35 Ways To Prospect More
Creatively
Hey there . . .
Thanks for stopping by to check out these tips to help you hunt for business
more creatively.
As with everything I do on Sales Playbook, there are no strings attached,
no catch, no hidden agenda.
If you like the tips, feel free to pass them along to your network and if you
don’t, then this E-Book deserves a trip to the round file.
Thanks again and happy selling!
With respect & appreciation,
Craig Seaton
1) Consider using a “Quirky Calendar” and leverage the power of a “National Thank
God It’s Monday” day and numerous other reasons for you to connect with a non
responsive prospect!
2) Make a humorous Top 10 List as to why someone hasn’t returned your call or
why they would want to do business with YOU!
3) Give that boring calendar you give out a very cool make over. Have each month
designed with a theme of you trying to get in to see your prospect (complete with
your prospect’s name in the design) Example: One month you could have a hitch
hiker holding a sign “Need to get to (Your Prospect’s Name) Office” Perhaps you
could play the themes in with the seasons or non religious holidays?
4) Get a giant cookie from your bakery and have them write “I want to take a
bite out of your business” Note: This can also turn into a handy dandy Thank you
when you get a new client or even an order from a client. You could change it to
read “Thanks for letting me take a bite out of your business”
5) Send a Telegram
6) Send a personalized singing email.
7) How about some Customized M & M’s ?
8) Send a lottery ticket with a note that reads “Why gamble on (fill in what you
do)” When you call to follow up have some fun and ask them if they won!
9) Get some sunglasses, a cd with some good rock songs and print up some All
Access Passes they can use for a tour of your facility. Play on that theme with a
message like: "I take pride in making my clients look like rock stars!"
10) http://klutz.com has a superhero starter kit complete with mask, cape etc.
.Consider sending that to a prospect as a follow up to the rock star approach.
11) Send some ice cream or one of these way cool sundae kits http://www.send-
ice- cream.com/ Thank you Jamie McLennan !
12) Try this two step approach: Leave a voicemail that you will be in the area on
(date) and will stop by with some things of value and to say the worlds quickest
hello. Take a gift bag and fill it with some literature, a pen with your logo, a pad,
your business card etc. Drop by to see your prospect and present them with the
goodie bag.
13) Purchase one of those prepaid cell phones. Send it to your prospect and tell
them a time you will be calling on it and give a specific day and time.
14) Consider having the balls to send a ball (another cool idea from Jamie
McLennan)
15) Go to http://www.choconet1.com/chocolate-foot.html and order chocolate feet
for $2.50 ea. Send them to your prospects with a note that reads “I’d like to get a
foot in the door”
16) Take that letter you were about to stuff into an envelope with your company
name and logo and use a colored envelope instead. Hand address that bad boy while
you’re at it. It will resemble personal correspondence and have a higher probability
of getting opened.
17) Take a picture of you staring at the phone with a caption “Wondering if today
is the day you will call me” Fed Ex it so it arrives separate from and doesn’t blend
in with the other mail.
18) For a more personal touch when sending information, place post its with
handwritten notes.
19) Consider sending something that is representative of your geographic area to
folks who are out of the area. Example: I know someone who sends their clients
and prospects Pretzels someone else sends Maple Syrup etc.
20) Next time you are rejected on the phone, but you at least had a friendly
conversation, send a handwritten thank you. Note: You obviously won’t win a
creativity award on this one but you will stand out simply because hardly anyone
does this!
21) Sales Leadership: Send a note to your entire sales organization asking for at
least 2-3 creative door openers. Compile a list of all the new cool ideas that get
generated and send everyone a PDF!
22) Send greeting cards at off holidays (July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween,
Thanksgiving etc
23) I know someone who drops off carnations for all the moms she has as
prospects the Friday before Mother’s Day. How can you leverage a holiday in this
type of fashion?
24) Call the wrong extension and ask for your contact. Once they tell you that you
have the wrong extension, ask to be transferred. Transferred calls look different
on the caller ID than typical calls and you might just get through.
25) Send your prospect a humorous letter with options as to why they haven’t
gotten back to you. You can even create a while you were out message.
26) Carve time out each day to think quietly. Ask yourself the following question
“In what ways can I be more creative?” This is a great creative brainstorming
question for you to ponder. You can even make it more targeted by rephrasing it
like this “In what ways can I creatively approach (name of account).
27) Go for a walk or exercise while asking yourself that same question.
28) Study creative people. Pick their brain or just study them from afar. I won’t
tell anyone!
29) Have someone video you doing a quick 3 minute intro of who you are, and a kick
ass elevator speech. Tell them a specific day and time you will call to set appt.
Include popcorn and candy to make it festive.
30) How about a “Mission Impossible” type of theme where you send a series of
things including that 3 minute intro, a Fed Ex or Telegram and maybe even give
yourself a kick ass theme song from this royalty free music site.
31) T.G.I.F. Kit: Create a kit of fun things for your prospect. Perhaps some candy,
funny sunglasses, a funny book or comedy cd, etc. Drop it off nice and early. Write
your cell number on your card so hopefully you get the thank you call before you
are out of the area.
32) Have some cheesy fun by picking up any or all of the following and tailoring a
corny message: Payday candy bar, mints, Mounds, seeds, nuts etc. Example attach a
note to a Mounds candy bar with a message centered around you saving them
mounds of extra work etc.
33) Add this phrase to any of the above “(name) If you think I’m working hard to
get your business, you are 100% right. Think about how hard I’ll work to keep your
business!”
34) Sendout Cards has some really cool customizable cards you can send to your
clients and prospects. You can also send starbucks cards and various treats along
with your card! Note: That link will take you directly to Craig Wilson’s Send Out
Cards site. He’s been a member of our Sales Playbook community from day 1 and I’d
like to hook the guy up!
35) Ask yourself this question every day: “How will I be memorable today?”
