Warm exchange or cold call?

The term "cold call" plays a significant role in its unpopularity. By putting a knife into the idea of coldness, these calls might be better perceived by all players as a respectful introduction to a potential partnership or collaboration. After all, the call is a meaningful first step to a (hopefully) mutually beneficial relationship. Are you, the sales professional, thinking 'cold' when you pick up the phone? I suspect not. 

As a marketing strategist and sales professional, I understand the importance and value of the client, or customer, experience. As we all appreciate, the experience with a particular brand begins at the first point of contact. Therefore, the sales person making the call must be comfortable with this most essential of responsibilities; after all, the company's reputation and that of one's colleagues rests with the caller and the way the services are presented. It must be about the prospective client, not only about the sales executive or their company. Let's be clear: the prospect knows why you are calling, you know why you are calling so why not play on this and make the exchange an opportunity for dialogue instead of discomfort?

Respectfully prospecting a client is never cold; if the caller has done their homework, has taken time to understand the prospect, and learn all they can about the organization, they can turn a potentially uncomfortable call into an engaging moment, one where a mutual understanding of each other's motivations and objectives are clearly understood. That, in my opinion, is anything but cold.

Getting (back) Out There

Finally sitting down to create a blog? Or, perhaps, as in my case today, an installment so overdue it might as well be the first? Whatever the circumstances, congratulations! It is about time we heard from you and shared the unique perceptions of the world you experience. In all likelihood you will soon become aware of a critical lesson: you must keep blogging, keep writing, keep sharing, and keep exercising your creativity. Like any discipline, and disciplined you must be, the more your creativity languishes the harder it is to regain the svelte physique we know as compelling content. 

It can happen: you embrace a new position, possibly one requiring the creation of content for your employer and you end up neglecting your ideas. Perhaps you take on assignments that tax your time. Maybe you have family obligations. Life, as they say, happens. And yet life - the thoughts and observations that happen within a life - is why blogs are written. To neglect an existing blog is unwise on myriad levels: regardless of intentions, it demonstrates a lack of interest in creating and developing ideas. You break that meaningful bond with those that followed you previously, commented on your opinions, or provided you with new material on which to build your ideas. In other words, inspiring dialogue and the attendant exchange of ideas vanishes. It is no secret that the ability to write well comes with practice. Indeed, neglecting to share experiences - the frustrating scenarios and eureka moments alike - stifles creative flow and important feedback from those to whom you were (and wish to remain) connected.

Colleagues, friends, and strangers all share a relationship to you; no matter how deep that connection is, or how long you've have known each other, there is, at some level a reason you have chosen to remain connected. Use your voice to forge a stronger bonds through your opinions and concepts! Don't be overly concerned with being found immediately (SEO etc. - that will come), or that your thoughts are unworthy of sharing, or that it's been too long so why start anew. This is all still pretty new, relatively speaking. And regardless of whether your blog is read by 2 or 2000, the email or tweet saying "I like that" or "perhaps you could have rephrased this better" validates the communication process and the message/ideas you convey. 

I waited over 6 months between posts. I dropped the ball on keeping the concept of regular posts firmly in mind, and feel foolish for my inactivity. After all, I love to write and share my thoughts. This prolonged silence did not keep me from starting up again. In fact, it provided me with inspiration. Lesson learned.