Home – New › Forums › Tell me straight… › How to Screen for Fake/Competitor Enquiries
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April 4, 2018 at 4:06 am #998481Up::0
Hi Flying Solo Community,
Would love to know how your business screens fake telephone enquiries or competitors who are just spying on your business? This has happened a couple of times to me, where I have competitors sus out the way I do things.
Gina
April 4, 2018 at 5:14 am #1214381Up::0Extraordinary You, post: 258103, member: 11666 wrote:Hi Flying Solo Community,Would love to know how your business screens fake telephone enquiries or competitors who are just spying on your business? This has happened a couple of times to me, where I have competitors sus out the way I do things.
Gina
Hi Gina
Not being aware of what you do, i guess the best answer is to treat everyone as a potential client and not give away too much over the phone – save the valuable nitty gritty stuff to when the cold hard cash is displayed
Although, your industry may be susceptible to some internal and covert antics.
Jason
Jason Ramage | Lucas Arthur Pty Ltd | E: hello@lucasarthur.net.au P: 61 3 8324 0344 M: 61 412 244 888April 4, 2018 at 5:32 am #1214382Up::0Often it is a case of very bad acting and not being able to give a straight name, business name or proper email address. It’s all part and parcel of being in business. If they are out to get some information off you they will, and likewise you can’t expect to fully control this aspect fully so they don’t.
Assume they can and will behave like this, so just create some more checks and balances where possible if such transparency is an issue.April 4, 2018 at 5:34 am #1214383Up::0Hi Jason,
Thank you for your feedback, I’m a career counsellor/coach/advisor. Unfortunately, the fake enquiries are coming from many different avenues. It is only after I have googled their names or numbers do I find who they really are and realise they have misrepresented themselves to me.
Gina
April 4, 2018 at 5:35 am #1214384Up::0arrowwise, post: 258111, member: 54026 wrote:Often it is a case of very bad acting and not being able to give a straight name, business name or proper email address. It’s all part and parcel of being in business. If they are out to get some information off you they will, and likewise you can’t expect to fully control this aspect fully so they don’t.
Assume they can and will behave like this, so just create some more checks and balances where possible if such transparency is an issue.Could you suggest any verbal questions?
April 4, 2018 at 5:49 am #1214385Up::0Extraordinary You, post: 258113, member: 11666 wrote:Hi Jason,Thank you for your feedback, I’m a career counsellor/coach/advisor. Unfortunately, the fake enquiries are coming from many different avenues. It is only after I have googled their names or numbers do I find who they really are and realise they have misrepresented themselves to me.
Gina
Do your queries illicit follow up communications? If so, id be politely asking them in that correspondence about the details you have dug up.. EG: ‘Hi John, thanks for dropping in the other day (or call).. Was great chatting with you, although before we push through this query i was curious are you still working with XYZ? Think we would be an awesome fit together, look forward to your reply and how we can work together to forge prosperous relationships together’
Or, does the query just stop dead and once you have the information can no longer call them out on it?
Jason Ramage | Lucas Arthur Pty Ltd | E: hello@lucasarthur.net.au P: 61 3 8324 0344 M: 61 412 244 888April 4, 2018 at 5:49 am #1214386Up::0Should be standard questions that you do or should use to qualify a new enquiry to see if you can help and if they are good fit for your business. Normally they relate to info you need to prepare a proposal or quote for example.
Not sure what you have done to attract an abundance of these cases? Sometimes it can be a good thing though
April 4, 2018 at 5:59 am #1214387Up::0LucasArthur, post: 258115, member: 34537 wrote:Do your queries illicit follow up communications? If so, id be politely asking them in that correspondence about the details you have dug up.. EG: ‘Hi John, thanks for dropping in the other day (or call).. Was great chatting with you, although before we push through this query i was curious are you still working with XYZ? Think we would be an awesome fit together, look forward to your reply and how we can work together to forge prosperous relationships together’Or, does the query just stop dead and once you have the information can no longer call them out on it?
Yes, the query goes dead because when you call them back they don’t answer the call. Then it is obvious what they have done.
April 4, 2018 at 6:19 am #1214388Up::0arrowwise, post: 258116, member: 54026 wrote:Should be standard questions that you do or should use to qualify a new enquiry to see if you can help and if they are good fit for your business. Normally they relate to info you need to prepare a proposal or quote for example.Not sure what you have done to attract an abundance of these cases? Sometimes it can be a good thing though
Yes, I do ask a lot of questions to screen out people who would not be a good match. For the clients, I work with, they are amazing clients and are so grateful for the work I do with them. I think because of my success, people want to know what I do so in a way it’s a compliment but a pain to monitor. I only want to work with people who genuinely need help with their careers who are honest and authentic.
April 4, 2018 at 12:55 pm #1214389Up::0I use a phone run sheet to prequalify any leads I get. Not sure that this would solve your problem though.
Sometimes I Google the number while Im speaking to them but rarely. Even that isn’t foolproof.
If you’ve got people sticking their noses into what you’re doing then you’re obviously doing something right. Pay them no minds and focus on providing value to your real clients.
April 4, 2018 at 7:54 pm #1214390Up::0Extraordinary You, post: 258103, member: 11666 wrote:Hi Flying Solo Community,Would love to know how your business screens fake telephone enquiries or competitors who are just spying on your business? This has happened a couple of times to me, where I have competitors sus out the way I do things.
Gina
Don’t focus on them, focus on your own business, it happens across the board on all business’s. It’s really funny every second counsellor/coach/advisor, that responds to a start up question on here , tells the startups to ring the competition to sus out information.
They are just following the advise given out by their counsellor/coach/advisor, blame your fellow travellers.
April 4, 2018 at 8:36 pm #1214391Up::0John Romaine, post: 258127, member: 39536 wrote:I use a phone run sheet to prequalify any leads I get. Not sure that this would solve your problem though.Sometimes I Google the number while Im speaking to them but rarely. Even that isn’t foolproof.
If you’ve got people sticking their noses into what you’re doing then you’re obviously doing something right. Pay them no minds and focus on providing value to your real clients.
Hi John, Thank you for your input. Can I ask what do you mean when you say you ‘prequalify any leads’?
April 4, 2018 at 8:40 pm #1214392Up::0bb1, post: 258134, member: 53375 wrote:Don’t focus on them, focus on your own business, it happens across the board on all business’s. It’s really funny every second counsellor/coach/advisor, that responds to a start up question on here , tells the startups to ring the competition to sus out information.They are just following the advise given out by their counsellor/coach/advisor, blame your fellow travellers.
Hi Bert,
Thank you for your input. Unfortunately, the career industry is unregulated so there are counsellors or coaches who call themselves ‘career coaches or career counsellors’ when in fact they are not qualified and are not members of the Career Development Association. So counsellors think they can just add this extra service to enhance their own business.
Gina
April 4, 2018 at 8:46 pm #1214393Up::0Extraordinary You, post: 258138, member: 11666 wrote:the career industry is unregulated so there are counsellors or coaches who call themselves ‘career coaches or career counsellors’ when in fact they are not qualified and are not members of the Career Development Association.You have hit the nail on the head with many many industries which creates major issues for clients across the board, anyone can hang up their shingle and call themselves, coaches, SEO, marketers, landscapers, etc, etc, etc.
April 5, 2018 at 2:23 am #1214394Up::0Extraordinary You, post: 258137, member: 11666 wrote:Hi John, Thank you for your input. Can I ask what do you mean when you say you ‘prequalify any leads’?I have a run sheet with a set list of questions on it that I follow that allows me to screen for those who want to do business, and are a good fit, and those who are more than likely just going to waste my time.
The purpose behind using this run sheet is simple –
- Frame the call so Im not stuck talking for an hour to someone who wants to spend $50 a month on SEO
- Cut straight to the chase, and avoid wasting time
- Ensure they’re a good fit and I am confident I can help them
If you’ve got a competitor on the phone and they’re just kicking tyres to see what you’re up to, then its likely they wont be able to answer many of the questions you’re asking, or won’t want to.
In any case, it saves you from being mucked around, which is what you want.
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