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Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts

Guest post by: Nancy Michaels

Article Overview: Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts

Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts

know, I know – you’re afraid. First step, get over it. CEOs are people too. They have spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings and deal with many of the issues we all face in life.



Here are a few things you need to know about CEOs that can help tremendously when making your pitch to them.



1. Whenever possible, try to get an introduction from another CEO. This is Endorsement Marketing and it makes a testimonial letter look like it’s a recommendation written in crayon. Not powerful – or compelling.



2. They’re busy, so don’t be long winded on paper or when following up and speaking to their assistant (regardless of what the information marketing folks are telling you – CEOs will not read 13 page letters and review endless materials)



3. Befriend their assistant and ask him or her if it’s ok for you to e-mail a Power Point deck that clearly illustrates what your company can do for them to help their business be more successful. They’re not interested in providing you with an opportunity. They think about the bottom-line impact and return on investment to their company. Speak their language.



4. Do your homework and become an expert on their business. Google the CEO, read their website, research on Hoovers to make yourself knowledgeable about what they stand for, what organizations they support and who is their primary target market.



5. Is their market your market? If not, they’re not a qualified prospect. If so, they just might be. You’ll know this by doing your homework.



6. Look and act professionally. Send them professionally produce materials, direct them to an updated and useful web site, follow-up when you say you will, under promise and over deliver and don’t always contact them when you need something from them, but rather, position yourself as a valued and trusted resource they want to seek out – and they will.



7. Remain in constant contact with them, once a connection has been made. Thank them for introducing you to the person you were referred to. Copy that person on the letter and speak well of them. They’ll be grateful that they look good to the their CEO and you let them know in a non-threatening way, that you’re in touch with the Big Guns within the organization as well. This keeps everybody honest and doing their jobs.



8. When you follow-up with them and you get voice mail, leave a brief message and tell them you’ll put all the details in an e-mail which might be an easier way for them to get back to you. Then, do so.



9. Write personal thank you notes. Why? Because no one ever does that anymore and you will distinguish yourself among the competition.



Oh, one more thing. Draft a script so when you are preparing to make your follow-up calls, you are articulate, to the point and make sense. They and their assistant will appreciate that very much – and once again, you’ll rise above the rest.



Good luck!

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Article Tags: bottom line impact, ceo, ceos, constant contact, e mail, endorsement, google, grandchildren, homework, hoovers, information marketing, page letters, parents, pitch, power point, primary target, return on investment, siblings, target market, testimonial letter



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