Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts
Key Steps to Reach CEO-Level Contacts
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!
Key Steps to Reach CEOLevel Contacts - To learn more about this author, visit Nancy Michaels's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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!
Key Steps to Reach CEOLevel Contacts - To learn more about this author, visit Nancy Michaels's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. |
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Nancy's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Competetive Advantage Article Biography Non Disclosure Agreement PIPS Power Book Elevating Your Business |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Marketing Blogs of 2009 | |
 |
Top 50 Franchising Blogs
Top 50 Franchising Blogs | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
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 and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
