Lead Follow Up- How can I follow up on a lead and not seem i'm a stalker...

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Permalink Reply by Glen Shevlin on January 30, 2010 at 2:55pm

What do you mean by leads?

Did you reply to requests for prices/info on your services

Or did you request prices or info on other services?

If you are replying to a request for pricing or information a polite note a few days later inquiring if they did recieve your quotation and is there any other information that they would like to have is a good thing.

People tend to deal with things on an as they happen basis. Somebody sends out a request to vendors to provide prices for the wedding widget . Five vendors reply by e=mail fax, snail mail and carrier pidgeon.

One vendor follows up after a couple of days and the person who requested the quote bigins a conversation with that vendor.

tHe question is when to follow up. We tend to follow up that week , ie ., a quote went out on Tuesday we follow up Friday morning if it was a thursday or friday we follow up on the Tuesday following. As I said before a quick e-mail or telephone call to check on the status of the quote puts you in front of mind and that is a good thing. When you have reestablished contact by telephone or e-mail reply to the reply and ask when a decision will be made and then schedule your follow ups according to the schedule that your customer to be as established.

Due to the time hozizons that the wedding industry deals with delays of weeks and months are not unusual so if you can arraing regular contacts using newsletters, blogs or just an occasional hi how's it going note are all to the good, and they keep your name in front of the person that you need to see it.

Hope this helps
Glen

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Permalink Reply by COLLEZIONE FORTUNA FASHION BOUTI on February 1, 2010 at 1:36pm

I always follow up....send them a card to thank them for considering your services immediately if you have their address. If they were referred by another business, do the SAME. Then I would wait a few days, and give the customer a call..just to see if there is anything you can do to help..tell them if anything new came in..but keep it brief! In this ecomony customer service is a MUST if you want to "stand out". Some customers just need time. It's hard to tell what they want sometimes. Just do your best!

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Permalink Reply by COLLEZIONE FORTUNA FASHION BOUTI on February 1, 2010 at 1:39pm

Whatever you do...do not give them the SKU numbers(the actual ones) or price lists of gowns, dresses..and do not let them take photos!!!! You are just doing the hard work you for another competitor..Customers will shop around and wheel and deal for the best price!, Cathy, Collezione Fortuna Fashion Boutique, www.collezionefortuna.com

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Permalink Reply by Capricorn Soap Company on February 2, 2010 at 3:30pm

I always have considered it reasonable to follow up about a week and a half to two weeks later. I never assume that I wasn't selected or chosen until I hear someone tell me "no, but thank you." When I first started my business, I learned the hard way and lost a sale because the competitor followed up on a wholesale account and I did not. Since then, however, I am always fairly prompt about follow-ups. I give the other party or company enough time to evaluate my material and/or product, compare it with others, and then make a decision. Then, I'm on the phone.

I also agree with Cathy below - too much info may give them fodder for price shopping - and then they might get your idea created by someone at a lesser price. It doesn't seem ethical, I know, but it does happen.

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Yvonne L on February 2, 2010 at 3:37pm

Thnx to all who replied to this. I am going to retweek my site and remove the package price of D-O-C and keep the percentage on the other two.

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Permalink Reply by COLLEZIONE FORTUNA FASHION BOUTI on April 5, 2010 at 12:56am

I have learned to followup and confirm appointments and not assume your Customer is going to remember! If they want to come in after hours..do it! It doesn't guarantee a sale but you just never know! I got a huge sale from a Mother of the Bride traveling 200 miles and found me on Google because the Bridal Shops in her area never returned her calls to confirm an appointment , and the ones she did see "pushed" old merchandise she didn't care for and felt they weren't meeting her needs. With everyone's busy schedule until they tell me "NO" I will continue to follow up until I get them in my door. Keep your customers and don't lose them to your competitors. They will tell others about your shop and give you referrals which is the best advertisement! Visit our shop Collezione Fortuna Fashion Boutique, Cortile San Remo Courtyard, Lincoln bet, 5th. & 6th., Carmel,CA 93921, (831)626-1287, www.collezionefortuna.com.

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