Brampton - After October 31st business owners can no longer rely on making cold calls via the telephone to solicit new business.You may be one of those folks that had great success getting clients via the cold telephone call.Those days are quickly coming to an end.The new national Do Not Call Registry will change your business environment significantly.
True, there are exceptions to the rule about not soliciting by phone.It is not my area of expertise to give you chapter and verse of the regulations.I leave that to the experts.Suffice it to say that it is important for every organization to know the new rules of the game.
So if you can't make cold calls, how are you going to get new clients?Organizations will no doubt revert to some of the rather tried and true methods of the past.
Probably the most commonly used method is networking.This may be done via participation in a formal networking group or simply by speaking to folks at social and sporting events.
Another method of getting new clients is by referral from an existing client or business associate.Many of us have already been using that method. Thus placing a greater emphasis on asking clients or business associates to refer us to others is all that is needed.
A third method that has been successfully used by a number of industries is the demo seminar.This generally involves getting a number of potential clients into the same room and presenting your product or service to them.Sometimes this involves having a satisfied client speak on your behalf.However, in every case, there is always that spot where you have to speak for yourself.
For any of these concepts to work successfully, there is a need to improve our ability and confidence in presenting ideas to folks face to face.According to a significant number of studies the fear of speaking in public rates higher than dying for a lot of people.
There is an old adage that says, "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression."When you have a fear of speaking to groups, the first impression given can be significantly less than positive.
Even without having a fear of speaking, many folks can find their presentation of ideas is not as clear as it could be.To find an example, think only of the various pitches by party leaders in the last federal election.The ideas may have been great but not bought into because of how they were presented.
Each organization needs to determine the best strategy for getting new clients.However, I suggest that in some shape or form it will involve improving your ability to present an idea.
Copyright Gordon J. H. Newman, CPT
Gordon J. H. Newman, CPT - Gordon is President of The Newman Learning Group Inc. an organization dedicated to providing value add learning and development solutions to improve the bottom line performance of organizations and individuals. Gordon may be reached at