Telemarketing Services: The Purpose Of Telemarketing Opening Dialogue

Telemarketing Services: The Purpose Of Telemarketing Opening Dialogue

I picked up the ringing phone the other day. ?Hello?? I said. Then I sat in shock as I heard on the other end, ?Hello, my name is Jim and I?m calling from XYZ Co.

We are a full service communication provider and we?re offering clients a very special promotion on our satellite television services. If you sign up with us today you can receive our full service for just $25.00 a month for the first three months. What?s more you won?t be charged a sign up fee.

Now before you say ?no? I?d like to take a moment to remind you about all the great features of our service?? He went on and on and on and didn?t give me the opportunity to say a single word. Finally, he took a breath and I was able to decline the offer.

Jim of XYZ Company (the names are changed to protect the guilty!) shares a misconception among many telemarketing services professionals about the purpose of the opening dialogue.

This article is going to talk about what that opening dialogue is for. Note that it doesn?t matter if you are working for individual sales leads or business sales leads, this truth remains the same.

Telemarketing services opening dialogue?
Many people assume the opening dialogue should be like a Gatling gun: firing off all your bullets at once in the hopes that one or two will hit the target. It?s ineffective and, like Jim?s opening dialogue, almost comical! It gives the impression that the telemarketing ?professional? doesn?t care about the sales leads? time.

Why is it like this? It?s because many people feel that they have a bunch of things they need to say and they?re expecting their sales leads to say ?no?.

So, you?re asking me, if that?s not the case, what is the purpose?

Telemarketing requires patience and should be aimed at opening a dialog, not just making a quick sale. The aim is to generate interest; to whet the appetite; create interest; and to develop a little intrigue. Ultimately, the purpose of your opening dialogue is NOT to try and sell the product. The purpose of the opening dialogue is to get the customer to say three simple words:
?Tell me more?.

So when you are faced with outbound telemarketing – a list of business sales leads numbers to dial, and you?re just getting ready by crafting the opening dialogue, what do you put at the beginning? The answer is simple: just enough to have them say to you, ?Tell me more.?

Here are some examples that Jim could have used on me:
??Did you know that you?re not getting all the channels you could be getting??
??Did you know that you?re paying too much for television??
??Did you know that the average home pays $3 per channel per month. I can show you how to pay half of that.?

Inbound and outbound telemarketing services could be one of the most profitable ways to increase your sales leads.

Whether you?re dealing with housewives or mechanics, students or CEOs, personal sales leads or business sales leads, you only want to accomplish one task with your opening dialogue: get them to say three little words to you? ?Tell me more.?

Tresna Large Scale Digital Calipers

After I used several very nice Large Scale Digital Calipers that help me to take not accurate measurements in the workshop, I vowed for my next Large Scale Digital Calipers to put high precision before brand. The benefit of these Tresna a Large Scale Digital Caliper is not only their low relatively-low cost, but also their versatility. They can be used to take the inside measurement when I’m trying to measure the internal width of a groove, give me the length of the metal stick when I?m making a machine– day or night — and give me pleased measuring result when I go to the machine shop to work on projects. The screen runs almost perfectly, with nearly 100 percent accurate. They are made of stainless steel, which means they?re shatter-proof even when struck or dropped to the ground. In the ten months I’ve been using it, I’ve dropped it lightly a couple times and they’re still pretty much accurate. Over the winter, I worked in a machine shop lathing, sawing, drilling, tapping metal and wood twice a week for 3-4 hours and a couple weekends straight through until the summer is coming.
Unlike the cheap, standard shop Large Scale Digital Calipers which I’d constantly use and put away and occasionally forget to use back, these are so accurate I rarely put them into the case. It’s important to note they do have a fine-adjustment carriage and the jaws have round measuring faces for accurate inside measurement. On the one hand, that’s why these are much more accurate, but then again, that makes these potentially unsuitable for tasks where outside measurement is recommended. For my usage, though, which is primarily taking inside measurement tasks, they’re great. Definitely one of the most functional things I own, and considering they’re extremely useful, they look pretty good.

Getting Into A Vending Machine Business

Are you thinking of entering into the vending machine business either as a service operator or as someone who will do the buying and selling of vending machines? Whichever path you choose, it is likely that you are getting yourself involved into vending machine distributorship.

Being a vending machine distributor, you directly buy the machines from the manufacturers in wholesale price and resell them to the end users at retail price. The machine vending distributors or suppliers are also responsible for providing the buyer, some important information about the features and benefits of each machine.

The companies that sell these machines usually sell them to vending service companies as well as other businesses and organizations wanting to operate the machine themselves. These companies will also have the sole authority to offer parts for the vending equipment as well as some form of warranties.

As a distributor, you will rely solely on the sales of these vending machines so it would also be a very wise strategy to add repair service and sales of various parts as part of services offered. Although vending machine distributorship is a rewarding business, there are also slow times throughout the year so adding service calls and sales of parts can make up a good portion of the revenue.

The company selling the machine should also be able to give you some information about the business itself. They also should be able to give you advice on the appropriate vending machine for your location.

Being the buyer, it is your responsibility to do some research before diving into the business. Buying the right machine for your location is very important since vending machines are not cheap at all. One unit of vending

machine will cause you thousands of dollars and it will take you several years to pay for it. It is actually estimated that it will take 12 to 18 months before you could earn back your investment.

Some believe that it would be better to buy a used machine especially if you are just new to the business. This will give you a feel of the location and evaluate the business condition. It will also give you less pressure in paying off the equipment at a higher price.

There are lots of vending machine manufacturers as well as different makes and models of vending machine equipments. The most important step during the process is to find a vending machine distributor that offers vending machines at fair prices. It is also recommended that you find a distributor that can provide you service and parts later during a machine break down. Make sure that you ask about the warranty and its duration.

It is always crucial if your business stop running because of a machine break-down. Parts should be made available anytime. It would be wise to have some spare parts handy like an extra coin changer.

It is always better to find a company close to the area where you live so that delivery may be provided. There are lots of vending machine distributor online, just be aware about the shipping terms and cost. Do your own research before buying. It is very important that you find out everything you can about what you are thinking of buying. That is the only way you can avoid problems in the future.

Stimulating Sales

What is it that gives business life and vitality? Yes, sales. Without sales, our businesses will dry up and die. On the other hand, a healthy growth in sales means an increase in profits. Yeah, we business owners spend a lot of time watching for signs of growth, and plotting to make it happen. Here are 5 sure-fire ways to get customers to shell out the bucks before they leave your place of business.

1. Tantalize Their Emotions
When was the last time you bought a candy bar? Exactly what is it about chocolate that makes us waste perfectly good money on something that lasts less than five minutes? Yep, it’s the feeling of satisfaction we feel after we’ve eaten the sweet morsels.

Everything consumers purchase is for one purpose… to satisfy some emotional feeling they are looking for. Don’t believe it? Why do we buy cars? …security, to show off, personal satisfaction? Sure, we all want to look good and know that we’ll be able to get where we’re going safely.

Take advantage of the emotional pull purchases have on your customers, and dramatize. Paint word pictures that will enhance to pleasant feelings that come with the purchase you are trying to get them to make.

2. Scare The Heck Out of Them
What are your customers going to lose if they don’t buy your product? No, we don’t always have to stick with the pretty pictures that leave us all warm and fuzzy. Fear is as effective of a motivor as pleasure… sometimes greater.

Do you have fire alarms installed in your house? A dramatic mental picture of waking up in the night and not being able to rescue you child isn’t at all pretty, but will be much more likely to motivate you to invest in a fire alarm system than any pretty picture ever would.

Don’t hesitate to use a little negative influence if your product calls for it. Many people fear what they could lose more than they get excited about what they could gain.

3. Keep Buying A Simple “Yes” or “No” Choice
Are you planning a special sale? Take care to promote only one of each type of product at a time. Decisions can make the buying process more complicated and cost you sales. Yeah, the buyer who can’t make up his mind often leaves without taking anything with him… that’s money out of your pocket!

Do you have several related items you want to offer? Combine them into one package and watch your profit skyrocket!

4. Make It Easy To Buy
Several years ago, I found myself spending my lunch hour in a long line at the nearby fast food restaurant. After patiently waiting for more than 30 minutes, I placed my order only to discover they didn’t accept debit cards. Now, there’s no feeling of frustration quite like spending the best part of your lunch time waiting in line with a yammering stomach, only to be denied.

Your customers want to be able to pay in whatever way they choose when they walk to the cash register. If you want to attract the most customers, be sure they can pay using their favorite method.

Tips To Maximize The Sale Of Your Business

Question: How can I maximize the amount of cash I receive when I sell my business?
Answer: Acquire every last after tax dollar and get paid in cash. Also, follow three critical steps before proceeding:

1. Preplan the sale of your business. This should not be a spur of the moment decision. Rather, it should be well planned in advance. Though it is not possible to control the external environment, such as interest rates and strength of the economy, it is possible to plan for an orderly transition. Start thinking about some obvious sources for a potential buyer. For example, should an employee be groomed for possible succession? Might a good customer be interested in acquiring your business in the event of its sale?

2. Recognize the importance of finding the right buyer. Most businesses don’t have a value that is set in stone. Instead they have a range of value. This means that different buyers will have different perceptions of the same business’s value. It becomes important to pre-plan your confidential marketing effort to gain exposure to multiple buyers, especially synergistic buyers. Synergistic buyers are those individuals who, because of their location, complimentary customer base, financial resources or market position, can profit more from owning your business and are therefore willing to pay more.

3. Consider getting professional help. Unless you have a background in taxes, legal issues and merger and acquisition work, you will probably unknowingly make a multitude of costly mistakes by trying to sell your business yourself. Those mistakes may cost you substantially more than any fees paid for competent professional assistance. Do some homework on various alternatives. Become informed by attending seminars regarding tax issues, estate planning, and so on. Ask your CPA or lawyer to recommend ?general knowledge? seminars that might assist your learning curve.

Question: How do I legitimately minimize my tax obligations when I sell my business?

Answer: Plan well in advance by reviewing your corporate structure on an ongoing basis. This will enable you to maximize the amount of proceeds you retain from your business’s eventual sale.

As one would expect, the tax rules make it difficult for any quick fixes that give rise to immediate benefits. Consider changes to structure now that may result in more favorable tax treatment when the business is sold in five or ten years.

Start by getting up to speed on recent developments in the tax code. Chances are the code is very different today than when you bought or started your business. So sit down with your professional advisor and review your current business structure and its appropriateness for your business’s eventual sale.

For example, if you are structured as a corporation, the substantial difference to your after tax dollars on sale depends on whether you proceed with an ?asset? sale or a ?stock? sale. Selling the corporation’s assets can result in proceeds being taxed at the corporate level as well as the individual level when the remaining proceeds are distributed to the stockholders. However, if the stockholders sell their stock, it is likely that capital gains provisions would apply. The difference this makes to retained proceeds can be enormous.

Paying our share of taxes in the United States is an economic reality of life. Yet after tax dollars in the sale of a corporation can vary between 45 percent and 85 percent of the sales price based solely on tax structuring issues. The earlier you start planning for the sale of your business, the more likely you will be to minimize tax obligations.

Question: When is the best time to sell your business?

Answer: The best time to sell your business is determined through a careful consideration of the factors that can and cannot be controlled to maximize the amount of cash you receive. These factors include:

Environmental/External Issues- Beyond our Control

Low interest rates and a low inflation environment with plenty of liquidity and a buoyant economy create an ideal scenario for mergers and acquisitions. Clearly, we have enjoyed this scenario in the United States over the last few years. As a consequence, there has been a flurry of activity in corporate America as well as small business America. Well-run, sound businesses are selling relatively easily for nice multiples. Yet, as we all know, the economy goes in cycles. If the sale of your business is on the immediate horizon, then perhaps consideration should be given to bring the ?sell? decision forward in order to take advantage of these robust conditions.

Internal Issues-Within our Control

A potential buyer is going to pay significantly more for a business that demonstrates a consistent track record of growing revenues and profitability. However, all too often a business is allowed to stagnate or even decline because the owners have taken their foot off the accelerator. Getting ?burned out? and other health issues are probably the most often cited reason for a small business owner wanting to sell. This is understandable, but also often controllable. Recognize the warning signs and take whatever corrective action possible. Again, choosing to sell for a good price while the business is buoyant is far superior to forcing a sale because of health or other issues that have impacted revenues and reduced the business’s value.

Above all, think with the head and not with the heart. A decision to sell can be very difficult for a host of good reasons. Most small businesses don’t have boards of directors holding management accountable. However, sometimes it is prudent to seek outside objective advice from respected confidantes or professionals. These individuals bring a fresh perspective and insight that will assist you in making good strategic decisions for the future of your business.

Question: When a business is sold, what liabilities are the buyer responsible for and which remain the obligation of the seller?

Answer: In general, whether it is as an asset sale or a stock sale, just remember that sellers are obligated to provide ?lien free? assets to the buyer. While all transactions are unique, buyers will typically assume liability for the following: leaseholds related to real estate, unless they are relocating the business; accounts payable (and if they do they will also get the accounts receivable); advertising commitments such as Yellow Page contracts; customer deposits, provided seller relays to buyer a like amount of cash; and any other liabilities that are agreed upon in writing.

Sellers will typically be obligated to pay off out of the sale proceeds the following: lines of credit; installment debt and/or leases related to vehicles, computers, equipment; all obligations to employees up to the date of closing; all tax related matters; and all other debt that has any claim against any of the assets that are being transferred to the buyer.

There is another issue related to liabilities. The seller is obligated to give the buyer strong ?warranties and representations? (guarantees) that there are no undisclosed or unknown liabilities that might create claims against the assets being sold. The California Bulk Sales Law essentially states that a buyer can be held liable for goods transferred to him or her that has not been paid for by the seller. Obviously, all buyers want and are entitled to protection from having to pay for the same goods twice.

In summary, it is essential that both buyer and seller commit to having everything in writing (i.e. no verbal agreements) and that both sides be represented by competent legal advice before signing on the dotted line.