Walking the Line between Follow-Up and Harassment

People in the world of home business have tried to mask or cover what they do for a living. For some reason there has been a movement of embarrassment over the fact that they are offering something consumable to the population of the world. To be quite honest I don’t understand this line of thinking.

In the world of sales it doesn’t matter how a business person chooses to describe what they do for a living, i.e. a marketer, a vendor, or in direct sales, it all comes down to one thing; they are in sales. In order to make a living they must move a product or service to the population. I comprehend making a living by selling goods to others because I am in sales (oh NO! I said the dreaded word). I sell greeting cards and I am proud of what I do for I offer something that makes people’s lives richer. Perhaps it is because of my understanding of sales that I get disgusted with a marketer/salesperson that is embarrassed or afraid to call it like it is and also refuses to learn the basics of good marketing.

There is a fine line between follow up and harassment and I become annoyed when someone continually pesters me about buying that one-of-a-kind item or opportunity that I have plainly told them I have no interest in. In fact, there are times I get downright angry. Other times I am happy to receive a sales follow up call. What makes the difference? It has to do with the number one important item on a marketers list of building a solid customer base. The number one decree of successful marketing: Find those that need, want, or desire your product or service.

Here is a quote from Kim Emerson, teacher of the Law of Attraction and professional writer:

What is too much follow up? I believe there is an important key to following up with prospects:

Are we listening to our prospects in the first place? Is it ALL about them? Have we determined that they have a desire for what we are offering? Or do they already have 25 DVD players etc. If you are not making your communication all about THEM, you are wasting your time and making them angry.

If we trying to sell a computer to a hermit in the hills that has no electricity and NO desire or need for a computer we are slamming the door closed to our prosperity. We are trying to give him something that is of no value to him no matter what kind of “deal” we have to offer. Now on the other hand if we are selling a computer to an Internet user, writer, or other person that has a need or want for a new computer and we can give them an incredible price then we are swinging that prosperity door wide open because we are giving more value than the asking price. If it is all about them following up more than twice is not a bad thing; you are just addressing the issue of timing. If it is all about the fact that WE need to sell that computer “no matter what” then following up at all is damaging to all concerned.

My .02 for today.
Kim
Turn Your Words into Marketing Magic
http://www.writingpro.biz