Marketing Profs

We've learned not to trust email to arrive safely in the recipient's inbox. So we leave voicemail asking whether the person received the email or the earlier voicemail.

Even if we had a 100 percent guarantee on technology, many people would still follow up to see whether the person received an earlier email or call.

Where do you draw the line to avoid becoming a "stalker" or "that crazy person who keeps calling and emailing?"

Current Marketing Challenge

Help! I don't want to be a voicemail stalker

I'm having trouble getting callbacks from a few potential clients. I leave a number of messages in their voice mailboxes, yet they don't call me back. I offer a great service that I know would help them, if only I could speak with them about it.

What advice can readers provide on techniques and strategies to get them to call me back? I don't want to be a pest. Other than bombarding people with phone calls, how do readers get prospects to return their calls?

—H.B., Account Exec. (company name withheld)

One recommendation is that when you follow up on an email or voice mail, don't start the conversation with, "Did you receive...."

Instead, try the following suggestions to encourage prospect to call you back:

• Give the person a reason to call back.
  
  
• Customize the message.
  
  
• Try a different approach.