Has anyone ever tried a headline like this?...
 

"Are you open to new ideas about [whatever]?"

Let me know.

I seem to be a cosmic magnet for people who are NOT open to new ideas about [whatever].

Within 6-seconds of meeting me, everyone instantly quips, "I'm all set -- thanks anyway, bub." -- as they point me towards the nearest exit.

Maybe it's my toothpaste.

Anyhow, Id be curious to know if anyone has used a headline like "Are you open [etc.]...?"

I'm trying to find ways to filter out the cigar-chomping "I'm all set"s out there, so I get a chance to work with people who ARE open to new ideas, and thus, perhaps, allow me to exercise and strengthen the last shred of self-dignity I have remaining (it's around here somewhere).

(signed)

Willie Lowman,
Glen Gary Glen Ross Industries

PS: For me, every "no" leads me that much closer to a "HELL NO!" Selling is a numbers game -- my number seems to be 11 -- as in chapter 11.

Conversely, to hear our friend D.A. tell it, many small biz's ARE VERY open to new ideas -- and perfectly willing to pretty-much-instantly produce their checkbooks with a gleeful flourish, as they immediately see the benefit of boy-genius' off-the-wall promotional ideas... and start writing out checks accordingly!!!

Maybe it's my haircut.

Re: Has anyone ever tried a headline like this?...
 

Hi, TW,

Yes, at a supervisor's insistence. It flopped royally. People didn't want to try something too new...it's unknown territory and it frightens them. Better to try to build on the known and comfortable rather than frighten them right out of the gate.

I've read your posts over time, TW, and the majority of them have an underlying negativity about them in one form or another. You might want to consider if your attitude, and negative projections as a result, have anything to do with your problems.

I think it's admirable that you keep testing here, there, and everywhere but you just might get further by going deeper into your own psyche to figure out what, how, and why you might be standing in your own way. Only way to stop sabotaging yourself, TW, is to be aware and then to act on that knowledge.

With all best wishes,

Sandi Bowman

Re: Has anyone ever tried a headline like this?...
 

"Are you open to new ideas about [whatever]?"

No.

TW, that is what is known as a "say no" question. It can be answered yes or no, and the easiest answer is always no.

Store clerk: "Can I help you?" "No, I'm just looking".

Kid in front of WallyWorld: "Do you want to buy some candy?" "No".

Re: Has anyone ever tried a headline like this?...
 

Does your idea offer your potential clients irrefutable proof that it will work for them?

Does your offer take away all risk from the clients?

If you can't say yes to both of these questions, start over until you can.

Attitude is the answer!
 

Hi TW,

I only have a short time to post at the moment, so this will be fast and quick! :)

Have you read Gordon Alexander's "The White Bread Post"? You can read it here... http://sowpub.com/story-whitebread.shtml

As Gordon says, "you can’t do anything well without enthusiasm."

It's most definitely true in sales...

Your attitude comes across. People can sense it. It doesn't matter whether you are talking to them face-to-face, speaking to them over the phone, or writing words on a page... People can sense your mental state!

If someone is happy and enthusiastic... it comes across. Also, if someone is hesitant and cynical... it comes across too. Of course, people prefer dealing with happy, enthusiastic, cheerful people...

So, the first thing a person must work on is their attitude!

It was a long time since I've read it, but I think this was also mentioned in Joe Karbo's "The Lazy Man's Way To Riches". He said his wife was the most optimistic, enthusiastic person he knew. If she walked into the house and saw a pile of horse manure in the living room, she'd jump up and down with delight, clap her hands and say, "Someone got me a pony!" :)

So... attitude really makes a big difference!

(By the way, I still sometimes make this mistake... and don't work on my attitude first, like I always should...)

Now... I haven't had the years of sales experience some have had here. But... I've taken a couple sales jobs, mainly for the sales experience. I won a few sales competitions (in my work place), so while I don't claim the years of expertise others have here, I do know something... And I found it to be true. If I was feeling down, or lacked energy, I made fewer sales. If I felt enthusiastic, and felt energetic and great, I made more sales!

Okay... The other part is, you have to build up rapport... People are more likely to buy from someone they feel a "connection" with.

Finally, what questions you ask depends on your approach. For example, if you have a huge list and you are selling by phone, you might want to quickly determine who is a real prospect, and who isn't. In that case, a "yes/no" question might be appropriate, so you can quickly hang up and move on, if they give the wrong answer. However, if it's part of the sales process, you generally don't want the person answering "no", so ask questions they can only answer "yes" to. I think we've had big debates on this in the archives somewhere...

Best of luck, TW...

Cheers,

Dien

P.S. Hmm... more lengthy than I was intending. :)

Between the lines of my op...
 

Thanks to all who responded to my op!

I'm sure most of you could tell I was kinda being sarcastic.

Some people deal with 'negativity' by "overcoming" it with positiveness.

I deal with negativity by *acknowledging its existence*, AND trying to have a sense of humor about it.

I am New Yorker (born, raised NYC), so that might have something to do with it (Question: How many New Yorkers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: WHO THE #@*%$%$# WANTS TO KNOW?!?).

What I'm trying to say here is, I'm not quite a deep-dark negative as my op seems to indicate. Yes, I was wondering about the headline, and yes, I do have my salesmanship hurdles I need to jump -- but, no, I'm not a total grim reaper -- like the op hints at. A lot of that was tongue in cheek (just in case you didn't already see that).

Cheers.

-- TW