How to make sales contacts?

**smokeyjoe4848** · 04-18-2007 12:26 PM

I've just gotten into selling and yesterday I made about 35 calls. Turned with with two major prospects, but I was just wondering what are some other ways that you all use to make conatacts?
Allen Arnold

**pbradish** · 04-18-2007 01:58 PM

Business cards, business cards, business cards!

Did I mention business cards?

Congrats on the 2 prospects, 35 calls is a long day.

**pbradish** · 04-18-2007 01:59 PM

In fact, when you hand out a business card - give them two. You never know where that next sale will come from. Viral marketing is a wonderful thing if done right.

**nordicnomad** · 04-18-2007 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by smokeyjoe4848

I've just gotten into selling and yesterday I made about 35 calls. Turned with with two major prospects, but I was just wondering what are some other ways that you all use to make conatacts?
Allen Arnold

Unfortunately starting off there aren't a whole lot of easy tricks. But when you get those 2 interested prospects from sales calls and turn them into customers, you need to develop a referral system that gets 3-4 good prospects from each of them.

That's the key to prospecting in sales, referrals from satisfied customers. Sometimes they'll give you the business without having to ask, but normally you'll have to pry a little and ask them who they know that could use your service or product.

**pacificfame** · 04-18-2007 04:31 PM

Are you reading from a script when you make your cold calls?

**smokeyjoe4848** · 04-18-2007 06:02 PM

no..im not reading from a script. But the two prospects I got were MAJOR one was a brand new hotel (baymont inn and suites) that they are building and they needed 300+ tvs and some other electronic equipment and the other was a bar that needed a few

**pbradish** · 04-18-2007 06:50 PM

Dang - I could have saved about $200 on a Sony Bravia 40in. (LCD) from you.

The local CompUSA was going out of business so prices were great but I still had to pay tax that was much higher than your shipping

**Gator** · 04-18-2007 07:57 PM

bussiness cards

**pacificfame** · 04-18-2007 08:03 PM

Everyone keeps saying business cards... However I don't think business cards will make the sale. Some people are handed business cards daily... Do you think they keep all those cards... no

Try sending out small magnetic calenders with your business card on top. It will usually be placed on the refrigerator. Where do most people go in the morning? Besides the bathroom, the refrigerator for food! They will see your face everyday.

**astj** · 04-18-2007 08:19 PM

This is a bit off topic, but do you drop ship these, buy them wholesale, or what?

**smokeyjoe4848** · 04-18-2007 08:45 PM

sorry we do not drop ship, i dont believe. I could ask the owner for you?

**astj** · 04-18-2007 09:33 PM

I would love to know, because I have been leaning towards getting in to this business. But, if you don't own the site, then are you just getting payed to make sales?

**pbradish** · 04-18-2007 09:51 PM

He's a sales rep (per his signature).

**smokeyjoe4848** · 04-18-2007 10:28 PM

lol, PBRadish. I just read your post about saving that much money. We do have some great deals! and did you knwo that ALL analog TV's will we going out on Feb 9, 2009. It was a bill passed by the federal government. If you want the link to the article i could post it

**zabber** · 04-19-2007 08:16 AM

You have the best plan going right now..business cards do not make a sale...you have to be assertive, and talk to people like people...don't sound to much like a sales person...I have been in corporate sales for over 15 years, I have sold over $15 million dollars in contract sales...here are the keys to selling:

1) Know your product better than your competitor..not just what it does, but why your brands are better...do a comparison...be the EXPERT!

2) COLD CALL!! You have to put in your time, make your calls, build relationships, and if they tell you to follow up in 3 months, get yourself a great follow-up CRM (cheaply you can do this at www.pipelinedeals.com. $15bucks a month, you can enter all of your prospects, notes, letters, etc..and they have a calendar for follow up calls...keep all your prospects in one place for daily access...

3) Did I mention COLD CALL!!? Also, once you have built your customer base, you then have the opportunity to ask for referrals. Follow-up with your customers every few months to make sure they are happy...especially with CORPORATE customers...the hotel business is a great start, you want the to think of you when they need more TV's!! I call it, "be everywhere."! Stick to corporate sales, you get more for your money...although if you want to sell to individual's try e-bay, or classifieds, but don't waste a ton of time trying to sell 1 tv, sell in BULK!

4) Nothing happens overnight, you have to earn the big money...put in your time, work your A__ off, and give great customer service!

GOOD LUCK! Hope this was helpful...zabber