I was driving along near my home yesterday and thought I’d do something I hadn’t done in a while: cold call on a business. So, I pulled into a local dentist office to talk to them about the new MyDentistOklahoma.com site and how only one dentist would be allowed placement on this site for each zip code. They are the dentist office near my home that my kids and I go to, so, I thought I might as well give them first shot at their zip code only about 24 hours after the site was completed.
When I walked up and began to politely explain the purpose of my visit to the woman at the front desk and leave a card for hopes
of a future appointment with the person in charge, the dentist at the office (happened to be in the front area) heard the conversation and jumped in. He was extremely rude and even proceeded to tell me that he “didn’t think it worked that way” in leu of placement on search engines. I’m sorry dude but I’m a search marketing specialist certified through the Google Professionals program. I think I might understand how this works since I do this everyday for businesses ranging from the local roofer to the nation wide retailer. I won’t tell you how to clean teeth if you don’t tell me about how search engines work. Not to mention that the man made this comment after telling me he didn’t have a website. WHAT! It’s 2009 and you don’t have a website for your business? And you’re gonna tell me how the web works?
Of course now I’ll be trying to sell the 73003 first so that he can see what he missed. And, I wouldn’t let him have it now anyway. I own the site, I can make that call. 
O.K. So, enough of my soap box. The big problem was not that what he said offended me. The real problem was his rudeness. You see, many business and business owners treat sales people bad. And, he obviously didn’t realize the extent of my certifications and proficiency of the business I own. Just assumed I was regular sales guy who walked in a door. But, what sets me apart the most is not that own my business, or that it’s successful, but that my family are clients of his. You see, he didn’t recognize me since I was there on a sales call and not waiting for an appointment. He treats my family nice when we are inconvenienced by sitting in his waiting room, but when I inconvenience him for 60 seconds (and he didn’t realize I was a customer), he treats me poorly.
How do you treat sales people? Servers at a restaurant? The guy who changes your oil, or mows your lawn? Would you treat them differently if you saw them at church? Or if they showed up at your business to write you a check? The truth is, that everyone you encounter is a potential life you can minister to or even a potential client or referrer of a new client to your business. Don’t alienate them by treating them like they are beneath you when they call on you as a customer once.
Oh, one more thing. Sales people are often great net-workers and know lots of people. Over 2,500 people that follow my comments on different social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, knew about my experience and who it was with in just about 30 seconds of my walking out his door. Hey! No website guy… It’s 2009, I can tell people about you Fast! Many didn’t care but some did. I had several comments and emails back with new dentists to send my family to. I’m sure others will consider your actions when determining their dentist as well.
