The Blue Book Building and Construction Network - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

Grimlock · 06-02-2010, 03:12 PM

I signed up for one of the free Blue Book listings a couple weeks ago. One of their "Account Managers" called me yesterday and wants to meet with me on Friday at a local Starbucks. Has anyone ever met with one of their account managers? Are they just a mislabeled sales person? The last thing I want to do is sit around and listen to a 30 minute sales speech. I have zero interest in spending money on marketing with them, and I have zero dollars to spend with them even if I wanted to.

"The Blue Book Building and Construction Network"

www.thebluebook.com

millerdrr · 06-02-2010, 03:30 PM

They want to meet at Starbucks? Not your office, nor theirs? Weird...

Grimlock · 06-02-2010, 03:38 PM

Well, to meet at my office I would have to choose:

A) My Garage
B) My Study (I'd have to move all the toys and papers out of the way first)
C) The front seat of my Ford E250
D) The Back of my Ford E250, She sounded kind of hot.....

Not too many good options. She didn't offer to meet at their office. Maybe I should have asked to meet at a nice steak house. Atleast then I'd know I'm going to get a nice meal out of it.

nitro71 · 06-02-2010, 04:16 PM

I wouldn't waste my time.. You'd be better off driving around to every business in the area handing out cards.

But.. maybe you should see if she'll meet you for a drink somewhere in the evening since you said she sounded hot.

Grimlock · 06-02-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitro71

I wouldn't waste my time.. You'd be better off driving around to every business in the area handing out cards.

But.. maybe you should see if she'll meet you for a drink somewhere in the evening since you said she sounded hot.

I'm planning on doing that soon, I just upped my insurance to meet what most commercial businesses and property management companies demand. I had the bare minimum General liability.

Mr. Sparkle · 06-02-2010, 06:17 PM

They want you to buy advertising in the book, if I recall correctly the basic package is one ore two years, two territories, @ $300/mo.

jwjrw · 06-02-2010, 06:20 PM

I pay to advertise on a similar thing here. 288.00 a month. I joined free and if people know who you are they can find you. But the guys that buy ad space are the ones that are seen first and who people usually call.

**MDShunk** · 06-02-2010, 06:23 PM

Probably worth drinking her free coffee to pick her brain, as long as you have a hole in your schedule.

If I have the time, I'll often meet with salespeople that I think might have industry information that could be useful to me one day. I'm pretty good about turning sales calls on their ear, and it turns into me quizzing them about stuff. Every person you'll ever meet is an opportunity to learn stuff.

Grimlock · 06-02-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Sparkle

They want you to buy advertising in the book, if I recall correctly the basic package is one ore two years, two territories, @ $300/mo.

So it is a sales pitch then, they want to pin me down at a starbucks and then play the high pressure game with me? I don't have much patience for that kind of stuff.

Grimlock · 06-02-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDShunk

Probably worth drinking her free coffee to pick her brain.

If I have the time, I'll often meet with salespeople that I think might have industry information that could be useful to me one day. I'm pretty good about turning sales calls on their ear, and it turns into me quizzing them about stuff. Every person you'll ever meet is an opportunity to learn stuff.

True, I didn't think of it that way.

jwjrw · 06-02-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimlock

So it is a sales pitch then, they want to pin me down at a starbucks and then play the high pressure game with me? I don't have much patience for that kind of stuff.

I doubt they will pressure you. They will try to show you how many potential customers would see your company and how the customers are on there looking because they already want the service you provide not hit or miss like some kinds of ads.

**MDShunk** · 06-02-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimlock

True, I didn't think of it that way.

I met with a lady not long ago that was selling television advertising, and I spent most of the time talking with her about how she gets her leads, and where she goes to network. That was worth the 45 minutes I spent with her. I also spent a great deal of time selling myself to her also, since she gets around to a lot of business people. She might just mention me if the opportunity presents itself. She seemed like that sort of lady. She gave me a hug when she left. That was sorta weird, but whatever.

jwjrw · 06-02-2010, 06:37 PM

I did the same with the ad guy from cable 14 here. Other trades advertise there so I wanted to find out about it. Then I had a friend who did 3 months at 2k a month and got no increase in business. I decided against it but did learn a little from the ad guy about how it works. He was honest and said the guys who get the biggest increase in business have to advertise for many months to keep your companys name in front of people long enough to trigger a responce. Made sense to me because when I think of HVAC guys 3 pop in my mind. They are on tv and radio all the time.

captkirk · 06-02-2010, 06:40 PM

I heard the blue book can do wonders for a business. She probably wants to get you to buy an ad but there is nothing wrong with that..Just tell them it all sounds great but you just dont have the disposable income to make it happen this year but will seriously reconsider it next year.

**MDShunk** · 06-02-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

I heard the blue book can do wonders for a business. She probably wants to get you to buy an ad but there is nothing wrong with that..Just tell them it all sounds great but you just dont have the disposable income to make it happen this year but will seriously reconsider it next year.

Yes, that's how you end it, but here's the customer objection that's impossible for them to close:

"I've really screwed up this year, and I have absolutely nothing in my advertising budget. I know now that advertising is important, but I just don't have the money. I want you to promise me that you'll call me for the next printing. Okay?"

If they try to counter, respond with:

"Do you have any other options that cost Zero?"

millerdrr · 06-02-2010, 07:36 PM

For $350, she'd better meet me in the van...

nitro71 · 06-02-2010, 08:03 PM

Does anybody really look in the blue book? If you need a service what do you do? I open google, type in whatever, see what pops up. Then I open yahoo yellow pages and see what I can find then I grab the phone book. Just curious if other people are more likely to look in something like a blue book or just use the telephone book?

cobra50 · 06-02-2010, 08:11 PM

I'm signed up with free add last year....Also they email at least 4-5 bid leads a day. I've priced out quite a few that where in my area. Didn't land any but had some call backs to qualify my numbers. Most of the plans are on there website for pricing. If its large job I just send the link to printer.

Bkessler · 06-03-2010, 12:57 AM

I have never had success with an ad when it's some person calling me and selling me ad's.

wildleg · 06-03-2010, 09:09 AM

of course she wants to sell you services, that's her job.

Places like starbucks are great places to meet up with people, for certain things.

It can't hurt to meet the salesman, unless you can't say no. If you have a hard time turning them down flat, string em along for a while, then you can say no over the phone if that suits you better.