| If you're involved in a sales environment where | | | | some information from the gatekeeper. These |
| you need to get appointments so that you can | | | | rewards can be anything. Perhaps from a snack |
| pitch to offer your products or services, you | | | | to a bit of retail therapy. |
| may struggle to get appointments from time to | | | | 7. Have a good opening statement, and be |
| time. A lot of sales people do not like calling for | | | | prepared for the common responses and |
| appointments. Don't be one of them, with these | | | | questions. By preparing well, and knowing about |
| tips and ideas. | | | | your product or service, you will appear confident, |
| 1. Dream big. Why not approach the big | | | | knowledgeable, and trustworthy. These are all |
| corporations? They have to get their products | | | | good characteristics to have as a salesperson, and |
| and services from somewhere, why can't it be | | | | likely to get you to the decision maker. |
| you? | | | | 8. Why not ask for a meeting at a specific time, |
| 2. Call the most unlikely / hardest target first. This | | | | rather than a vague date? This will put the |
| will get it out of the way, and you may even get | | | | prospect on the spot, and if they can't make the |
| a positive outcome. If you don't get a positive | | | | time, they are likely to suggest an alternative |
| outcome, you still have the rest of the day to | | | | time. This is a great way of getting an |
| make more appointments | | | | appointment. |
| 3. Write down your goals, and you are more likely | | | | 9. Don't forget to be friendly towards |
| to stick to them. They can be attached to your | | | | gatekeepers. They are only doing their job too. If |
| computer at work, fridge at home, as well as in | | | | you are chatty and genuinely interested towards |
| the car. Perhaps there is a company you want to | | | | the gatekeeper, they are more likely to provide |
| deal with, a sector you want to do business with, | | | | you with the information you want. |
| or you want to do better than a rival company. | | | | 10. As a way of getting a foot in the door, or a |
| 4. When you have made more than enough | | | | reason for calling, why not send a useful |
| phone calls for one day, or have had our fill of | | | | promotional item, or a sample of your product to |
| rejections, just make one more call. This could be | | | | prospects? You'll be remembered when you call. |
| the appointment you've been waiting for. | | | | Whilst not everybody will be thrilled with another |
| 5. Why not indulge in some healthy competition | | | | pen or notepad, perhaps a clock or mug will |
| with colleagues? This will encourage the whole | | | | attract their attention. |
| team to perform better, and get more | | | | Now you know how to make getting new |
| appointments. | | | | prospects less daunting, why not use these tips |
| 6. Reward yourself with a treat for getting an | | | | and see if you can get more appointments? |
| appointment, through to the decision maker, or | | | | |