What Went Wrong with the First Local Push
When Brande and I first decided to roll out a grassroots promotion, we thought the whole idea was simple: a few eye‑catching signs, a handful of drop cards, and a big phone number that would spin the dial up a few thousand times. We gathered ourselves in a truck, set up a portable pole, and drove through town. The plan was to leave a sign on every street light, stick a few cards on every windshield, and wave a banner in the parking lot of a competitor’s convention. We even tried to get people to write their names on the back of the cards. We were determined to make every passerby think, “Hey, that sounds interesting.”
For two whole weeks we ran the same routine. Brande would hop out of the truck, dart across several lanes of traffic, and hold a sign up against a telephone pole. She’d hammer it into place with a tacker that looked more like a hammer than a stapler, then sprint back across the road to jump back into the truck, hollering “GO! GO!” She was a one‑woman whirlwind of motion that left us breathless. We did not care about the noise we made, the police officer who was looking at us from the next lot, or the fact that every now and then a car slid by and we had to dodge a horn. We thought we were being bold, that this kind of guerrilla marketing would get people talking.
When the week ended, the result was less than we expected. There were a handful of calls - only the kind of numbers that can be traced to a single area code, mostly from people who simply wanted to check our address on Google. The local police department sent a polite letter, saying they could not allow us to put signs on telephone poles in their jurisdiction. We were left with a truck full of signs, a pile of hand‑outs, and a sense that we had wasted a week and a half of our lives.
During the drive back home, I kept replaying the scene in my head. What had we done wrong? I quickly ruled out the message on the signs. We had written our own copy, and it was catchy, simple, and to the point. I also thought of the voicemail message. When people called, we had a recorded message that simply said “Thanks for calling. Please leave your name.” The call count stayed low. What had been missing was a key element that people actually wanted: an actual piece of information that could be consumed quickly, on the spot, without being put off by a hard sell.
As I was passing a new car dealership, I noticed a few people were scanning the window of the showroom. They had no idea whether they needed a new car or not, so they simply left to get back to their daily tasks. The same mindset applies to people who drive past a flyer on a billboard. They are not looking for a hard sell; they are simply looking for quick answers. A few minutes of listening can give them that answer, but only if the information is presented in a way that respects their time. That is the insight that turned our approach around.
So the first lesson: a strong message on a sign or a postcard is not enough if you don't give people an easy way to learn more. The next step was to find that “easy” way.
How a Simple Phrase Made the Phone Ring Back
We realized the missing element was a pre‑recorded voice mail that was clear, concise, and explained exactly what we offered. The moment we added the phrase “pre‑recorded message” to our sign copy, the reaction changed dramatically. The phrase was the promise that if people called, they would hear a professional sales pitch that lasted a little more than five minutes and would not be interrupted by a salesperson on the line. It was a commitment to speed and respect for their time.
After we re‑worked the message on the signs, we went back out on the streets. The response was immediate. We started receiving 10 to 20 calls each day, many of which left voice mails. The number of calls grew steadily, and the voice mail left by most callers was a clear request for a callback. The pre‑recorded voice mail also included a quick summary of the opportunity: the need for an investment, a checking account or credit card, and a willingness to work 5 to 10 hours per week. By the time the caller reached the end of the message, they had a clear sense of whether or not the opportunity was a match for them.
Brande and I hired a professional answering service to handle the influx. The system was simple. When a call came in, the caller listened to a five‑minute sales pitch that explained what the business was all about. At the end, the caller had three choices: 1) hang up, 2) press zero to speak with a live operator who would ask a few qualifying questions, or 3) leave their name and number for a callback. The operators were trained to quickly screen the prospect - asking if they had the required investment, a checking account, and the time commitment. Those who answered “yes” were forwarded to Brande’s cell phone if she was available. The rest were put on a callback list.
The result was that we could run the promotion 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The toll‑free number remained constant, and anyone who saw our sign could call at any time and hear the same script. We also started placing ads on the internet that carried only the toll‑free number, omitting the URL and e‑mail address. To our surprise, the call volume from these online placements matched, and often exceeded, the volume from our physical signs. The only constant was the pre‑recorded voice mail that promised quick, valuable information.
This shift in strategy taught us that a simple phrase can make the difference between a handful of calls and a steady stream of inquiries. The key is to give people the information they want in the format they prefer - on the phone, at their convenience, without the pressure of a hard sell. The pre‑recorded message becomes the first point of contact and the first filter, ensuring that the time we spend on calls is invested with prospects who are genuinely interested.
Why a 24‑hour Voice Mail is the Quietest Sales Agent
By adopting a 24‑hour voice mail system, Brande and I turned a once‑off street promotion into an evergreen marketing channel. The toll‑free number stays active, the pre‑recorded message repeats at a low volume, and we collect data on who is calling and what they are interested in. This continuous loop gives us real‑time feedback without needing a dedicated sales team.
One of the most powerful aspects of the pre‑recorded voice mail is its ability to pre‑qualify prospects. In the five‑minute script we lay out the core requirements for the opportunity: an initial investment, a checking account or charge card, and a minimum of five to ten hours of work per week. By asking these questions upfront, we ensure that only those who are ready to commit are left on the line for a live conversation. The average caller who calls our number is therefore much more likely to be serious about earning income from home. This dramatically cuts the time we spend chasing cold leads and focuses our energy on nurturing potential customers.
Moreover, the voice mail allows us to reach anyone, anywhere, at any time. A home‑based business enthusiast reading a newsletter or scrolling through an online ad can instantly dial the toll‑free number. The message plays automatically, providing them with the same concise information that Brande and I would have delivered personally. If they choose to leave a voicemail or press zero, the system routes them to an operator who is ready to pick up the conversation. The entire process feels seamless and professional, which builds trust quickly.
Because the system is automated, we can scale the promotion without adding overhead. We’re no longer limited by the hours a person can spend outside the office or the cost of printing more signs. We simply adjust the call‑routing rules, update the script if needed, and let the answer service handle the volume. The result is a sustainable, low‑cost marketing engine that delivers measurable results.
For anyone looking to test a home‑based business opportunity, a 24‑hour voice mail setup is a must‑have. It delivers information fast, respects the caller’s time, pre‑qualifies prospects, and keeps the line open for anyone who wants to learn more - day or night. If you want to add a reliable, efficient prospecting tool to your marketing mix, consider implementing a pre‑recorded voice mail today.
Brande and Chris Bradford are active participants in a home‑based business opportunity and the publishers of GREAT HEIGHTS, a monthly newsletter that focuses on home‑based business issues. To subscribe to their newsletter, send a blank e‑mail to Great-Heights-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit: http://www.brandebradford.com.
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