Doug DavidoffSometimes, I just can't take it. As someone whose vocation and avocation is the professionalization of the sales process and salespeople, I get more upset than most by those salespeople who work so hard to earn the bad feelings salespeople have engendered. The story of what happened to me today is illustrative of precisely what you should not be doing.
I was on a call with a client of mine. As the call was winding down, my extension rang. I told my client that I had to run and picked up the waiting call. The caller was a telemarketer from HarrisInfo. Three weeks ago, I signed up for the free seven day trial because a client needed quick information with a citable source about how many businesses were in a market area. I found Selectory online, used the free offer and forgot about them. An ignored e-mail telling me how great the service is, was followed by the telemarketer.
I'm not the first say that interruption marketing is a bad idea. The salesperson went into his spiel, and I informed him that I did not have time to talk with him. I was then asked when a good time to talk would be. Valuing his, and my, time, I informed him that there was no point in talking.
In a scene that reminded me of the movie Glengarry Glen Ross, the salesperson responded by saying, "I don't understand. Don't you want to grow your business..."
GROW YOUR BUSINESS? Are you kidding me. Instead of a thank you for your time, I got an insult. Did the caller (whose name I will not reveal) really think that insulting me would motivate me to do business with him?
But wait, it doesn't stop there. He sent me an e-mail. Here it is:
Doug, You must have been very busy today. If you are interested in growing your business and increasing your sales please feel free to give me a call. I’m sure I can point you in the right direction since you were obviously looking for information you didn’t have.Thanks,name withheld
When will businesses learn? I don't know whether to blame the salesperson, or (more likely) HarrisInfo who created an environment where an otherwise intelligent person felt the need to be obnoxious. I work with companies everyday that could use the service that was being sold to me. HarrisInfo had succeeded in making me aware them. Then they ruined it. They turned me into a detractor, and a vocal one at that.
To anyone who is reading this, please teach your salespeople and your executives to respect their clients, customers and potential customers. Act as if we may actually know what we are doing. Who knows, you may get the growth you seek.