HOW do telemarketers do it?

[knight_of_the_star]

I just finished e-blocking to Virginia by phone and I STILL don't see HOW TELEMARKETERS CAN DO IT!!!!

I mean, I have a total of 50 calls made but my stomach still does backflips and suchlike just before I make the call and I hope more often than not I get a machine so I don't have to bug someone. I know that unlike a telemarketer I'm not getting paid, I'm not trying to sell something, and I REALLY believe in what I'm doing, but it doesn't make it any better.

Anyone else have these same issues?

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Wine. Beer.

Meet anyone friendly? Any success?

[knight_of_the_star]

7. Can't have booze. I'm only 18

I would like to think that the 10+ messages I've left will have an impact, but I've only gotten 1 person who is going to vote for Clark positive in Washington (yeah) and three others who were undecided but leaning to Wes out of a total of 50 calls so far. It gets kinda demoralizing, but I'm still going to try again later today for Washington State.

[Jack_Dawson]

9. Those are actually great odds

[incapsulated]

2. Oh, boy, you're not alone

lol, your line about hoping for the machine makes me laugh, it reminds me of the first time I had to "cold call" people for a cause years ago.

I write more letters than make calls, if I can. I don't know how effective calling is, sometimes I feel I've opened someone's mind, other times like I'm just being a pest, and I hate that.

I just keep saying to myself: it's for the cause, it's for the white house, it's for the General, this isn't about how you feel, stop being a pussy... like a mantra. :)

edit: oh, yeah, like Jack said: if all else fails, have a drink!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Yes, I have that trouble too

especially after a few people in NH lost it on me when they heard I wanted to talk politics! I like emailing and letters better, and best of all is real-life person-to-person campaigning.

[indigo32]

5. In Iowa

I knocked on a few republican doors (it's hard to keep data perfect)... and all were very nice... but one burst out laughing :eyes:

To the original poster... I know how you feel... I'm trying to psych myself up for some Michigan calls right now.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Michigan people have been great on my calls. I only got one nasty

and the next ten more than made up for her. :hi: Good luck!

[knight_of_the_star]

8. The VA and TN ones were RUDE

I got more hangups from them than anywhere else, and I've made calls to AZ and WA as well.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. This is why I love pen and paper.

it's the best isn't it? :hi:

[blondeatlast]

23. For some reason, canvassing doesn't bother me in the least.

But I simply can't physically handle cold calls. It's really that bad.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Just keep in mind that they are strangers, they can't do anything but

call you names and hang up, and throw yourself into your cause.

I spent 5 years part time market research at night and it actually got to be quite fun. I met a lot of really interesting people!

You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!

[returnable]

11. Just remember it isn't personal.

The worst they can do is hang up on you :hi:

If they start to squawk or get nasty, just thank them for their time and move on.

[JNelson6563]

12. you may already be doing this

but my suggestion is to make the point first off that you are not selling anything!! This tends to take the edge off a bit.

Good luck and don't worry. Sometimes, for perspective, when doing something difficult or something that makes me anxious, I remind myslef that no harm will come to me from this.

Julie

[incapsulated]

13. Oh, yeah, I forgot the most effective: Negative Reinforcement

I don't know how you were raised, but I had plenty of Catholic Guilt. Normally, this is a bad thing. But you can make it work for you!

You are a Clark supporter. Imagine the scene of him getting shot and refusing to relinquish command, caring more about he welfare of his men than himself. Imagine him out there busting his ass on the campaign trail, 24/7. Bask in the terrible feeling of worthlessness as you ruminate on the fact that he depends on you and you are letting him down like a weak, cowardly wuss. Then pick up the phone like a good soldier.

[Clark Can WIN]

30. I'm not Catholic

and your post just made me feel shorter than a millipeedes kneecaps. Where's my phone?

[rucky]

14. Lose the Script

and just talk to people.

You'll see a huge difference.

[tameszu]

15. Slap a smile on your face and keep plugging away

The first 50-100 calls I made when I went to the New Hampshire office were pretty painful. Now it's like nothing--I did 500 last weekend: keep at it!

[Toucano]

16. It does get easier.

But I wonder if we're doing more harm than good.

Has there been any evidence of a backlash against the campaigns that phone?

I've heard theories that Dean supporters in Iowa may have had the opposite of their intended effect.

I've had some very nice people in TN.

NH was the worst for me. Lots of Bush supporters on my list there.

[KnucklesBuchanan]

17. It does work...

I'm here in WA, and can tell you that the informed electorate is pretty small. We are going to have a huge caucus turnout, and well over 35% or so will be undecided, and the a good chunk of the rest are 'soft' in their support of their candidate. It's actually one of the reasons that Clark, Dean and Kucinich have high hopes for the state. Kerry's always had a presence here, but it wasn't anything of note. To be honest, I'd always wondered why there was a state office when they never seemed to be doing anything. And then I got my first call from the Kerry people shortly after Iowa.

Right now, a good chunk of caucus goers are making their decision based on what they get out of the media, and the information you provide with your calls is better than anything they'll get online or in print. Keep up the good work! The rest of us here in WA appreciate it (especially us Clark supporters).

[krkaufman]

18. TN & VA

Tennesee and Virginia are the ones we need to really hit. We've gotta finish ahead of Edwards in both.

[Kathleen04]

20. I agree w/ this strategy..

Plus I heard on Inside Politics that Clark pulled his ads from VA? In that case, we have to work harder to keep him in 1st or 2nd.

Plus from his schedule it looks like he's doing more events in TN...

[Kathleen04]

19. Keep up the great work with the calls!!

I haven't tried it but it sounds really nerve-wracking. I've been sending letters, but I kind of know how it feels to have people hang up on you cause I've had some of my letters come back unopened, but 7 out of 220 ain't bad. :)

[Toucano]

22. Could that have been

bad addresses?

Sometimes databases are messed up.

Were they stamped undeliverable? I can't imagine someone taking time to return a letter when they could just as easily throw it away.

[Kathleen04]

25. There were some...

that had arrows pointing to my return address with question marks and said "insufficient address"..maybe that means they didn't recognize the return and didn't want to open it?

A couple did say things like the street didn't exist..and others just said "return to sender".

[blondeatlast]

21. I just can't do it. When I volunteer for campaigns, I tell them explicitly

that I won't do phones, because it makes me nauseated, literally.

Stuff envelopes? No problem.
Canvass neighborhoods? No problem.
Write letters? Sure.
Staff a booth? My favorite.
Cold call? :puke:, really.

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. Pretend it's us...after about 5-10 calls it's really very easy.

Honest.

:hi:

[blondeatlast]

26. I've done nearly everything. The first rude person sends me to

the loo. I don't like talking on the phone, period. My hubby likes to chat, and all I can think of is, I'll see you tonight, we can talk about it then!

[Piltdown13]

31. I don't think I'm cut out for it either.

Cold-calling doesn't make me physically sick, but I just don't seem to get very good results. For instance, when I was in college I used to help with fundraising phone-a-thons for my track team. I was always absolutely the WORST in terms of success rate, to the point where they quit asking me to help out. We had a script, so I'm guessing there's just something about my voice over the phone that lots of people respond negatively to. I'm afraid it would be more of the same with campaign cold-calls. I'm not scared of doing it, I just feel like given my track record, my efforts would be more productively directed elsewhere. Plus, I do sometimes worry about doing more harm than good, annoying people who don't want to receive calls.

[blondeatlast]

33. I know why I have poor success--my voice is so strained because I'm so ten

Even if you tell them you won't do it, they will ask. I just tell them no, and if they insist, I leave.

I just can't do it.

Some people are really good; really confident on the phone. My talents are best used elsewhere.

[Tom Rinaldo]

27. I agree with rucky, lose the script.

Maybe include a couple of lines from it, but be real and personal. I say to people sometimes "it isn't easy making phone calls to strangers but I am only doing this because I really believe in this man". I also say that this is the first time in my life that I have been motivated to donate my time to a political candidate.

I also agree TN and VA are most important, but with the 3 hour time difference, I am making a few WA calls tonight. In solidarity with Dean's grassroots movement I will not try to talk anyone out of backing Dean, I'm looking for undecideds who might have fallen into line with Kerry otherwise.

[Jack_Dawson]

28. I think I won a couple people over tonight...

Feels great! It's really not that bad. When you figure we have soldiers over in Iraq who wake up every day worried about dying or losing a limb...what's a few phone calls? What's the worst than can happen...someone hangs up? I'm still in one piece.

[Clark Can WIN]

29. Write it down when somebody says something nice to you

That way you start getting a list of nice comments to remember when it gets hard.

Also, I start off every conversation by explaining I'm not a paid telemarketer, I'm a volunteer sitting in the family kitchen. That loosens them up quite a bit.

Thanks for what you are doing, keep it up. :yourock:

[arewethereyet]

32. you can't take it personally

its just a job, like any other

[arwalden]

34. I Truly Dislike "Script Readers" Who Sound Canned

helloiamcallingyouonbehalfof________
andwewanttoknowifwecancountonyourvote
thiscomingtuesday?

WHAT? Slow down! I didn't understand you! Quit mumbling and talk to me! No, actually TALK... quit reading the script.

-- Allen

[arwalden]

35. I Also Dislike The Script Readers Who Can't

I. Am. Calling. You. On. Behalf. Of. ....


Well you get the idea. The non-reader types who read individual words instead of flowing sentences.

I admire that they are dedicated enough to volunteer, but whoever's in charge of placing the volunteers ought to do a better job at matching the skills required for the job with the actual skills possessed by the volunteer.

-- Allen

[Mairead]

36. It's well-known: many people fear public speaking more than something

that carries with it the risk of death.

So don't feel alone, because you've a LOT of company in your fear!