Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header about About Home Profiles articles Tools forums inspirational quotes About facebook Twitter YouTube Blog
Share for a Cause











A Terrible Prospecting Email Example

Guest post by: Jeff Ogden

Article Overview: As we pointed out in this blog article “The Current State of B2B Demand Generation“, most companies still use email as their main lead generation tool. So how well they use email is critical. This example shows how NOT to do it. This is an actual email a business partner received from a multi-billion dollar telephony company. It proves that even really big companies can send terrible emails. The company name and sales rep name has been removed to protect them. (We wish to show an example, not punish them.)

Free Download - Marketing Made Simple TV is looking for a few good sponsors By Jeff Ogden
Name: Email:

A Terrible Prospecting Email Example

What’s wrong with it?

It’s totally me, me, me. It talks only about the seller’s company, products and features.

Not one word about what problem it solves for the prospect, why the reader might need it, or sharing insights the prospect may need into how technology is evolving.

It is a disaster from a big company that should know better.

From: B, Brian M (Brian)

Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 10:27 AM

To: Jim Burns

Subject: Brian from AV Phone Systems
Hi Jim, I wanted to follow-up on my voice mail to you regardingyour company’s future plans. As your AV Phone Systems Inside Sales Representative I look forward to further conversations around this topic. I’dlike to invite you towatch the following short videos which briefly talk about the benefits that our AV Phone Systems IP Office Solution and Unified Communications solution could bring to yourbusiness. (Link to Video clips of product demo appears here.) Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding our products and services. I encourage you to look at the otherofferings that we have featured on our website and see how we can help your organization reduce costs, increase productivity and expand efficiency. I look forward to working with you in the future and am available to assist with any other questions that you may have. Regards, Brian Brian M. B| Global Inside Sales Certified Professional Sales Specialist It’s 100% a product shill. The email is about product. The videos are about product. Sorry, but terrible job.

What do you think? We love comments.

Read my blog on Kindle

Jeff Ogden (@fearlesscomp) is President of the B2B lead generation consultancy, Find New Customers. Find New Customers helps companies rapidly grow revenue by transforming how they attract, engage and win new customers. Contact Find New Customers by calling (516) 495-9350 or send an email to sales at findnewcustomers.com.



Find New Customers helps companies (with between 150 and 5,000 employees who sell complex products to businesses) to implement world-class lead generation programs. As companies struggle to create quality sales opportunities, they turn to lead generation companies like Find New Customers.

Related Articles
  C-Level Selling Tip 6: Networking, Use Your Resources
  How writing sales prospecting emails and negotiation emails is different
  Get In a Rut
  Why You Don't Want Sales Prospects to Save Your Emails
  Sales Prospecting Techniques
  Prospecting's 8 Simple Steps©
  Prospecting it is simple only DOING counts
  Sales Prospecting for Sales Results
  Prospecting - Time really is money©
  Prospecting Is Not the Problem
  Is Email Hiding Your Personality?
  Sales Prospecting is the most important skill©
  Keep Prospecting Simple©
  Sales Prospecting
  Maximize Revenues©
  How to Fix Your Prospecting in a Single Day
  Two spectacular sales ideas©
  Remember, it is only the Behaviors that count!©
  Are you writing sales negotiation emails like prospecting emails?
  The Paradox of Sales Training

Home > Marketing > Jeff Ogden > A Terrible Prospecting Email Example >
Article Tags: b2b demand generation, b2b lead generation, btob demand generation, btob lead generation, demand gen, demand generation, demand generation companies, demand generation company, find new customers, lead gen, lead generation, lead generation companies, lead generation company, sales lead generation

About the Author: Jeff Ogden
RSS for Jeff's articles - Visit Jeff's website

President of the B2B lead generation company Find New Customers. Also the host of the B2B marketing show, Mad Marketing TV. We help companies rapidly grow revenue by transforming the ways they attract, engage and win new customers.

With 8 out of 10 companies saying the lack of quality sales leads is their biggest problem, they need help. SiriusDecisions also found that fewer than 1 out of 10 companies that implement lead management software went beyond the basics. They need help.

We help companies implement world class lead generation programs. Companies need quality sales leads, so they need sales lead generation programs including social media marketing. They need to implement lead nurturing programs. We are considered one of the best leads generation companies in business today.

Click here to visit Jeff's website
Dashed Line

More from Jeff Ogden
7 Keys to Lead Nurturing
7 Keys to B2B Marketing Succes
Definitive Guide Making Quota
How to Find New Customers


Related Forum Posts
Prime Means of Selling Prime Means of Selling - Prospecting and Selling aren't the same. Prospecting is finding the few within a target group who are prime candidates for your service. I don't think everyone will agree on what "prime" means but I'd say if the prospects actively want what you're offering and have the ability to pay for what you're offering then they qualify as "prime".
Web magazine publisher Web magazine publisher - My duties 1) Research the articles that goes into each of my webzines - science fiction in all media, various sports (Yay, Lady Vols, 8th championship in 2008, by the way!) 2) Write the articles 3) Format and upload them to the web 4) Email and network various contacts to get out the word that new articles are available. 5) Email authors, actors, etc. etc. to see if they want to do interviews. 6) Advertise for more contributors - and then edit and upload their material!
Re: Email Marketing Re: Email Marketing - Yes, true. What kind of changes happened in Email campaigns except the opt-in? Finding the exact target and reaching them is always a challenge. What new methods can we have to reach the new customers? Thanks Robert
Re: Email marketing Re: Email marketing - Email marketing is one area I have never taken serious! The personal experience of SPAM really make me de taste that marketing medium. Any positive application model, drop in the comment?
Re: Email marketing strategy Re: Email marketing strategy - Email Marketing is successful only when you get a good list of targeted people. However, some people consider it as spam. It can work wonders for you if you have selected the appropriate list of people.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article

Bottom Footer



Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Starting a Business with Bad Personal Credit

Selling What Sizzles vs. Delivering Real Value

Ten Reasons to take Notes during Sales Meetings

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.