Well, actually I'd love it if everyone would just say "yes!", but frankly, I'd rather hear a well reasoned "no" than to be ignored, put off, delayed or marginalized.
Too many potential customers or clients must think they are doing their advertising sales consultants a favor by not giving them an answer when really they are just afreaid to say "no". I think we're all adults here. And I, for one, like to be treated as one. So, here are the rules:
1. I'm not trying to "bug" you. I'm doing my job. Return my call. Respond to me email. Be polite and profesional and I will too.
2. If the answer is "no"; hey, I'm a big boy. I can take it. Tell me "no". I will stop calling you.
3. If the answer is "not now". Tell me when to contact you in the future. If it's a week, you can bet I'll call. If it's 6 months, I'll leave you alone for six months. Give me a date.
4. If some rude punk from some other publication, or worse yet a radio station, is constantly bugging you, take it out on him, not all the other professionals in the ad sales business who do their jobs with class and respect.
5. I know you're busy. A simple one line email update from you goes a long way to help me be more accountable to my boss!
6. Golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Thanks!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Obligatory "First Post"
After 37 years in media, and even if no one else reads it, I've decided to share a few things that I've learned along the way.
You know, Brian Tracy taught me a long time ago that selling is nothing more than "the transfer of enthusiasm". That's as true today as it was 20 years ago when I first heard it. If you are excited about what you do, and if you can articulate that to others, you will do well.
It's hard not to be enthusiastic about the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Heck, I'd have to be pretty stupid to even still be here after 21 years if it wasn't simply the best business-to-business newspaper in the area. Frankly, (pardon the ego), I'm probably good enough at what I do to go anywhere and and do it for someone else. That being said, I'm here.
I'm sure my co-workers feel the same way. They're all good. They all believe in the publication. And they all know it. I'm just a bit more outspoken, I guess.
I hope you will enjoy this blog, and that you can learn from some of my mistakes over the years. I hope to learn from you, too, Feel free to comment. Feel free to email.
You know, Brian Tracy taught me a long time ago that selling is nothing more than "the transfer of enthusiasm". That's as true today as it was 20 years ago when I first heard it. If you are excited about what you do, and if you can articulate that to others, you will do well.
It's hard not to be enthusiastic about the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Heck, I'd have to be pretty stupid to even still be here after 21 years if it wasn't simply the best business-to-business newspaper in the area. Frankly, (pardon the ego), I'm probably good enough at what I do to go anywhere and and do it for someone else. That being said, I'm here.
I'm sure my co-workers feel the same way. They're all good. They all believe in the publication. And they all know it. I'm just a bit more outspoken, I guess.
I hope you will enjoy this blog, and that you can learn from some of my mistakes over the years. I hope to learn from you, too, Feel free to comment. Feel free to email.
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