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[David Johnson Contribution Level: 3]

Just wanted some advice on this. When you call a lead, but get voice mail. You leave a message and send an e-mail with the basics of your voice mail. After a few days you receive no response.

Leaving a bunch of voice mails and calling back too many times with no response from them, it looks very desperate. Do you have a number of times that you will call a lead if you receive no response from them? Do you just keep calling them until you get them on the phone?

Also do you have an amount of time that you will let the person stay on your auto-responder before you try to call the person again? Lets say you get no response, do you put them on your auto responder and try to call them again in a few weeks or months?

Is there a trick you use that helps to get people to call you back?

[Becky West Company: WELA Contribution Level: 1]

This is a good topic to bring up. In general, most sales jobs would instill persistence in you requiring you to hound your leads until you get the sale.

However when it comes to network marketing, I believe things are a bit different. I definitely would leave a voicemail and email and then do 1 follow up after that. I think that if you do not get any kind of response by then, it probably is a good indication that the prospect may not be interested.

Anything more than 2 attempts to contact a prospect seems a bit desperate in my opinion.

I totally agree. Two attempts are plenty. You are wasting your time if you keep
calling someone that doesn't want to talk to you. You are taking time away
from the things that you should really be doing to build your business.

Becky

[Diane MLMBlonde Walker Company: SendOutCards Contribution Level: 2]

I have learned that the fortune is in the followup, HOWEVER that is when it is a follow up to someone you've spoken to, that expressed and interest, first NOT a cold lead. I rarely have time to call cold leads that I have not met, or been referred to.

IF it was a cold cold lead I would say call, leave a message, then email that you missed them if you had both a 3 and email, Give them the benefit of the doubt they may be on vacation, so maybe a 3rd follow up 2 or 3 weeks later then trash

If it's a warm prospect that has expressed and interest, responded, asked questions then I follow up sometimes for years But by that I don't mean HOUNDING someone, I mean answering questions, emails, and sending real cards over time and keeping in touch. Sometimes people have things happen in their lives to where they may be interested but life happens. Maybe an accident, sickness, death, whatever IT may be they were interested but had to put things off. IF you take the time to get to know them, Not just pitch them but really find out about them, if they were interested it may be some time before they decide.

IF they didn't respond AT ALL , no dialog, no conversation, Of course, i'd say don't waste your time, it all depends on the circumstances.

AND...again... the fortune is in the follow up. Take time with people and answer their questions, etc. What you send out you get back,

[Donnie Norton Contribution Level: 3]

Personally I use the 3 strikes and you're out rule. All of my prospects have opted into my system so they are all in my back office. I use a "drip campaign" and send out a mass email to all these people a couple of times a week. I have received reply's from people that I have had no contact with for a year. When I first tried contacting them the timing may not have been right for them, they may have had some kind of emergency. One of the other things I have done is try calling at different times. People work some strange shifts, not everybody works 9 to 5.
Donnie

[Cindi Houtz Contribution Level: 2]

All great advice! I do just what others have recommended, leave a voice-mail message and follow up with an email. At the 2nd message, I let them know I don't want to be a pest and will not call again so it will be up to them to call me back if and when they're ready.

I think it's very important to use a combination of personal calling and email autoresponders/drip campaign and here's why... data compiled by the National Sales Executive Association shows the majority of sales (80%) are made from the 5th through the 12th contact! Here is the data they have compiled about on which contact sales are made:
• 2% of sales are made on the 1st contact
• 3% of sales are made on the 2nd contact
• 5% of sales are made on the 3rd contact
• 10% of sales are made on the 4th contact
• 80% of sales are made on the 5th-12th contact

As many others have indicated, you never know about the timing and by keeping in touch, you just may reach someone when the time is right for them!

[Jayne Cambra Contribution Level: 2]

I call three times (with 3 email) and if no response anytime from the client;
I will leave them in my contact list unless they tell me to go away.
They will receive an email two times a week announcing new Training Calls.
Then I'll move on to those who are looking for my mentoring.

I will not waste my time on those who have no real desire to improve their lifestyle.
There have been times when the client wakes up and says they need my help.
I know life's activities get in the way but if your have a very STRON desire to do better;
you'll work over- around or through the obstacles to get wha you want.

[Steven Downward Contribution Level: 2]

I call twice. Once when they come into my funnel more as a meet and greet call than anything to do with sales. Then I call again about a week later to answer any questions from my emails that I have sent out. But if i get no response, I just let my emails stay working and building a relationship. I wont call again unless asked.

[Dave Kotecki Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 5]

Hey guys,

I don't call people til they've taken the first few steps. If someone leaves a number on an opt-in, I have my call center call them.
If you don't have a call center, have someone you know call them and set an appointment.

If the first call qualifies them, my PA (you can use a friend for this, too) will set them up with the first steps to take, such as making sure to "white-list" my autoresponder, etc., and gather more information about the new partner and what their goals are.

If they follow the steps and are moving ahead, I'll have an appointment set for me to call them and welcome them to the team. If they don't make the appointment, I'll leave a number to my PA. I won't call
them back, nor do they get a special email about the missed appointment.

They are already on the autoresponder, and we'll keep in touch with them that way as far as follow-up.
Also, I recommend sending emails daily or so that are written on the spot. The pre-written autoresponder
messages just don't convey the warmth and "note from a friend" feeling that a spontaneous message does.
Sometimes, you just wanna say "Hi, how ya doin?"

Of course, these are just guidelines. You may have someone that you think you want to give a little extra attention to. Just remember your positioning. It's not my place to call someone just because they opted in to my email list.

[Tony Mc Court Contribution Level: 1]

I will show them the buisness twice and then if they show no intrest I will give them a call every couple of monts and let them know how I am doing in the buisness and enquire how they have been.
You may be surprised that there situation has changed and they are now ready to come on board.
Peoples circumstances change all the time so I think you should never loose contact or loose a friend because the moment is not right for them.
Hope this is of intrest
Tony

[David Johnson Contribution Level: 3]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. They all helped me a lot in this area.