All too frequently I get emails from readers asking me this question: “What is a good generic script that I can use to introduce myself to prospects and get a positive response?” My response is always the same, “There is no generic introductory script that will get a positive response.”
When you’re trying to introduce yourself to someone that doesn’t know you, what you say must be relevant to them. If it’s not, they’ll simply say, “I’m not interested,” and hang up. If you send an email that’s not relevant, that prospect will simply delete.
This actually works the same way in LinkedIn.
Recently I received a communication from the CEO of a public relations company through LinkedIn. She was emailing to introduce her services. She started off with a quote from Dale Carnegie and then she said:
“I come from where you are. I started a radio show in 2008 took it into syndication worldwide then in 2012 started my own TV show which ran on dish networks for 6 months. I worked my way up the media ladder to now be able to help people just like YOU get the media attention they deserve.”
Okay, I thought, this might be interesting… And then she shot herself in the foot with:
“Whether you have had no media attention, some media attention or so much you’re ready for The Big Dogs as I like to call them, The Steve Harvey Show or Rachel Raye Show, let’s chat.”
You see, the shows she mentions are all directed at consumers. My audience is sales professionals. It is not likely that my audience will find me on the Steve Harvey show or the Rachael Ray show. She obviously did not research before hitting send.
All she really needed to do was a little research and plug in the names of shows that target a business audience and I might have responded. Instead, I hit delete and wrote this article.
Oh yes, I’ve also corrected all of her typos…
