Over the last two days, I have taken the initiative, actively working to make things happen. In my recent blog post, I committed to making five phone calls, and I followed through. No one hung up on me, dismissed me, or ignored my inquiries; instead, all the conversations revolved around seeking valuable information.
The initial call was directed towards a restaurant still under construction, with only cinder block firewalls in place and no roof. A straightforward Google search led me to the franchise owner. Upon contacting the franchise, I inquired about the person overseeing the construction of the new restaurant. Without hesitation, she promptly referred me to another location.
It took just a minute to identify the person in charge. At 9:30 a.m., I called the restaurant. A voice answered, and I explained that the main franchise had directed me to him. Confirming he was overseeing the construction, I mentioned wanting to provide information for the Grand Opening as a courtesy. I specialize in customer retention for restaurants and have experience with Grand Openings. I introduced www.GrandOpeningHelp.com, sharing details and offering to send a link. The owner promptly shared his email, and I forwarded the URL, an article link, and details about my restaurant service.
The second phone call was to an existing client, but they were unavailable, so I left a message. This company actively participates in numerous trade shows, and my goal is to gain insights into their customer interactions. I aspire to establish a productive working relationship with them. In our industry, visibility is crucial for securing more opportunities. The key to securing work at trade shows is actively showcasing your skills on the floor.
The third call was to a client hosting a grand opening and seeking a professional athlete for their event. As the client relies on me for all entertainment needs, I needed to communicate with the Media Relations team for the Chicago White Sox. Booking a professional athlete involves navigating various steps and requires more than one phone call. Firstly, establishing a budget is essential, typically ranging from 2-5K. Next, one must identify a player who is recognizable to the public, available, and willing to work at the scheduled time. However, securing a player often entails multiple conversations with various individuals.
Call four was to another company having a Grand Opening. Again, the store is under construction in an existing building, so their opening will happen in the next few months. This is a larger company whose headquarters is outside IL. I talked to the operator, who gave me contact information for the person she thought was in charge of this new store. Like most cold calls, you wind up talking to voice mail. I have left two messages and will continue to do so until I get a “No, thank you” or get connected to the person in charge of that store.
The final call involved leaving a voicemail to follow up on a quote. The message was straightforward: “Hello, I’m checking in to ensure you received the quote. If you have any questions, please call or email me. A confirmation of the receipt of the message would be appreciated. Thank you, Dale.”
Over the past two days, I’ve made several calls and plan to make a couple more. My aim isn’t just to talk to answering machines; I seek to establish genuine connections. If picking up the phone is what it takes to generate work, so be it.
The Challenge
Do you have a local business opening? Consider making a courtesy call, directing them to www.GrandOpeningHelp.com, and introducing yourself. Keep it short, mention an article that could assist them, and ask if you can email it. If they agree, select a relevant article from GrandOpeningHelp.com, send it along with details about your service, and follow up with a call in a couple of days to confirm receipt. It’s that simple—try it, and share the outcome with me.
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It is amazing how many entertainers or business owners do not realize the simple fact: You must work when you work in order to have that work be worth working. To make money, you gotta pick up the phone.
Thanks Dale.
I agree 100%!
Email and autoresponders are very important, but to neglect the phone because it’s ‘more work’ is a mistake.
Several years ago I tested having phone as a required field on my opt-in forms, vs. those without.
The results?
The number of leads were about the same, which shoots down conventional wisdom that requiring ‘phone’ will lower the number of leads you get.
Gigs without phone – booked 19% of leads
Gigs with phone – booked 24% of leads
Another good reason to ask for the phone number is the amount of email that winds up in spam folders. At least with a phone call, you know you are making contact.
I now have phone a required field on all my opt-in forms.