How to help vendors!

We all get calls from vendors, that is the way the world works and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I have some tips for sales reps that will both enhance the likelihood of a response and make it more efficient on the people receiving sales rep messages. Here are a few of them:

1. Don’t send an email and leave a voice message – Every week I get a couple of sales reps that call me to tell me they sent an email. This is annoying and time consuming. I always imagine these folks wearing belts and suspenders.
2. Send email versus leaving voice messages – I find it a lot easier to process an email message versus wading through someone’s voice mail ramblings. You can process an email so much faster and there isn't the juggling act of trying to take down an email address or phone number. You also don’t have to contend with bad connections or hard to understand reps.
3. Leave very short voice messages – if you have to leave a voice message (maybe you are driving and dialing) be sure to leave a very short and succinct message. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting through some rambling sales commercial to get a phone number of email address. Unified messaging makes this a little easier with inbox tools that let you pause and restart with ease.
4. Don’t expect a call back every time – if you are making a cold call and ask for a return call, don’t be surprised or distraught if you don’t get a call back. It is likely that your service offering isn't of interest and talking won’t change anyone’s mind.

I am sure you have more tips…love to hear them – post a comment and I will add to list…