Getting a visit is both an ATTITUDE and a SKILL. There’s a ‘SYSTEM’ to it.
Getting a visit is all about: PREDISPOSING … QUALIFIED PROSPECTS … to take your phone CALL … and ultimately VISIT with you. We’ve included action steps, strategies, and tips to help you make it happen.
First, we are professionals. We do not make COLD CALLS! We always PREDISPOSE the prospect/potential investor. We first predispose a potential investor to our phone call to set up the visit, and then we predispose to the visit/ presentation itself (and yes, we even predispose to the follow-up).
The goal of predisposition is simple: GET THE VISIT! It is NOT to ‘sell on the phone’!
A really strong predisposition e-mail or letter makes the follow-up phone call very assumptive/ presumptive!
Consider having someone else set up the visit! This is especially important if you are full-time Development Officer/Major Gift Officer/Chief Development Officer with a portfolio. You should be making presentations, not setting up visits.
A phone call from your CEO/President’s Assistant is one of the absolute best ways to get a visit.
Use a ‘memorable experience’. Turn that gala/signature event into predisposition that grabs their attention! You can actually say during an event that someone will be following up to set up a visit. Pick the 50 or 60 very best prospects (out of the 1,000 people who attended) who should get a very customized follow-up note, to set up the phone call to schedule the visit.
Use a ‘wow package’ to ensure that the person knows how important this visit is. Rather than sending an email, send an actual letter or packet, with some visuals, and then indicate that this is what you want to share or talk about. Just thinking creatively will set you apart.
Get on the Plane! My personal favorite GTA is for the very busy, always traveling executive or retired person, whose gatekeeper always responds with, “Sorry, she’s traveling,” or “She’s out of town.” I simply ask the gatekeeper where the prospect’s next trip is going to be. The gatekeeper always asks, “Why?” And I respond, “Because I’d like to get a ticket and just fly with her so that we can talk while she’s on the plane!”
Everything good in life doesn’t come easy or just happen. Getting a visit takes FOLLOW-UP and PERSEVERANCE.
Here are 3 things that might help you with this:
1. Attitude is everything. Getting a visit is all about SFP: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy! If you’re trying to a get an ‘appointment’ with someone you are convinced doesn’t want to see you, then that is exactly what will happen.
“Been trying hard to set this up because of urgency, importance, etc.”
“Sorry we have missed connecting so often, I know I’m being very persistent, but it’s because I know I need to be talking with you.”
2. Whatever it takes. We know. Old and cheesy coaching cliché. But if you take perseverance and attitude down to the ‘how’, the answer is to do whatever it takes! Call back until they tell you not to call anymore. Stay in contact until you’ve got the visit set up. Call in all of your support team. Whatever it takes.
3. “Yes or No?” We have something we call the Response Tree. There are usually only 3 answers once you get through on the phone:
- “YES.” Awesome. Get a date and time set. Follow-up with a note to confirm. Send any additional predisposition material for the actual visit itself.
- “MAYBE.” “What else could I do that might help you decide on getting together? I can meet you anywhere, anytime. Would it help if you spoke with (Natural Partner) to understand more about why they are engaged with us?”
- “NO.” If this is “No, No time,” but still likes your organization, then you could send them a President’s Circle invitation or even a really strong follow-up letter with a request. If it’s a “No, can’t really see this as a priority, don’t have the financial wherewithal to help,” then you would send a nice ‘thank you’ and MOVE ON!