What are some other ways i can make sales without cold calling?

Question

i already know that i can do a door to door thing, but that is a thing of the past too... i need a really good creative idea. please keep in mind that i am selling a service, the products we have can only be used by our customers that have a service agreement. please help i am stuck!

We have a website, nobody ever looks at it though. I send like 300 e-mails a day, I have got one phone call from those. Um lets see... we are known all over Minnesota for what we do, i am starting to think that i have run out of people to find! Those not working with us are working with our competition.

Answer 1

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

Well, there's the fax blast, but everybody pretty much hates that (and in some places you can't even do it any more). Targeted direct mail. An on-site event, like a business after hours.
Actually, I don't think the door-to-door cold call will ever be a thing of the past. It's a tough tool, but it's the best one in the box. I just think it needs revamped. People need to be creative ...and courteous ... about it. I never cold call without "goodies" to distribute. And if I say I only want "two minutes of your time," I keep one eye on the second hand, and when two minutes is up, I at least attempt to make an exit ... and hopefully they haved warmed up in the two minutes and urge me to stay and complete my visit.

Answer 3

You definately need Search Engine Optimization. Drive potential customers too you! Also, what kind of emails are you sending? Are they informational? Do they add value to someone's day? If it's just sell, sell sell, no wonder no one's calling.

Cold calling works--but you have to work the numbers. I'd say "Get over it" and take 2-3 days and "pound the phones" 70 to 80 outbound calls will yeild a few appointments and you should be able to close 1/6 sales. Try the Sales Bible by Geofrey Gitomer.

Do you have any testimonials or referrals from current customers? Do you belong to your area Chamber of Commerce or trade association? Networking is a good thing too. . .

Answer 4

Seems pretty obvious to me you need to find a way to make direct mail work for you as a lead generation tool.

Granted, it's a real good way to waste a lot of money if you do it wrong (which most people do) but the rules of success are well established, all you have to do is get to the library / bookstore and read some of the key works and authors.

The formula for success is:
- well proven, based on actual, measurable results
- counter-intuitive, so most people will look at two alternative mailpieces and pick the loser
- published in dozens of books, kits etc.

If you want a cookie cutter step by step kit, get Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing kit, it's on his website. (No, I don't get paid for recommending this, but I own it and use it).

http://www.dankennedywebstore.com

Answer 5

It's not enough to have a website -if you want traffic on the site, you actually need to pay for your web page to pop up in the first ten searches. That does bring traffic to your site. I don't know in what industry you are in, but have you tried exhibiting in industry related fairs or expo's? And who is your market? There are so many different ways to market your product/service, but it depends on what is your target market. I would need to know little bit more before giving you any particular tip

Answer 6

Print advertising, website, have a booth at a local fair or town event. Create interest but don't push the sale on people, it turns them off even if they initially had interest.

Answer 7

i agree. print in local papers, the web, your Car, pass out flyers...