Befriend the gatekeeper – it’s the only way ! Honestly, it is !
Gatekeepers, receptionists, secretaries, PAs can be the bane of your life to any aspiring telemarketing or telesales person, and this is a hot topic when we discuss telesales or telemarketing training with clients. However it is important to remember a few truths.
Befriending gatekeepers - get them onside
First the gatekeeper has all the power. They decide whether they are going to put you through or not. So why take them on ? No point.
And like anyone else they will respond better to people they warm to. Be friendly and human with them. This doesn’t mean talking about lots of random “I’m trying to be your best friend” type of stuff either.
Use words like help, advise, suggest as this subtley shows that you respect their position. “I know Phil Smith is busy, but can you RECOMMEND the best time to get hold of him ?” You may be surprised how many times these types of approaches work.
Always be polite and respectful, and it will get you more of what you want.
If you speak to the gatekeeper a lot, then it is fine to develop a more social relationship – ask them about their holiday etc, but never do this if it may be considered to be inappropriate.
Getting past the gatekeeper is one of the hot topics at the moment on telesales and telemarketing courses, and so we are looking to include this in a series of short, sharp training sessions we will be running, monthly 2 hour open course training over a 12 month period. These will be offered to businesses across Birmingham, Solihull, Lichfield, Coventry, Derby, Nottingham, Mansfield, Leicester, Coalville, Loughborough, London, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Grantham, Stamford, Peterborough, Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford, Kettering, Wellingborough, Corby, Market Harborough, as well as wider parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, the East Midlands and West Midlands.
