If a potential client calls you from a WOM referral...

[Papa Deuce]

and you call them back, and they say, I'm headed out the door, but can you call me again, how many times will you call back before stopping?

A woman called me because I did someone's wedding that she knew. She left a msg at first, and said that she "really want to talk to you because Diana said you were great at her wedding".

So I called back and she said she was headed out. I told her I would call again the next day.

No answer. I left a msg. Then I called back 3 days later and left a msg. That was yesterday. Do you call again or let it go?

 

[trafficgoo]

I'll call a maximum of two times. If they want you bad enough...they'll call back. It's kind of like playing hard to get...if you don't seem desparate, they usually call back.

 

[Hank Davidson]

You called one too many times for me. I prefer email to the phone most of the time.

 

[Papa Deuce]

You called one too many times for me. I prefer email to the phone most of the time.

For sure if it wasn't a WOM referral.

 

[Guest]

Papa,

In your situation I would have made the second call and left a message and then wrote it off. People don't like being pursued. She had your number and called you the first time, my general rule is to return the call and then let the client call me back with a time and day to discuss the issue.

 

[Fred Wright]

One return call is enough for us. They've got our number and will call back if they've a mind to.

Reason I say this, some prospects call a large number of vendors... and get a large number of returned call voice mails. If they've gotten two or three messages from one vendor the vendor may appear desparate and/or pushy.

 

[DjDennis]

yes thats why I would only call back once, then let them contact me!

 

[DJMC]

The second call would have said something like:

"I just got a call from another couple for [date], but since you are a friend of [name of past client], I can hold the date for you if I hear from you within 48 hours."

(I also call the past client, and give them the same message.....thanking them for the referral AND letting them know the first-come-first-served policy)

This has NEVER failed to get a quick response! Usually they book right away, and they will send the deposit/retainer SOONER, when you put some urgency into the message.