Are We Still Doing Hacks? Yes or No, Here’s Two for Telephone Outreach

New Business- if you expect to make any progress, you Must Connect!  In trying to reach a pivotal player such as the CMO, you sent an email to warm things up. But was it delivered? Was it read? Now you’re dialing the phone you found in the data file. Is that the direct land line, cell phone or company cover phone? Does it ring to voicemail? One trick there is to ask for “Agent.” That’s code for Operator. Your question now is – I’m trying to reach he/she. Do you know if he/she is in today? If you hear “out, vacation, ill, family emergency” lay off for a while.

However, after three or four futile attempts it’s time to sleuth! Make note of the extension dialing codes (i.e. 2, 3, 4-digits) and punch in random extensions. When someone finally answers, ask for that CMO by name, as if you were expecting them to be the answering party. The party should say ‘this isn’t so and so,’ then ask to be transferred. If the internal phone system uses Caller ID, that call will show as an inside or “allowed” call.  Bingo! CMO on the line.

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