Okay, so I got an email today from a law firm in California (they are one of @ColdCallWriter's Twitter followers). They sell mediation services to companies.
They asked if I would like to be a freelance cold caller for them.
I thought it was a joke. Then the guy actually called today from California to repeat the offer.
Now what can one glean from this?
First, I think it shows how hard it is to convince most people to pick up the phone and sell something. If they're willing to give me, a complete stranger, a chance just because I write a blog ... psh. There you go.
Anyway, I politely declined their offer.
Why? As I explained to the mediation guy in an email, anyone, and I mean ANYONE, can sell freelance writing (or related freelance services).
Because if you find the right client, your stuff sells itself.
When I've got an interested prospect on the phone, I don't have to tell him or her my unique selling proposition or list features and benefits.
Honestly, until they see what I've written, they don't give a rat's.
My job is to answer their initial questions (usually few) and direct them to my online portfolio and resume.
Simple. A middle school kid could do it.
Now if I were selling mediation services (or aluminum siding or life insurance) through cold calls, it would be a different story.
That would require actual sales skills.
That would require a polished presentation.
That would require extreme motivation that withstands hang-ups, take-me-off-your-lists and stop-wasting-my-times.
I have so much admiration for people who have all of the above. But believe me, @ColdCallWriter is not one of them. The one time in 460 calls I had a guy get mad at me and tell me never to call again, I put down the phone and cried.
But I can sell freelance services. Because cold calling freelance services is a completely different (and gentler) process than what we usually think of when we think of phone sales.
No comments:
Post a Comment