Monday, August 15, 2011

Relationships are Key to Sales Success

Real Life Advice Worth A Bit More Than 2 cents!

I recently exchanged emails with our video producer and by default, our website developer. 

Because he was personally updating and changing his own website, when I asked him if he could handle building us a website, he said, "Sure I'll buy 'DreamWeaver' and learn how". Which he proceeded to do and we're thrilled with the results. 

I've gotten to know Sean McCulley, of Mudturtle Productions, as our business relationship has developed and I like him. He's become a friend and I value his opinion. 

That is why I've included his response back to me in answer to my query, "What do you think?" regarding a $4875.00 'starter' campaign for an online advertisement in a national Newsletter that 'Guaranteed' results, see below...

MINIMUM QUANTITY - BLOCK OF 50,000 -   COST $3,750
AVERAGE RESPONSE RATE FOR LIST RENTAL: .8% TO 1.5% (GUARANTEED!)
  ( FOR A BLOCK OF 50,000  - 400 TO 750 CLICKS ) 

In my opinion, ABC Mobile Pay, because it is a B2B business, really benefits from personal, B2B interaction.  

IMHO (In My Humble Opinion), I don't think advertising works that well with B2B. I have no proof of that, I just look at advertising and the majority seems geared toward consumers.

Obviously some forms of traditional advertising can work for B2B: DuPont has been sponsoring Jeff Gordon's NASCAR #24 for almost 20 years, yet deals mostly B2B.  But that's a multi-million dollar venture.

You know sales and your business but, for me personally I reject cold calls on phone, my e-mails, my doorstep, etc.  I feel sorry for the guy on the other end of the line because he's a working stiff like me, but I've been screwed too many times by sales people and research on any product or service is incredibly easy nowadays.

I hear a strong sales pitch come on, I've immediately lost interest.  Why? This person only wants to talk to me to get something from me.  Not because they have an interest in me. I've walked out of car deals and bought from competitors because the salesman is still using 20-50 year old tactics and thinks I'm an idiot.

When my ex-wife and I had our own business, we got hit from all sides with salesman.  So whom did I go with? People recommended by people I trusted, not the unknown salesman.

I only have an opinion since I am not formally trained in business nor marketing, but then lots of "trained" and "educated" people fail in colossal fashion on almost a daily basis according to what I read in WSJ, Forbes and Smart Money.

I don't know how to answer when you send these kinds of links. Is the company viable? Can it prove the results? Can you meet them in person? Most importantly: Do you know anyone personally that has had success with this advertiser? Anyone can create a site and a persona these days, so skepticism is my usual default stance.


You guys know relationships are the key, so I'm not saying anything new.

Sean McCulley
805-402-7626
www.mudturtleproductions.com

ABC Mobile Pay-877-258-5223-rick@abcmobilepay.com-www.abcmobilepay.com

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