These front desk people would be otherwise known as the gate keepers.
Lets face it, getting passed the gate keeper can be tough, we are on their turf, what they say goes. Any slight resistance could end up with them making a call to security.
Here are few really good tips on getting passed the gate keeper that have been proven to work.
1. Ask to speak with someone in the sales department.
The next time you are out cold calling, the last thing you want to do is walk into an office building, approach the front desk, and immediately try to sell your product.
Instead, try this approach. Walk up to the receptionist counter, introduce yourself verbally and with a business card, and ask if you may speak with someone in their sales or retail department.
By asking to speak with someone in a specialized department, the receptionist will believe you are there on official business and put you in contact with that department.
Now that you are in front of someone in the same area of work as yourself, they will most assuredly be sensitive to your needs, and understand your situation.
These are the people in the company that will point you in the direction you want to go, and in the direction of the people you want to speak with about your products and services.
2. Call ahead before you go.
Before you go out to make your calls, place a telephone call to the companies you plan on visiting to let them know that you will be stopping by.
Tell them something like this.
Hello, my name is Jim Smith and I will be in your neighborhood this afternoon. I just wanted to let you know that I will be stopping by between the hours of twelve and two to introduce myself. That’s it, stop right there.
Do not ask for permission to stop by. This will give them the opportunity to say no.
Once you arrive at their office, you can than reintroduce yourself as the person that had called earlier in the day.
This technique makes the transition from gate keeper to decision maker much smoother.
Getting passed the gate keeper can be very tricky, but it can be done. By following the two examples I described above, you should find yourself talking with more decision makers. Good luck.
