page advertising company. Today was my first full day of prospecting, I called roughly 50 companies on the telephone and visited about 20 in person out in the field and no appointments. This isn't my first time in b2b sales so I know starting out is tough but I don't think I every hit this many contacts without an appointment. 6 or 7 told me to call in a week or so but that's about it. Just wondered if anyone else here is in advertising sales and has any advice on good cold calling techniques. Here is what I do.

I try to be very breif in my opening statement, tell them who I am, how I can benefit their business, and ask for an appointment. I'm very casual and laid back as to not sound like a scripted telemarketer. One thing I'm not the best at is overcoming objections and I tend to back down and say thanks if a cold call prospect tells me they are not interested or over budget. I need to work on being maybe a bit more persistent during the cold call. Anyone agree?

Like I said i worked in b2b sales before but it was always with very industry specific products, like it was a product that every business in the industry needed so it was relavent and gate keepers were more open to letting me in. I think advertising is much more broad target of businesses and gate keepers tend to be more quick to turn me away. That has probably been the main problem too by the way, darn GATE KEEPERS. Sometimes I wish there were no such thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesrocket

I need to work on being maybe a bit more persistent during the cold call. Anyone agree?

Not necessarily. Maybe your approach needs tweaking. What do you say to the gatekeeper... can you post your sales talk?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBroker

Not necessarily. Maybe your approach needs tweaking. What do you say to the gatekeeper... can you post your sales talk?

Well it might go something like this...

"Hi, I saw you ad here in the paper. I'm actually with the yellow page directory here in town and I'm working on updating our 2007 directory, do you know who I would speak with about getting you represented in our book?"

They usually will say "well that is Mr. Johnson and he is out at a meeting can I take a message?"

I will usually tell them I will call back.

I say the part about finding their ad and stuff to make it a little more like I'm involved with their business rather than just going straight down a list and making cold calls. Before I was just calling and asking "Hi, can I speak with someone in charge of your advertising" and I think I was getting a few more hang ups.

When it's a decision maker on the phone, my script goes a little like this.

"Hi Mr. Johnson, I'm with the yellow page directory here in town, I saw your ad here in the paper and I actually wanted to see if we could sit down for a few minutes one day because I had some ideas I would like to share with you about how we may be able to help you increase some business with our yellow page ads, Is there a good time I can meet you? "

That is just one out of about 5 scripts I've written, I haven't found one yet that I felt work better than the rest but i think i've used that recently. Give me some thoughts, I need some help.

What are the three biggest problems the businesses you're calling on have in common?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBroker

What are the three biggest problems the businesses you're calling on have in common?

1.) gate keepers (this could be a waiter, a cashier, secretary, or a helper)

2.) Too busy, pre occupied

3.) Plain out closed minded, the moment they realize it is a sales call, their mind is focused on coming up with any excuse possible to get away.

I think if I could just get to the owner, someone who will understand the benefits since it is their profit on the line, this will be better, but someone at the front like a secretary, hostess if it is restaurant, is only worried about not getting their *** chewed out if the boss doesn't want to be interrupted, so they wont let you in.

Salesrocket I meant what are the three biggest problems your prospects face that you have a solution to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZBroker

Salesrocket I meant what are the three biggest problems your prospects face that you have a solution to.

Oh ok, i gotcha.

1.) Not enough business, need more traffic.
2.) Paying too much for current advertising
3.) Kind of the same as number 1 but current advertising program doesn't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesrocket

Oh ok, i gotcha.

1.) Not enough business, need more traffic.
2.) Paying too much for current advertising
3.) Kind of the same as number 1 but current advertising program doesn't work.

Is this information your prospects have personally provided you or is this information put out by your company, industry, etc.?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SalesGuy

Is this information your prospects have personally provided you or is this information put out by your company, industry, etc.?

Of course this is info my company and industry gives me. Most customers dont know they have a problem which is why they don't call you in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salesrocket

Of course this is info my company and industry gives me. Most customers dont know they have a problem which is why they don't call you in the first place.

Prescription without diagnosis is malpractice.

yellow page ad sales, having trouble getting an appointment

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