This philosophy is applicable to much more than just sales.
I generally try to avoid highlighting problems unless I can suggest a solution. People don't want to hear whats wrong, they want to know how things can get better.
The email line that's client repellent
21–30 of 97 posts
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#22Interesting; I ran essentially the exact same experiment a while back (June to August 2012) and had a different conclusion! -- 68 incoming consulting leads -- group A: responded to 34 with "let me know how I can help" -- group B: responded to 34 with "would work to discuss this further?" -- group A: 20/34 (59%) responded, 14/20 (70%) led to contract negotiation stage -- group B: 6/34 (18%) responded, 5/6 (83%) led to…
Would it be possible to run another experiment using "would work to discuss this further? Let me know how I can help."
That's an interesting thought, although I think it's a confusing call to action. Also I'm not really in a position to do another experiment since I just started building something else now! (http://uphex.com)
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#23This philosophy is applicable to much more than just sales. I generally try to avoid highlighting problems unless I can suggest a solution. People don't want to hear whats wrong, they want to know how things can get better.
It's worth doing both. Sometimes someone is doing something which is really stupid, and the solution is 'stop doing it'.
Being constructive is important, but being realistic is even more important.
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#24Works with online dating too.
"Would you like to go out some time?" bad
"I really like you, would you like to meet?" terrible
"Let's go out at the weekend, is really great" good
"I am free Tuesday and Friday, let's get a beer and continue this conversation in real life" good
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#25Good writing. When we say "Let me know how I can help", we are asking the other person to do work because then they have to think about what/how they need help with. Most of the times, people are lazy and you might be surprised but the fact is that they don't want to do work even for their own requirements. Instead, They want to hear solutions. This even applies to environments at very big companies. At my current cl…
>people are lazy and you might be surprised but the fact is that they don't want to do work even for their own requirements.
And they will pay to avoid even the easiest chore. We got tired of not getting any response from people using our free trial and briefly required them to call us to activate their free trial. People started paying for the first month rather than make a phone call and some that paid never even used it. Crazy.
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#26As a "client" (although small one) I can confirm this. I've been outsourcing some work, and when I was trying to collect offers from various professionals you definitely had two distinct kinds of actors.
Those who did suggest follow-up actions and did lead you on and those who didn't.
As a client I always felt insecure and confused by those who didn't. Where did that leave me? What was the next step? Was I responsible for the next communique? With what topic? How does this affect my agenda? Where do we go from here?
With the people who did suggest follow up items and who had specific actions and priorities, it was easy for me to respond. I already had an agenda, ready and served. The path on further was already set.
So yeah. I guess people are different, YMMV and all that, but as for me, I can attest that this sort of approach works much better.
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#27When my boss replies with "sounds good" I start looking for my next job.
I totally agree with "let me know". These simple 2 or 3-word phrases can mean very different things in different English-speaking subcultures.
Here's what UrbanDictionary says about a variant:
> LET ME KNOW HOW THAT WORKS OUT FOR YOU
the easiest way to end an argument when your
opponent relays their intentions to do something
that you do not agree with.
or how about "good luck" ? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=good+luck
GOOD LUCK
a phrase used to wish someone well in an endeavor
sometimes a pointless phrase if the task at hand
does not even remotely involve or require luck.
Ex. good luck washing those dishes.
i hope the knives don't fall on your foot and slice your toes off!
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#28Interesting; I ran essentially the exact same experiment a while back (June to August 2012) and had a different conclusion! -- 68 incoming consulting leads -- group A: responded to 34 with "let me know how I can help" -- group B: responded to 34 with "would work to discuss this further?" -- group A: 20/34 (59%) responded, 14/20 (70%) led to contract negotiation stage -- group B: 6/34 (18%) responded, 5/6 (83%) led to…
I think you're mixing up two things. He's only suggesting using the trick if the client actually already expressed his want/need to meet. In your case, Group B is a poor ending because you are still offloading work to the client: having them figure out what would have to be discussed (and taking up more of their time). If -you- need to discuss things further it may sound like you're the one who is confused and that d…
Exactly. The problem with the open-endedness of "let me know how I can help" is not always with respect to time. It is more often with respect to what will actually happen next. The statement "let's talk at XX:YY on the ZZth" only works if time is the primary indefinite aspect of the next step.
In the case of these prospecting emails, the primary indefinite aspect of the next step is "what value will you provide".
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#29Is this the same as "Let me know if you have any questions."?
I often end emails like this, more as an acknowledgement that while I feel that I am clear, it may not seem clear to you, and to not hesitate to come back to me if anything is not clear to you.
But maybe this also is leaving a similar impression as "Let me know how I can help."?
Re: The email line that's client repellent
#30Good writing. When we say "Let me know how I can help", we are asking the other person to do work because then they have to think about what/how they need help with. Most of the times, people are lazy and you might be surprised but the fact is that they don't want to do work even for their own requirements. Instead, They want to hear solutions. This even applies to environments at very big companies. At my current cl…
>people are lazy and you might be surprised but the fact is that they don't want to do work even for their own requirements. And they will pay to avoid even the easiest chore. We got tired of not getting any response from people using our free trial and briefly required them to call us to activate their free trial. People started paying for the first month rather than make a phone call and some that paid never even u…
Isn't this the idea of a mail in rebate? That they attract attention and people buy the product but hardly nobody bothers to mail them in? I might be off base on that, but that was my thought as to why they are offered.