9 Tips for Successful Cold Calling

Cold calling is one of the most widely used marketing tools. However, it also remains one of the most feared methods, due to its painstaking nature and hostile, vague replies. The basic principle behind cold calling is, 'If you want business, you go for it.' If used effectively, cold calling will help you to achieve the desired response. It can be easily defined as the first step in turning prospects into customers. Follow these useful tips to pitch successfully to your clients or customers:

Tip 1: Make a Specific Caller List

Browse through various telephone directories to obtain the telephone numbers. You can also use the local library to create a detailed list of contacts. Keep track of your calls to avoid calling the same caller twice.

Tip 2: Make a Conversation, Not a Sale

Try to make a conversation with the prospect instead of selling your product. Begin with a short greeting or introduction, and make the receiver feel comfortable. Write down a polite opening statement like, "Sir/Madam, is this the right time to talk to you?" and use it to get the permission of the customer. Do keep the purpose of the call in mind and do not stray away from it. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a 'best time to call.' Call during the work hours, when you are fresh and motivated.

Tip 3: Prepare a Detailed Script

A bound script will prevent you from wandering away from the topic. It will also act as a teleprompter if you forget your lines. However, the conversation should not appear staged. Maintain a free low of words, and add your spontaneous inputs whenever necessary. Maintain a polite phone manner throughout the conversation.

Tip 4: Covey the Purpose


Without wasting time, come to the purpose of the call. Briefly explain about the reason for the call and the nature of your firm and service. Allow the customer to offer his opinion in between. Do not interrupt the customer at any point of time.

Tip 5: Highlight the Benefits

Explain to the customer how he can benefit from the particular service. Include topics such as special discounts or incentives in the beginning of the conversation. This helps to keep the interest of the receiver intact.

Tip 6: Understand the Customer

Understand the customer while communicating with him. Find out information concerning occupational details during the course of the call. This will help you to gauge whether the particular customer can afford your service or not.

Tip 7: Fix an Appointment

Set up an appointment with the customer if he is interested in your product or service. Fix a time and place depending upon the customer's convenience.

Tip 8: The Follow-up

Sales goals are realised only after persistent meetings and calls. Maintain a regular contact with the customer.

Tip 9: Seek for References

If the particular contact is not interested in your service, then politely ask him to divulge contact details of friends or family members who might be actually interested.

Practice is the key to effective cold calling technique. Practice on a regular basis to master the art of cold calling.

Source: http://wahm.com/articles/9-tips-for-successful-cold-calling.html

Logos and Company Identity: Why it is Necessary

Logos and Company Identity: Why it is Necessary

Building a company identity through the use of graphic design (logos, business cards, website design, etc.) is an extremely important part of having a successful business. There are several reasons why having a logo and company identity are so important: it gives your business a sense of legitimacy, it makes your product recognizable and memorable, and it provides insight as to what your company is and what it stands for.

How Logos Contribute to Legitimacy

Having graphics for your company, specifically a logo, helps to make consumers believe that your company is established and stable. A company which makes a financial investment in a logo is a serious company, out to succeed. It is tangible proof of a dedication to the business, suggesting that the business will endure.

Customers can be comfortable supporting a company when they believe that they will be able to form a lasting association with that company. They will know that they have something to fall back on if there's a problem with anything, which is reassuring and will help to develop trust and consumer confidence.

How Logos Make You Memorable

Having a logo gives customers a visual representation to associate with your business. It makes any products branded with the logo instantly recognizable as yours, and provides added potential for word of mouth to spread. People will be able to remember your product and identify it.

For an example of how logos and the entire process of branding make a significant difference in how products are perceived, consider designer clothing. Some people will drop between $200 and $300 on a pair of designer jeans, but would never look twice at a less expensive pair of equal quality and design which did not have a brand name associated with it.

How Logos Provide Insight

Consider the strong and straightforward Nike "Swoosh," or the sleek and modern Apple design. Successful logos give a consumer an idea of what to expect from a company. A customer should be drawn in by your graphics and should be curious about the company which those grpahics represent. Make a list of the attributes you want to be associated with your company, and think of a design (or hire somebody else to) which accurately represents those traits.

Creating Consistency With Graphics

Logos are possibly the most important part of graphic design and are what will be what people focus on most, but this does not mean you should pay less attention to other aspects of graphic design associated with your company. Having your own colors and a general overall feel which are kept constant throughout the logo, website and print advertisements will give your business consistency and a polished appeal. A talented designer can help design company graphics, which are meant to be consistently representative of you and your business.

Creating a company identity and supporting it with your choice of graphic design will help you reach out to more customers and build a more successful business.

Source: http://wahm.com/articles/logos-and-company-identity-why-it-is-necessary.html

Sustaining Your Successful Business with Customer Service

Overview:
This article provides entrepreneurs with useful tips on what to do to maintain an already successful business, by focusing on customer service.

Sustaining Your Successful Business with Customer Service
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Whether you're trying to run a successful home business, customer service has to be one of the most important elements in sustaining an ongoing relationship with your client. It is imperative that a client be treated as the ultimate commodity. For all the inventory and fancy decor, a business is only worth the reputation it makes for itself.

Customer Service Made Simple

•Start with a smile, even while dealing with a client over the phone, your smile will come through in the tone of your voice.
•When at all possible, have a written contract detailing what you are offering as a product or service and an agreed price from the client. A well written contract can help avoid future contradictions.
•Understand your clients needs and make sure you can meet their expectations. Don't promise what you can't deliver.
•Establish means of communication. Find out if your client prefers to keep in touch via email, phone or snail mail.
•Make yourself available. Set business hours so your clients can get a hold of you. Have an answering machine, or voice mail for a client to leave you a message.
•Return phone calls and emails in a timely manner; nothing shouts poor customer service more than a client who's concerns are not addressed.
•Set the stage: give your business the time, space and atmosphere it requires for success.
•Avoid the mom multitasking syndrome, your client will notice if you're not paying attention.


Running a home business is a venture all its own. If not careful and well planned, you can be on the phone with a potential client, and one of your kids will run-in screaming for your attention. "Can you please hold...Tommy just scrapped his knee..." is not what a paying customer wants to hear.

Customer Service and the Difficult Client

•Don't engage in a confrontation. Remember the customer is always right, even if you know he's not.
•Refer to the detailed contract for any clarification and to remind the customer of your agreement.
•Keep your cool and choose your battles. Often times you will find that conceding to a customers demand is more lucrative than standing your ground and loosing him forever.
•Separate yourself from the equation: it's not personal, it's business. This may sometimes help you see things from the customers perspective, allowing you to take a different approach in solving an issue.
•Mediate at all cost--give and take until you can turn a dissatisfied client into a satisfied customer.


Even with the best intentions, unforeseen problems can arise. When they do, confront the issue immediately, and keep the client in the loop. More times than not, a client will respect your candor. On the other hand, if you avoid the customer, you will create distrust, and ultimately, you will risk loosing the client you worked so hard to get. A business is built one client at a time; treat each one as if they were your only one.


Source: http://wahm.com/articles/sustaining-your-successful-business-with-customer-service.html

Know your market before you leap

The author of this article advises entrepreneurs to conduct a market research to find out whether your business concept will work before establishing it. He suggest that one should conduct both primary and secondary research. He also adds that only after conducting a comprehensive research you will know if your idea is plausible and creative.

To read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/business/smallbusiness/10toolkit.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Small business hunker down for survival

This article examines strategies that small businesses can to combat the challenges of the economic times.


The author notes:

From the beginning of this year through Sept. 30, sales at small businesses (privately held companies with revenue of $10 million or less) have fallen 3.75 percent, according to figures from Sageworks Inc. At the same time, net profit at these businesses has risen to 6.5 percent. How have they accomplished this? By cutting their costs. Overhead, payroll and advertising as a percentage of sales have all declined

To read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/business/smallbusiness/08count.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

One in Four Businesses Calls the Owner ‘Ma’am’

This article looks at a study conducted in the US that examines women in business and their contribution to the economy. It states that: 8 million or 28% of all businesses were owned by women and that those businesses accounted for 16 percent of all jobs in a range of industries including, business services, communication, real estate, personal services and health services.

To read more:


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/business/smallbusiness/05sbiz.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Cottle's Professional Consulting: Cyber Crimes on Facebook

Criminals exist in every society; developed, underdeveloped and or in developing countries. Where ever you are crime is a social issue, and it has a great impact on people's lives and the economy overall. Well, we might have thought that the internet is a safe place, no one can perpetrate me on cyberspace! Well you are wrong; crime also occurs in cybespace. To learn how and what to do to protect yourself from becomeing a victim, please go to: Cottle's Professional Consulting: Cyber Crimes on Facebook

Cyber Crimes on Facebook

This article provides warning to Facebook users about crimes committed on the forum.

According to Facebook, its security team has noticed an increase in number of complaints from users that their login information is collected through phishing sites and then their Facebook accounts are secretly accessed to ask family and friends of the user for money.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20091002/facebook-intensifies-fight-against-cyber-crimes-suspends-fake-accounts_1.htm

Why is social interaction important for websites

The article suggests that to get more people visiting and revisiting your webpage, you must include in your web design strategies to keep your would be clients and clients coming back. Take a look and learn how you too can have them coming back!
http://www.instantshift.com/2009/11/11/why-is-social-interaction-important-for-a-website/#more-2321

The importance of social interaction features to web design

http://teemingpod.blogspot.com/I will like to share this information on the importance of having features on your web site to encourage continued flow of people and increase your business capacity.

Women in Business - - Survey

Dear Members of Women in Business,

This survey is designed for members of the group Women in Business on FB.
Please take the time to respond to the short survey. Your response will help in making WIB a more resourceful place for you.

To respond, please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=w0iFLnPggSLyutA4vTLvXQ_3d_3d

Thank you for your participation.

Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Program Administrator

The Importance of Social Networking - - Great for Women in Business

Social networking helps us to form friendships, access job opportunities, form business arrangements, keep connected to family all over the world, form love relationships, as well as facilitate business development. Programs such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn facilitate social networking.

I am an avid fan of Facebook and I find it to be great. It is user-friendly and it affords you with great opportunities. You can form networks by joining others through their circle of friends, or you can also request people to join your circle of friends. This connection enables you to connect with many people. It is a multi-layered approach to building your network. In addition, there are many groups of which you can also become a member. If you are innovative and like to coordinate, you can also create a social networking group to bring people with similar interest together. On Facebook, I manage a group for women entrepreneurs call "Women in Business". It is an interesting group comprising of both women and men from our global village. It provides opportunities for networking, advertising and marketing your product or services. It is also a great platform for learning and sharing.

Here is a video on how social networking works and its implications.

Please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc

CPC: Website Design and Development

Cottle's Professional Consulting web site design and development services are comprehensive and designed to meet your needs; including small business entrepreneurs, large businesses, organizations, government and community-based organizations, students, academics and educational institutions.

If you are thinking of introducing a web site to your business development plan or you are a professional looking to enhance your marketability, our customized, client-focused web design and development services can offer you the e-solutions you need. Our dynamic and impacting web designs will separate you and your web site from all the template generated web sites that exist online today.

We also offer services in the following areas:

1. Blog Designs
2. Blog Writing
3. Copy Writing
4. Logo Design
5. FaceBook Fan Page
6. FaceBook Group Design
7. Twitter Page Design
8. We also offer coaching to meet your Branding Needs

Cottle's Professional Consulting is committed to your success, and to developing your online presence that will draw visitor traffic and increase user commitment. To meet these goals: Your Web Site, Blog, Fanpage, Group, Online Community, Twitter and YouTube require a strategic approach to design and marketing.

To learn more about this service, please go to:http://www.drcottle.com/services/webservices.html.

If you are interested in having this service, please write to us at: Cottle's Professional Consulting

Cottle's Professional Consulting - - Professional Development Services

Cottle's Professional Consulting, professional development services are geared towards individuals entering the workplace, making a career change or pursuing their academic or professional goals. We also work with you if you want to develop your skills and knowledge in a number of areas. High school graduates can also benefit from our services by gaining valuable tools to assist them in planning their academic and career objectives and by gaining an effective plan for accomplishing those objectives.

Cottle's Professional Consulting also extends its services to community-based organizations and government agencies whose mandates are to provide professional development services to their clients. We can work with you to design and deliver an effective program to meet the needs of your clientele.

Are you a professional looking to market yourself? We assist you in developing the professional image and portfolio that will make you to stand out from your competition. We also give you the tools that will help you to highlight your skills and expertise in your field. We will also teach you how to dress for success, and to communicate effectively.

To learn more about Cottle's Professional Consulting, professional development services and how we can be of service to you, visit us at:http://www. drcottle.com. We can be contacted at:info@drcottle.com

Cottle's Professional Consulting - - Business Development Services

Our business development services are designed for individuals developing a small or medium size business. Community-based organizations and government agencies interested in delivering business development programs to the community can also find our expertise of service. This comprehensive service will help you to better manage your business portfolio and assist you in achieving your business goals.

Cottle's Professional Consulting designed this service to assist you at all levels of business development. You can benefit from our services by gaining valuable tools to define your business objectives, register your business, develop an effective business plan, and implement your business idea. Our services are geared towards helping you to maximize your resources and achieve the success you desire.

You can also participate in one of our workshops or seminars. Our educational forums lead you through the steps required to design and develop a business plan, along with other valuable tools to build your business. Each of our sessions are small, so you can interact with other entrepreneurs and gain advantageous knowledge through the collaborative learning setting that is created.

To learn more about Cottle's Professional Consulting and our business development services visit us at drcottle.com.

Interested in receiving our services, you can write us at: info@drcottle.com.

CPC Women in Business

About CPC Women in Business

Overview
CPC Women in Business is an online community of women entrepreneurs who have come together to network, educate, empower and develop themselves to create and manage their businesses more successfully in a supportive environment. It is a global community where women regardless of race, class, religion, age, culture, and geography, but bounded by their entrepreneurial spirit, passion, creativity and innovation and a need for independence and to contribute to the economy that they belong. Women regardless of the business sector and the size of business are welcome to join and participate. This community web-forum is a platform where members can collaborate with each other by sharing their experiences and expertise in business development to generate new ideas and create new knowledge or information from which each member can construct new ways of building or enhancing their individual business venture ─ each contributing to and learning from the joint information gathering system. It also relies upon the active participation of its members to make this community a powerhouse for knowledge creation and business resources for women in business.

Mission
CPC Women in Business mission is to meet the needs of the members, by utilizing a holistic approach to business development, with education as the core of our business developmental process. Through this approach, we hope to empower, motivate, and better prepare women to grow their businesses into the success that they envisioned. Our mission is to ultimately facilitate growth by providing a supportive environment that is engaging and socially friendly where practical assistance is openly offered by women ─ to ─ women to empower and promote their business.
We also provide opportunity to motivate and inspire each other on a daily basis due to our incentive programs. In addition, efforts are made to represent every member that is a part of our space, and recognize that every one can contribute to the development of the space and to each other and themselves. CPCWIB is a user-friendly forum designed with practical spaces for asking questions and receiving assistance.

Membership
CPC Women in Business is specifically designed for women in all fields of business, in Canada, United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and other regions of the world. Our members include consultants, virtual assistants, educators, coaches, fashion and accessories designers, hair stylist, online business owners, shop owners, and many more businesses.
To read more go to: http://cpcwib.ning.com/notes/index/show?noteKey=WHAT_IS_CPCWOMEN_IN_BUSINESS_FORUM%3F

To join CPC Women in Business please go to: http://www.cpcwib.ning.com/

Women in Business - - Referral: It’s Impact on Business

A referral is an effective marketing tool for increasing a business’s clientele, and when supported by the media, it can have a powerful impact on the company’s production, profit and visibility. You can follow the effect of Michelle Obama’s endorsement of the dress she wore on “The View” and the escalating effect of her endorsement. When Michelle Obama was asked on “The View” where she got her dress, she shared the information and viewers went on a search for it. Michelle Obama’s endorsement catapulted customers’ need for the dress thus torpedoing the designer’s visibility, production, and income. Although Donna Ricco was a successful designer, over night, Michelle Obama’s endorsement made her one of America’s sort after designer, as women search for the “Tank Leaf Print Dress”.

Women in business over all need referrals to increase their clientele and grow their business. Referrals help to increase sales, maximize one’s visibility, and validate the business woman. It is an essential ingredient that is needed to make a business successful.

See for more information on how Michelle Obama’s referral influenced the designer’s business:

1. http://blogs.reuters.com/shop-talk/2008/06/19/check-out-line-michelle-obama-retail-savior/: Check Out Line: Michelle Obama, Retail Saviour? By Brad Dorfman·
2. http://michelleobamawatch.com/michelles-view-dress-is-a-big-hit: Michelle’s “View” Dress is a big hit.
3. http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/0608/The_dress.html. The dress by Anne Schroeder Mullinshttp://www.nbc5.com/news/16665897/detail.html “Michelle Obama's $148 Dress A Fashion Smash”·
4. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/health/content/business/epaper/2008/06/19/0619chicos.html Michelle Obama's dress on 'The View' catches retailer off-guard by Allison Ross.
5. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=213783%20“The 'Michelle Obama dress' phenomenon” by Jamie Sotonoff.
6. http://www.osoblog.tv/2008/06/everyone_wants_michelle_obamas.html Everyone wants Michelle Obama's dress.

About Me

My name is Dr. Cheryl Cottle, and I am the designer of this blog; Cottle's Professional Consulting. Through this forum, I will be blogging about issues that bridge my consulting business website and Facebook where I created a group "Women in Business". I will be highlighting what we do at CPC as well as bring issues that impact women in business.
I hope that you will find our services at Cottle's Professional Consulting (CPC) of interest to you.

Courtesy,
Dr. Cheryl Cottle
Chief Consultant of Cottle's Professional Consulting
http://drcottle.com

CPC: Organization Development

Cottle's Professional Consulting services in organization development, is a comprehensive service designed to assist organizations; including government agencies, community-based organizations, and corporations to meet their objectives. We offer services that will help you to effectively manage your organization's portfolio.

If you are thinking of introducing computer technology into your organization, our expertise in the adoption, diffusion, and infusion of computer technology can be of great assistance to you. We also offer our services to organizations that are restructuring their computer technology system to better facilitate their operations.

Cottle's Professional Consulting also offers organizations comprehensive training in a number of areas, including; leadership skills development, strategic planning, decision making, managing diversity in the workplace, culture of the organization, train-the-trainer, and project design, to list a few. Training can be customized to meet the needs of your organization. Our training programs in computer technology will also enhance your staffs' skills and proficiency in various software and other office management tools.

The strategies that we utilize are supported by our many years of experience and the research conducted by Dr. Cottle in the field of Information Technology and Computer Technology Adoption. Dr. Cottle's research and expertise includes working with organizations within various business sectors and industries; and encompasses organizations in North America and the Caribbean.

To learn more about how we can be of assistance to you and your organization please write to us at info@drcottle.com or visit us at: http://www.drcottle.com/

Cottle's Professional Consulting - - Education Services

EDUCATION SERVICES

Cottle's Professional Consulting educational service is a comprehensive program designed to assist all types of educational institutions meet their educational development needs. We offer training in curriculum development, program design and development, designing lesson plans, instructional technology, curriculum evaluation, research, and other educational programs.

Schools in both the private and public sectors can access and benefit from our expertise and professionalism.

Teacher Training and Development:

School administrators seeking teacher-training and development can access our services in curriculum, teaching and learning and integrating computers in the curriculum.

To learn more about how we can customize a training program to meet your specific training needs please go to:http://www.drcottle.com/services/education.html

For more information on how our service can be of benefit to you, write to us at info@drcottle.com