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    355 points rasulkireev | 14 comments | | HN request time: 1.687s | source | bottom

    Hey HN,

    I am a solo founder that just finished writing code for my project (MVP) and am ready to find clients.

    - for the sake of the question, my clients will be small physical businesses. Think, Family Doctor's Office, Local Cafe, Small barber, etc.

    I will be developing a blog for SEO purposes and doing other things to promote my business online. However, I believe the key to success here will be "Cold Sales". I have never done that before. So, if you could recommend a book, a blog post, other online resources, or you just have a random advice that I could learn from, I would be very thankful.

    Suffice it to say I will be starting out ASAP, even though I don't know anything. I believe practice is the best teacher. However, if there are any resources that could help me get up and running quicker that would be awesome. Thanks a ton in advance.

    Show context
    BlueTie ◴[] No.33225164[source]
    Hi there - one of the few pro sellers on HN here.

    You're planning on prospecting into one of the most rejection-heavy domains out there with small physical business. These people get dozens of calls per day from companies they've never heard of - many of whom are trying to rip them off - and even the best ones (Groupon, Yelp, google ads, etc.) are basically just rent-seeking. Oh, and most have gatekeepers who don't care the slightest bit about your pitch.

    Because of that I'd stay away from all this "smile and dial" advice. You'll have no chance. Go out there and hit the pavement and meet these people at their establishments at off hours. If you catch the owner in there at a good time - do your best to inform them of your products benefits and come up with a really good offer to get started (something that loses you money and time). Free Trial, free month of services, whatever makes sense based on the context of your business. The goal is NOT to make money or build a book of business at this point - it's to get a person happy with your software to sell to later.

    If the owner is too busy or whatever - have some stuff printed out for them to read later that you can drop off. Ideally with a small gift (coffee, food, candy, etc.) and come back in a few weeks to see if you catch them at a better time (again with a gift, until they talk).

    A solid entry level book would be Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount.

    Good Luck.

    *edit to fix book name

    replies(8): >>33225309 #>>33225385 #>>33225790 #>>33226482 #>>33226608 #>>33227891 #>>33228711 #>>33233390 #
    1. MisterBastahrd ◴[] No.33225790[source]
    There's a reason that people still employ door to door salesmen: most people don't like to reject people in person. It's why you normally buy your new roof from a guy you just met and have so much trouble firing employees who used to be good but have fallen off the wagon.
    replies(2): >>33226440 #>>33228104 #
    2. newaccount74 ◴[] No.33226440[source]
    My partner worked as a waitress and had to kick out sales people all the time. It's amazing how many people want to sell stuff to restaurants and show up to "talk to the boss". Of course the boss had work to do and didn't want to see any salespeople...
    replies(3): >>33226508 #>>33226913 #>>33227223 #
    3. raverbashing ◴[] No.33226508[source]
    Yeah "talk to the boss" is how spam worked before email

    Thanks but no thanks

    4. cosmodisk ◴[] No.33226913[source]
    When we were office based, I had a few encounters with salesmen,who managed to negotiate entry into restricted areas of the building,etc. Once, I was walking past the CEO's office and suddenly this guy appears out of nowhere looking to speak to someone. I walked him out, but I always wondered who the hell buys from them when they just pop in like nothing.
    replies(1): >>33228771 #
    5. rubidium ◴[] No.33227223[source]
    Ooo, that was their first mistake. Rules for selling to restaurants: (1) go 3 hours before they open on a non busy weekday (eg Tuesday-Thursday) and knock on the back door (or just walk in!). If a breakfast place, buy a coffee just after the morning rush (9:30), then proceed to step (2).

    (2) say to the first person you see, “are you the owner/manager?”

    (3) either get directed to them immediately or get their phone number

    (4) have a 1-2 minute pitch , either deliver directly or on the phone.

    (5) if they really do seem to have time and interest keep selling. Otherwise schedule a followup for more info if they are interested

    If (4) fails, try again in 1-2 months.

    replies(1): >>33227470 #
    6. DanHulton ◴[] No.33227470{3}[source]
    I would escort you off the property with extreme prejudice.

    This is slimy. Don't do this.

    replies(1): >>33227685 #
    7. fudgeadt ◴[] No.33227685{4}[source]
    I came home on Friday to a fake postal slip indicating I had missed a delivery I was not expecting. I called the provided number and provided the “code” to be offered an ADT sales pitch.

    THAT is slimy.

    Asking to speak with folks the old fashioned way seems quaint to the point that I genuinely am appalled by your harshness here…

    EDIT: I asked my wife, a restaurant manager of some 15 years and former chef… this is exactly how folks both make sales pitches and seek work if they do not have an “in” already. This is not slimy, it’s normal course of business.

    replies(2): >>33227766 #>>33380510 #
    8. MarcelOlsz ◴[] No.33227766{5}[source]
    >Asking to speak with folks the old fashioned way seems quaint to the point that I genuinely am appalled by your harshness here…

    I think it was the "just slip through the back door!" part which is more than fair. I turn around with a sharp blade and your dumb ass is standing there and now both our lives are over.

    replies(2): >>33228120 #>>33232540 #
    9. NikolaNovak ◴[] No.33228104[source]
    On one hand, you're absolutely right that we hate to reject people in person. I mean, heck, I avoid entering small gift shops in tourist towns if I don't have cash on me, as I hate letting them down in their expectation of sale!

    At the same time, I've learned to never ever ever engage salespeople in person; I've been conditioned to assume they're 100% scam. The friendliest most honest face offering to clean my ducts or redo my driveway, the smiley nerdy guy offering discounts on internet from local Bell, the supremely trust worthy kids asking for your support of charity... or to your point the guy who's "in the neighbourhood, and can give me a discount on the roof since machinery is already here" -- literally every one of them I would read in the news few weeks later as the latest local fraud scheme.

    With heavy heart, I reject all cold calls & cold visits. I may ask for their website and details to check if they're legit, and possibly maybe reach back at a stable phone or email address. But, I'm said to say, I've been thoroughly conditioned by the environment to reject cold-calls :<

    10. tdehnel ◴[] No.33228120{6}[source]
    Yeah right like he was saying to sneak up behind the chef quietly lol
    11. jcadam ◴[] No.33228771{3}[source]
    It doesn't have to work every time, or even the majority of the time. If it works 1 time out of 10, they'll keep doing it.
    12. odshoifsdhfs ◴[] No.33232540{6}[source]
    I think he meant 'knock on the back door (or just walk in through the main entrance)' and not to just walk in through the back door
    replies(1): >>33240613 #
    13. MarcelOlsz ◴[] No.33240613{7}[source]
    That makes a lot more sense.
    14. DanHulton ◴[] No.33380510{5}[source]
    For reference, yeah it was the "walk in the back door" part that is slimy.

    Walk in the _front_ door, that's where the public entrance is, and you are a member of the public. Not to mention that having someone unauthorized walking around in the back-of-house is a security risk.