Here's the question - when starting up a new business - let's say coaching - and wanting to build up a database / e-mail list if names of decision-makers to whom one can send invitations to Seminars - how would you go about that? E-mail addresses of empowered people are vey difficult to come by, and there are 'privacy' restrictions as well. One could, I guess, enlist the services of a mailing list provider, but the costs are exorbitant, and once-off, which ultimately affects the profit margin. This is not really feasible for independent trainers.
I'm really interested to hear how others have overcome this challenge?
3 Responses
There is a folder in my Inbox
It is called Junk Mail and has, this week to date, 134 items in it.
I'm sorry but unsolicited emails, without previous introduction or recommendation from my own network, rarely get to my 'real inbox' to be read.
Upside Down
Why not turn your thinking upside down and get people to subscribe, rather than be subscribed.
Linkedin, Twitter, TZ or Training Journal are 4 good sources of contacts. Will take a little longer but at least you know that all recipients are real and not "email deleters"
I get lots of e mails to attend conferences, seminars etc but I actually want them and never find them an intrusion.
looks as if it has all been said……
…seldom does a bought list actually produce a lot of value…..emails especially.
Surprisingly, the good old fashioned snail mail letter is often a better "cold" approach nowadays, so long as it isn't clearly identifiable as junk. Assuming that you are going to go down the cold route.
I do agree with Andrew that "cold" seldom works, networking is normally much better as a way to get to have a meaningful discussion with the decisionmakers.
Rus
http://www.coach-and-courses.com