How To Get Past Gatekeepers In Lead Generation

How To Get Past Gatekeepers In Lead Generation:from Business 2 Community by Belinda Summers

As you go about your usual lead generation campaign, you will be faced with the inevitable gatekeepers. Yes, they are the people tasked in blocking your way. And they do that for a good reason. Their bosses (the ones we want to talk to) are very busy people. Often, they do not have the time to entertain calls from  a myriad of marketers that come during the day. Gatekeepers are put in place in order to filter out the ‘unwanted’ calls, only allowing those with value or substance through. That can be problematic for your inside sales campaign, but there you go. You have to accept the fact that gatekeepers are here to stay.
The good news here is that there is a way to deal with them. Actually, ‘deal’ with them can come across as too strong a term. Perhaps a better one would be to ‘work’ with them. Since gatekeepers are there to block calls or promotions deemed of lesser value, the solution here is to show them that your business has a higher value. That is the secret of successful appointment setting representatives. You do not have to wage a war of sorts against gatekeepers in order to generate sales leads. The trick here is to get them to work for you. Not only will this be beneficial for both parties, it is a set-up that has less headaches and stress.
So, how should you do it?
To start with, you should be polite. True, some gatekeepers can be blunt or rude, but that should not give you the reason to act the same. Usually, if you maintain good manners, they will soften up and let you have your say. All the better for your inside sales work.
Second, understand where they are in the company structure. Be they the receptionist, personal assistant, or perhaps a low-level manager tasked at screening calls, you should know that they are just doing their job. So do not make it hard for them. Ask them to pass a message or perhaps set a later appointment. Give them some flexibility and they will better accommodate you.
Third, always remember to work with them. Ask them when you can call back, if your target decision maker is not around. You can also ask them other details, like the preferred way their boss wants to be contacted or what information they look for. You might be surprised about how much they know.
Fourth, nothing beats a freebie or a gift. You can give them some discount coupons, or maybe a promo they can take advantage of. Not only will this help you become memorable, the gatekeeper will think kindly of you when you do make that marketing call.
And lastly, be personal. No one likes to talk to script. It destroys the entire purpose of the lead generation campaign.
Well, while these tips are sure to help your inside sales campaign, you might find others that will work better with your business. Just try them all, and stick to the ones that work.
This post originally appeared at CallBoxInc.