Don't Take Rejection Too Serious

In my business we use automated texting to reach out to people who have asked for quotes from us in real time or in the past. Sometimes the responses to our text messages is a "no" or "stop", sometimes its an auto response "can't talk now" or a "who is this", sometimes it is a wrong number, sometimes it is a really funny response like this one from today- "Hey ____! I've been meaning to call you!! I really need advice on my recent break up with ___! Call me asap please!! With love, ___??????", and nearly half of the time it is someone who wants to discuss a quote with me.

Sometimes they respond in a rude, crude, disrespectful and occasionally, down right offensive way. I totally get it, once they click the button for a quote their phones get lit up! It doesn't bother me and I've learned to have a little fun with it. Especially since I decided long ago that I paid for that lead so I'm not going to give up just because you told me to F#^* Off.

I had one such conversation today. We had tried to reach out to them back in February with no response. As such, our automated system keeps following up over time. After our follow up today this potential client responded with an "F*#*ing Scammer" text.

It is at this point that so many sales people are afraid to engage. Most that I have seen over the past 19 years would say sorry and put them down as "do not contact", or not respond at all, or the worst of all- fire back with an angry message of their own. I've found that if I respond to them in a funny, but appropriate way I can nearly always turn the conversation around. Here is today's back and forth-

Notice how his first response to me was to swear and be rude. However, instead of backing down I decided to have a little fun with him. As you can see, by the time we were done he was open to future conversations.

In another transaction today someone called in instead of texting. When I answered he told me to stop calling him from this number, in a fairly frustrated tone. He said he wanted me to take him off our list. I told him I would, but also explained to him that he had requested a quote and that is why we are calling. He told me he knows he did but he now has insurance. I asked him "how does he know I am not $500 a year cheaper on his home". He literally laughed out loud and told me I couldn't beat his rate. I told him I beat other rates all the time. He then told me that if I could beat his rate he would switch, but if not I would have to give him $10. I told him I'd give him a $10 GC if I could not beat his rate, but he had to give me his policy documents (completely legal in AZ). It was a deal! I ended up paying him a $10 GC. However, he now wants me to quote his cars.

Had I just taken the rejection as he gave it I would have put him on my "Do Not Call List" and lost a potential future client. Instead, I joked around with him and I promise I will write his business some day.

Here's the point: Don't take sales rejection too serious, don't let it hurt your feelings, don't let pride or fear get in the way of keeping the conversation going. You paid for that lead so you owe it to yourself and your budget to give it your best shot. That doesn't mean you ignore their requests to be left alone. It does mean that the majority of the time the rejection isn't as set in stone as we might believe. The only way to find out is to try to keep the conversation going. Remember, these potential customers filled out a form requesting a quote for a reason. Just because they receive multiple calls and get frustrated doesn't change the fact that they began with the intent to find better pricing. If you can help them remember that you will get far more business than you thought possible from that lead that just told you to F*!% Off.