No Soliciting- Please!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ

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I went to the Greater Ocean County Chamber Business Expo yesterday. I met a lot of business owners that paid good money to be there, plus shelled out more for their give always and any printed materials.

I always feel bad about taking the give away stuff when I have no intention of using their services. I have done many of various business shows myself and I refer to them as trick-r-treating for adults. They get their bags and then they take any thing that's not nailed down, and you know when  they get home they'll chuck out most of the stuff.  But the kick in the pants is they don't care what your services are or how you might be able to help them with a business need, they are there to sell you!!

For the first time that I've attended one of these events there was a sign on the door that read.

No soliciting - business card exchanges only.  I though this was great and it was about time too.

 

I think  they did everyone a big favor by doing this. When you take the time to listen and learn what others have to offer with no agenda it allows you to be seen in a light that a possible client may have never have gotten to see.   The few cards that I did take was only from those I have interest in learning more, or they wanted to know what I did and they asked me to send them info.  What a

difference.

Congrats to the Greater Ocean County Chamber for pulling off a great event. I 

 

Comments (9)

Dennis Sanchez
Coldwell Banker Tenafly - Hackensack, NJ

sounds very interesting and very positive.  Less money will be wasted and the event will better serve the people that really are looking for the services

May 22, 2008 02:25 PM
Chris Tesch
RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX
College Station, Texas Real Estate

Such a better thing than having a thousand letter openers clutter a landfill!

May 22, 2008 02:28 PM
Chris Horton
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI

Sounds like a good idea. Like Chris said less junk in the landfills, not to mention no need to shell out extra money on junk 99.8% of people will just throw out when they get home, if they are nice enough to not toss it in the parking lot.

May 22, 2008 02:37 PM
Anonymous
Blogger To Be Named Later

What? No caramel apple in my glow-in-the-dark pumpkin faced bag? What a gyp. Hey, let's go ring-and-run and leave our biz cards on the door.

Cathy, I'm with you. Nothing worse than salespeople selling to each other.

May 23, 2008 04:01 AM
#4
Susan Davis
Austin, TX
Excellence Advocate

I have to agree to disagree. Salespeople are just that.... salespeople. We are the ones that have the audacity to tell other people what we do and see if what we do or have fills a need for them. So.. with that being said... why do we get so offened by salespeople trying to sell us? They are just doing their job and it seems to me that salespeople of all people should be more sympathetic to other salespeople.

I think I will write a blog about this too... just like Lenza did. Keep your eyes open for it!

Susan

May 24, 2008 03:58 AM
Anonymous
ourmonmouth.com

Isn’t that the cost of doing business at a show? There is always "noise" in any marketing activity we as salespeople do, it is part of the job. The trick is to spend more time with qualified leads. Be conscious of not only your time but the other person as well.

Do you think it was time well spent? What was the ROI? When I do as show like this I like to include a special offer so I can closely track the results to determine if it is a worthwhile event.

Good luck

 

Internet Marketing NJ

May 28, 2008 08:16 AM
#6
Terri Habecker
AIG, Allied, Fireman's Fund, CNA, Travelers,The Hartford, Pr - Dana Point, CA
Life Matters & So Does Your Insurance Co

I have to agree that I don't like sales material's or gadgets at events. I do however like to be e-mailed information for products or services I think my clients might benefit from. I wont be bothered with sales Material to keep track of. Paperless is always nice.

Then on the other hand, I love passing out chocolote bars from Rocky Mountain Chocolote Factory. They come as Business card holders and a sweet treat that is always welcomed. I may not get business from all I pass out, but I do get to create smiles.  

I'm also requested to provide Raffle prizes at certain meetings and I really try to pick items that benefit the receiver and my community.

Jun 20, 2008 03:20 AM
John March
Charisma Media Group, LLC - Bluffton, SC
"Engage, connect, prosper" (Matt 6:33)

You just reminded me why I never thought much of Card exchanges. People don't want to be sold, but they do want to buy. Connecting with the intention of building a relationship is what the networking experts tell us we need to be doing, then the business comes naturally.

You post some very useful info.

all the best

John

Dec 01, 2008 07:23 AM
Jamie Stimpson
Keller Williams West Monmouth - Freehold, NJ

I think the environment at the chamber is a great place not to have to sell. Its about getting people to know you, what you offer, and keeping in touch with the service providers you have a need for. The stuff we give out seems better served for quick contacts that we would like to have think of us as they use the small tokens. I also think they were smart to have cards only, the less waist the better.

Dec 31, 2008 01:54 AM