Studio Note #74: Sorry, I Only Do Cold Calls.
Don’t call us. We’ll call you.
Last week, we had a guest at one of my networking groups who offers cold outreach services.
Essentially, he helps businesses find and connect with prospective customers who don't know them.
After the meeting, I introduced myself, expressed interest in learning more about his services and handed him my business card.
A warm lead. Gift-wrapped.
He never followed up.
This week, he returned to the meeting. We saw each other again, but he didn't mention our previous conversation or the business card I'd given him.
And that's when it occurred to me.
Maybe I was too warm.
Perhaps his entire business model is built around reaching people who have never expressed an interest in his services. Maybe someone voluntarily handing him their contact information falls completely outside his workflow.
I'd somehow disqualified myself by being interested.
Of course, there could be any number of perfectly reasonable explanations for why he didn't reach out.
But the whole thing got me thinking about how much energy businesses spend trying to create opportunities while sometimes overlooking the ones already standing in front of them.
We build systems. Develop strategies. Automate outreach. Track conversions.
All in pursuit of getting someone to raise their hand.
And sometimes, when someone actually does, we're too busy looking for the next person to notice.
I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere.
But I prefer to believe I was simply too warm a lead.