| Granted some prospects are so busy they can't take | | | | non-sales-like manner, if the prospect is in. ("Can you |
| a phone call; there comes a time when settling for their | | | | help me? I've been trying to reach Joe Smith but I |
| voice mail just won't cut it. This is especially true when | | | | keep getting his voice mail. Is he in today?") The |
| you've already left your prospect a few messages | | | | operator may send you right back to voice mail or |
| without receiving as much as a "get lost" response. | | | | may surprise you by finding your prospect or at least |
| Here are five tactics you can use to stop the cycle of | | | | letting you know when he'll be back in the office. Ask if |
| leaving voice mail after voice mail so that you can | | | | the prospect can be paged. Some companies have |
| actually speak with your prospect: | | | | overhead intercom paging and some prospects can |
| 1. Redial immediately after leaving a voice mail - | | | | only be reached by pager or cell phone number. |
| Sometimes prospects get to the phone right after the | | | | 4. Get the prospect's cell or pager number - If you |
| voice mail system picks up. A second dial may catch | | | | listen to your prospect's entire voice mail greeting at |
| him at his desk or getting ready to dial into the voice | | | | least once, you may get this information without even |
| mail to hear your message. | | | | asking. If not, ask the operator. Just keep in mind some |
| 2. Dial frequently throughout the day - You may call | | | | cell phone numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry. It's |
| your prospect every day at 10:00 AM and get her | | | | been my personal experience that about 1 out of 100 |
| voice mail. It might have more to do with the time | | | | prospects have their cell phone numbers on the list. |
| you're calling than anything else. Try reaching your | | | | When you get one who is on the list, believe me, he |
| prospect throughout the day. If possible, block the | | | | will let you know about it. Otherwise, assume calling the |
| phone line so that the Caller ID doesn't give away your | | | | prospect's cell number is the best way to reach him. |
| aggressive dialing. Don't leave voice mails every time | | | | 5. Dial other extensions - If the dial-by-name directory |
| you call if you don't want to sound like every other | | | | gives you other extensions, try dialing one of them. |
| salesperson vying for her attention or worse, a stalker. | | | | Then tell that person you were transferred accidentally |
| Try leaving one message every other day for a few | | | | but that you wanted your prospect. Hopefully, that |
| days then move on to other tactics for reaching her. | | | | person will transfer the call to your prospect, and it will |
| 3. Zero out and ask for the prospect - After giving | | | | look like an internal call. Occasionally though, you will be |
| your prospect a chance to respond to your initial voice | | | | sent back to the operator. |
| mails, you might have to be more aggressive by | | | | Though you still may face some obstacles in getting |
| pressing zero (zeroing out) immediately after hearing | | | | your prospect on the phone, using these tactics should |
| your prospect's greeting or right after leaving the | | | | increase your chances of having a conversation with |
| message. Ask the operator in a non-aggressive, | | | | a live prospect. |