Yellow Pages

[S T]

No Talk

I talk to "NO" solicitors from any supplier or business on the phone! The caller receives the same answer, in that I am sorry I do not do business with you, so please remove me from your telemarketing list and mark your list that I am not to be called.

Something similiar years ago, was the toner cartridges for the photocopiers, and some supplier would call as if they had always been "your" supplier, and say it is time to
re-order for whatever copier you had. Now how they had that info I don't know, and probably didn't, and just verified the info on the phone with you for your copier model, etc.

I have all lines registered on DO NOT CALL! Doesn't always prevent the phone call but helps to eliminate one by one. The ones that get through I then request to put us on a DO NOT CALL, might take a time or two, but eventually they go away!

Now if I can make the mail solicitations and junk mail go away, I would be so happy!!

You just never know who you are talking to! So Beware.

Sandy

[joanmcq]

I have gotten exactly one client from the yellow pages listing I have. I figured I should have it just in case a client can't find my number. Most clients know to call my cell; because of charity and, around elections, political calls, I usually don't answer my home phone (same as biz listing) until it goes to answer, even if I'm home. When a telemarketer calling bank is dialing, it will dial 3 numbers at once, and so will click off if someone else answers first or if it goes to the answering machine. So if my phone shows a message is being left, its probably someone who knows me trying to get ahold of me.

A specialty yellow pages has gotten me a lot of clients however!

[Lion]

Right

Right, Curves is a gym for women: no make up, no mirrors, no men. We go around in a circuit, so easy to talk with one another, answer tax questions, etc.

I used to have a difficult to pronounce name, so that separated the callers into those who knew me and knew my name and those who couldn't pronounce it. I could blow off the latter. Now, my name is easy to pronounce, so I don't know who's who, but caller ID helps a lot.

[JohnH]

Better yet, tell them Mr Eggplant is in jail right now for tracking down and assaulting a telemarketer, but he gets out in a couple of weeks and you'll be glad to pass along their contact information to him. Odds are THEY will hang up at that point.

[AZ-Tax]

Be there done that ads..

I have done the yellow page ads with every business and charity in the city calling me. Then I did the BBB and that was another mistake. The best money for my ad dollar is advertising in my church bulletin and the only reason that is so successful is because I offer a 25% discount to my fellow parishioners. The # of referrals I receive each year is growing. I guess I am at a point where I am afraid to try any other advertising. When my phone rings it's usually a serious prospect from my church or a referral other then my current clients. I have not had a call regarding blank tax forms for a couple years now.

Keep in mind I also market auto/home/life/annuities etc. insurance and I have a securities license.