Using a Salesperson

[mcballs]

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried hiring a professional salesperson (either someone in the music industry or not) to help drive business to their studio, and if so, if they had much luck with this.

Thanks!

[oldeanalogueguy]

nope
but if i did it would be 100% commission
i am skeptical that they can bring in business that i cant get with advertising

[The Byre]

Just fulfilling a need will not be enough - customers have to know that you are there. You are going to have to make a real sales effort. Nearly all studios are run by people who should not be allowed within 100 miles of a business and have no idea how to get a marketing effort on its legs and how to listen to the customers.

Paul Robson of finance company Media Lease, once told me "Too many studios think all they have to do is fill a room full of kit, put up a pretty website and wait for the customers to come rolling in. Life isn’t like that! If you spend one day a year on the phone, talking to prospective customers, that would be one day very well spent. One day a month would be even better. Better still, get a professional sales person to come in one or two days a month and sell the studio properly. But get them to note down any reasons for not wanting to use your studio and pay close attention to what they say! Just doing something as simple as that could turn your business around!"