“Aren’t you looking to increase your internet presence?” questioned the voice on the other end of the line.
Ah…the tie-down question. A tie-down question is a pressure technique used to make people answer a question with a yes that would make them sound stupid if they said no. What business would say no to wanting more business? Unfortunately for solicitors, I am seriously snarky.
“No, I’m not looking to increase my business. If I do, I won’t have time left to drink margaritas,” I replied.
Silence. Yeah. I bet that response isn’t in your “how to deal with objections” script file. Poor guy. Hopefully, he’ll put my number on the “Don’t call the crazy lady” list.
I have no idea why, but I hate scripts. I don’t care how much someone practices them, they aren’t genuine and I can spot them a mile away. I dislike fake conversations, and I don’t have fake conversations with my clients or prospects. You get real me all the time, sometimes that comes with some sass. That can be good or bad depending on your tolerance for sarcasm.
In the past few weeks, mentions of scripts, squeeze pages (techniques to get you to fill out a form online), and online bombardment of Craigslist have come at me from all directions. As real estate agents struggle for business in this difficult market, they are engaging in tactics that temporarily left real estate during the boom years. The return of the script. Let’s face it. People don’t like conflict and saying no. It is why pressure tactics and tie-down questions work so well. They count on people’s dislike of being rude. Me? I’m more than willing to have fun with it.
So where is my incessant rambling leading? Nowhere. Just straight rambling today. No slick one-liners meant to lure you into hiring me. No pressure tactics. No spammy emails. I just wanted to say that when you fill out one of my contact forms or call me, you will get a real conversation. Fair warning…just be prepared for some snark.
Ah, good old telemarketers that spend their days selling to salespeople. And good old salespeople that have run out of new, shiny things to chase and have reverted to old school sales tactics. Good times.
I wish there was a do not call list for businesses. Until that day, I’m having fun. ;-D
Perfect. The answer and the rambling. Now, did someone say margarita? 🙂
Jesse you know we have marionberry margarita’s in Oregon in the summer? They are amazingly yummy. You need to come down and let me buy you some.
Jesse you know we have the most amazing marionberry margaritas in Oregon over the summer. You must come down so I can buy you some.
Amen. Now, we just the rest of the industry to feel the same way. Any day now…
Jason I can dream. Until then, I snark.
Jason I’m not holding my breath. Until then, I snark. ;-D
Snark on with yo bad self!
Nice point, but there is a paradox in this – isn’t sticking to tie up questions and making it a strategy kind of looks like following a script? Whoa! It’s like playing a mind game in the marketing business, just like me now, I’ve been doing the things you do at times as well.