| Dear Coach: I guess the national "do not call" list is here to stay. This seems to be a death-knell for telemarketers, at least the ones that call consumers. What do we do, now? Coach Says: What do we do now that National Do Not Call list is law? Rejoice! Hoist a root beer and toast Alexander Graham Bell and the FTC! (Or is it the FCC?) You're not going to get very far calling people who don't want to talk to you because they've gotten so sick of cold calls, anyway. Once you get used to it, the Do Not Call list will make it far easier for you to call on a pool of prospects who are more open to what you have to say. Chances are good that your close rate will go up, too, especially if you use a consultative style. Of course, there is bound to be a learning curve. So get ready to educate yourself and your prospects: Consumers can go to www.privacyrights.org for information. This is also a great resource for help on protecting your identity and what to do if it's stolen. Callers and businesses can go to the FTC website. Check it out for a big surprise: It's a fun site! Keep checking these sites, for easier-to-understand information as the new law gets implemented. And any of you having trouble sleeping might check out the rules and regulations in all their "if, pursuant to paragraph 3.10.b.3" glory. There's a good chuckle hidden in the rules and regs: the Commissioner who wrote the statement in support is named Orson Swindle :) |