Hardly a day goes by without me receiving at least on solicitation for someone to find and generate leads for me. Wow, is it really that easy? Just pay these people and start making sales with their super-qualified leads?
Do they have access to more phone books, directories, and search engines than I do? Do they have stacks and stacks of names of people that don't want to be contacted and have not consented to a phone call or email from me but will be sold to me anyway?
Imagine! They already know what types of leads I need and they have not asked me the first question about my ideal referral. And how many of the so-called leads are going to be be given to me and 10 other people (or more) at the same time?
If I want to cold call, I don't to pay for names. I can just start.
Unless these name brokers and list generators know exactly what I am looking for in customer and can convey that to potential leads, and give me someone who at least knows of me, has agreed to to be contacted, has a demonstrated need, and a budget that will allow us to seriously discuss our services and solutions, I will stay with generating serious leads the old-fashioned way - one at a time by myself.
The idea of having someone else generate leads for us is very appealing - too appealing. We should stick with what works - an aggressive on line presence, active referral base, and intentional lead generation on our own,
───
For anyone in new home sales that would like to start generating their own leads but is not sure where to start, my book "Making New Friends" contains strategies, scenarios, letters, and scripts that you can use to meet strangers and devlop those contacts into sales leads.
───
For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.
Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.
© Steve Hoffacker, 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Yes, it is amazing how many companies generate "gauranteed leads." There must be a lot of money in the lead generation business which means there must be a great number of realtors who believe in their value. Hmmm..... makes one wonder about why they are in the business?
Sadly they'll prey on us all until they find a desperate agent who'll pay the price. I was there about 5 years ago, but I soon learned!
There are certainly a lot of them. I think I get at least two e-mails a day and 1 call a week from these lead generation "companies". Annoying!
Paul,
It's the old business of some people being lazy and expecting that hard work can somehow be avoided. :)
Steve
Corinne,
Sorry you had to experience that but glad things have turned around for you. :)
Steve
Brenda,
And many of them get our name from here on Active Rain - which should tell them from the start that we aren't interested. :)
Steve
Never been a fan of the guaranteed short cut in advance of me telling someone my mission. Doing it yourself, if you in fact do it, is the only path to success in prospecting. Nice post, as usual
I get solicitation calls that they say they found me on ActiveRain sometimes; too bad it's not a client.
I've learned to say politely but firmly no. :-)
Wayne,
Thanks. WHo knows more about our needs than us. The secret, as you say, is going it. :)
Steve
Teral,
They think that "Active Rain" are the magic words. :)
Steve
Silvia,
You have to. They really have nothing to offer. :)
Steve