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"If you get someone’s business card, never call them. That mobile phone number isn’t for you, the person who just met them. A random call to their cell phone is
by mixmax 17y ago
"If you get someone’s business card, never call them. That mobile phone number isn’t for you, the person who just met them. A random call to their cell phone is never welcome. Send an email."
I disagree with this. For someone being approached a lot, like Arrington, it's obviously easier to give an e-mail a quick glance and then discard it instead of all the time and bother that comes with an almost cold call. But if you want to get through you should call, it's much harder to say no on the phone than it is to discard an e-mail from someone you don't know. You'll also have a much better chance of making an actionable next step. "so you like it? Well why don't I send you a mail with login information so you can give it a try? I'll call you next wednesday to hear how it went"
That's also why response rates on direct mail is much much lower than coldcalling potential customers.
- calambrac 17y agoWhy would anyone answer the phone from a random number? You go to voicemail, then the person either ignores it or listens just long enough to get the name of the person they need to put on the shit list. Don't call, especially someone who has written a blog post specifically saying "don't call".
- jacquesm 17y agoBollocks. If someone gives you a businesscard with their phone number on it it is an open invitation to call at a later date. That's what it's for, it's not a collectible. Otherwise keep two sets of cards, one with your phone number on it and one set that has just email or IM information on it. It is really bordering on the arrogant to assume that someone is reading your blogposts in order to figure out what they can or can not do with the contact information that you gave them. If you think you are too important to be bothered by 'mere mortals' you might as well stop handing out business cards. And god forbid someone actually wants to talk to you. Just imagine, where do these people get the guts to do that.
- calambrac 17y agoI completely agree that you shouldn't be handing out business cards with your phone number if you don't want calls, but regardless, I stand by the belief that phone calls should be reserved for people you actually know want to be called, and I don't think a business card with a phone number gives you that knowledge. I don't think this is arrogance, it's just a social norm that I personally think is pretty well established at this point. An actual phone call has a level of formality/familiarity to it at this point, and I think it's just rude to presume you can unilaterally breach that. Everyone's time is valuable, and it's kind of a dick move to try to take that time from someone (regardless of who they are) just because you want to give your pitch to a stranger.
- tptacek 17y agoMost people do answer the phone when they don't recognize the number. And if you don't want people calling you, don't put your phone number on the business card you give to random people.
- calambrac 17y agoI instinctively disagree with the first point (and completely agree with the second, but regardless, I don't think a card with a number makes for an open invite), but then again, I don't cold call a lot of folks. The idea that someone would hand over control of their time to other random people just strikes me as strange.
- jotto 17y ago"I'll call you next wednesday to hear how it went" this attitude is not appropriate because creating actionable steps is presumptuous if you're the one approaching. why do you think its okay for you to set some kind of schedule for someone that will be doing you a favor? too many people in this world either have a sense of entitlement or think that by being pushy they can get whatever they want. please try to earn people's respect.
- tomjen2 17y agoThe response rates for direct mail is lower, but from Arlingtons point of view that is a great thing, since he can ignore those who don't matter enough to be on Techcrunch. So naturally he prefer email only.
- SwellJoe 17y agoThis is why I don't include my phone number on my business cards, and haven't for at least five years. I don't want to talk to people I barely know on the phone, I very rarely answer calls from numbers I don't recognize, and I check voicemail very irregularly. But, if I gave someone my number on a little card, I can't possibly be offended if they then call it.