It’s the old we have work in your are...
by ConnectWM.com on 23/02/2012 - 08:50 am |
Tags: Marketing WM, Sales WM
Do you need to clean up your database?
Small businesses are going to need to be more vigilant as the scamming cold calls are seemingly mounting in volume with the “we represent a number of people in your area” or as the one we’ve just had this morning “we have a number of properties in your area which need flats roofs – I was wondering could you quote”
Whilst some businesses will immediately see the scam calls for what there are - there will be those businesses that will undoubtly hinge a glimmer of hope on the call in the hope of getting work from it. With the end realisation starting to sink in towards the end - once perhaps a lot of time, money and effort has been spent that it was what is was - too good to be true.
When we were asked “if we could quote on flats roofs” we answered by saying “we possibly could if we we’re in that line of business “- the answer came back as “errrr okay” and the phone went dead as they quickly hung up.
Does this mean that we were being funny or bullish or even sarcastic in what we said, or that it was a genuine mistake by the caller and they didn’t know what to say because of embarrassment – or that it was supposed to be the start of some elaborate scam call which had nowhere to go as we don’t fit flat roofs….!
You make your own mind up, but there is no doubt that other local businesses are receiving similar calls and warning people as such via social media including the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
If the call was not a scam call then perhaps the calling company should look at their processes and staff training perhaps especially the quality of their database.
We all make mistakes but we’d like to think when mistakes are made that we’re grown up enough to say sorry or be human and engage in some form of humorous conversation to appease the awkward situation…..not just hang up.
When your company carries out the sales process on the phone do you know what and how your staff are doing? Do you get correct and proper feedback off them? Is there a suitable follow up system in place? And so on and so forth.
Information is important and it’s vital that a company’s database is cleansed in the correct and proper manner, many businesses see a database for nothing more than a one time or occasional calling list to sell something – but it could and should be so much more.
Obviously it will depend on the size of the business and industry sector it operates within, but often with databases you will find that ‘SIZE DOES NOT MATTER’ – it’s the quality which matters.
This is never more apparent in these modern times when we look at the use of databases for email marketing, businesses who have been happy in the knowledge and almost bragging about having a database of 10,000 will send an email via an email content syst ...
Birmingham Energy Savers working towa...
by ConnectWM.com on 06/02/2012 - 05:38 pm |
Tags: Connect WM, Events WM
Sustainability WM meeting at the Birmingham City Council House
This morning saw members of the Connect WM and its sister company Squashed Bills attend a meeting hosted by Sustainability WM at the Council House in Victoria Square.
Lasting about 2 hours the meeting centred on how best to move forward with the Birmingham Energy Savers project which is the first of its kind in the UK.
With 3 main areas of discussion it ultimately boiled down to how best to Connect Birmingham households to the notion of buying into the Green Deal in order to make their household more ECO friendly.
There was a varying array of attendees from local businesses such as ourselves, as well as end providers, representatives from the top six energy companies as well as potential partners and advocates to the Birmingham Energy Savers scheme.
Of course it would not be professional to divulge the full content of the meeting, as assessment groups and meetings are still ongoing but the meeting itself highlighted some blaring elements which need to be overcome and how the whole Birmingham Energy Savers initiative should or could be perceived.
Due to the nature of Birmingham Energy Savers scheme its promotion ideally needs to fall in line with that it professes to target so the argument technically could be that alternate ways other than traditional advertising such as printing:- hard copy advertising via bill boards, posters has to be considered.
Also any energy savers scheme has to address and drill home the real benefit as in these current times even though it seems a little harsh and negative, households are more interested in saving money on their energy bills as opposed to being worldly and eco friendly.
Also for any household to buy into such a scheme the experience has to be good and as there could be many elements in the schemes provision therefore everyone within the supply chain needs to be singing off the same hymn sheet.
Now of course what we’re talking about here is no different to any other service provision with the exception that the new Birmingham Energy Savers initiative is addressing an issue which affects many, many households in the Birmingham area and as such it’s important that it’s viewed as being both positive and beneficial by households within Birmingham’s many wards.
If you interested to know more about the Birmingham Energy Savers initiative then have a look at their website for details – also if it not too late perhaps you may wish to get involved by firstly attending a meeting to see for yourself what it is all about.
If all goes well and according to plan the scheme should be fully launched by the end of 2012 and then it’s up to the partners and advocates in doing their bit by ensuring that the scheme is a success by ultimately helping those it’s intended to assist.
If you’re a home owner living in the Birmingham area and which to be one of the first households to ta ...
It’s the here and now that counts
by ConnectWM.com on 02/02/2012 - 03:13 pm |
Tags: Connect WM, Sales WM
It’s the here and now that counts
Many businesses, especially new start ups it could be argued need to plan more for the future in terms of how they operate and as to what direction their ultimately heading towards.
However with all the perceived excitement of owning or running your business the planning for most turns into day dreaming, thinking that they can be all conquering, that they have what it takes to be the best, believing that their better than anyone else…!
The stark reality is that they can’t, don’t and aren’t.
Time and time again you witness SME’s who seem to ignore others when at networking meetings, or attending exhibitions, instead opting to carry on portraying with their own air of illusion of greatness or betterment.
Perhaps a bit harsh, but the reality is that “it’s the here and now that counts” and as the person of greatness is attending the very same marketing target audience, the very same networking meetings and the very same exhibitions or expos as they are rapidly being named, as the same people who are not worthy – you can’t but just ask yourself “So what’s the difference – am I missing something?”
We’d suggest that you’re not missing anything other than perhaps the pure enjoyment of being in your own company if you’re the person of perceived greatness.
Perhaps a bit of a cliché but no one is better than anyone; they may however just have different abilities at any given time.
We struggle like anyone else in trying to run the Connect WM business as people think that we’re funded when we’re not – but you will not get us saying how fantastic or brilliant we are; we just stay focused as yes you’ve guessed it “it’s the here and now that counts”.
SME’s at the start of their business life unknowingly put extra pressure and stress on themselves by starting out by firmly believing their own illusions of greatness – and it’s not long before all their focus and attention is on how to portray yet more perceived greatness that sadly the day to day running of the business is overlooked and when the fantastic contract with their number 1 customer comes to an end their just like any other SME are, in deep do do…!
As it’s the here and now that counts, SME’s need to be focused on exactly that, and when attending meetings and exhibitions no matter how much against the grain it may be to speak with those less worthy, perhaps you should speak as you never know what little snippet of information could be gleamed, and what dare we say it “experience” they may have in a certain situation which, perhaps the very same situation which “oh graciousness” is experiencing.
Sadly throughout history there have been those people usually world leaders who believed they were great and ...
Chamber Networking at the Paragon Hotel
by ConnectWM.com on 09/02/2012 - 02:37 pm |
Tags: Connect WM, Events WM, Refer WM, Sales WM
Chamber Networking at the Paragon Hotel
Last Friday saw us attend the regular monthly networking event which this time round was held at the Paragon Hotel formerly known some years back as the Chamberlain Hotel.
For the Birmingham Chambers first monthly event of 2012 it seemed well organised as well as did the Paragon Hotel and its staff - well organised and prepared to cater for the event.
Yet just like in 2011, 2010, 2009……… it never seems to amaze that whilst the event was being held for the benefit of members and the many small businesses within the Midlands, and still there are those business folk that perhaps despite of any New Year resolutions to do things differently, they still book on to such events and cannot be bothered to even turn up or have the decency to advise that they are unable to attend despite being booked on.
As the many midland business folk who attends this regular event will know - substantial quality food is laid (and Friday was no exception) on for those attending and numbers to cater for are gathered from those that book on saying that they’re going – if you don’t attend that’s time and effort wasted, not forgetting the food.
Perhaps many don’t know the history or realise that the building which the Paragon Hotel now utilises has come a long way since it was built in 1903 by architect Harry Bell Measures, which by the way there are some very similar buildings in London that were also designed by the same architect.
The original purpose of the building was that as a hostel for men who happened to come upon bad times through unemployment or debt. However, it was a dignified place designed to help those in need get back into gainful employment.
Perhaps the networking meeting last Friday could be a parallel to the historic roots of the building but last Friday for the day only saw the Birmingham Chamber and the Paragon Hotel in what today could be considered to be tough times helping local business people to connect with each other for the purpose of mutual benefits through the possible provision and purchase of products and services.
As a hostel for only sixpence a day a lodger got his own bed within a separate cubicle, complete with horsehair mattress and all bedding. Hot and cold water was provided with access to a dining hall that offered cheap meals. The building also had a reading room, smoking room and washing and drying facilities.
As Chamber Networking event you booked on free as a member and all you had to do was turn up – how hard could that be?
The exhibitors at the event were as always some familiar faces as were the attendee’s – however perhaps the businesses of Birmingham need to bear in mind that foreign businesses were also exhibiting at this event pitching to your potential customers. When we say foreign we’re eluding to the fact that they are from outside the West Midlands regio ...
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