Well my business is new, and I seem to get calls everyday. Unfortunaltley, there has been only one job and the rest of the calls seem to be damned telemarketers. Every SEO, phone book, newspaper, web designer, and home company seems to want to charge me a small fortune to "help get me going". I had no idea all these people would be calling. Anyone else have this? I feel bad for those who get duped, I am glad I researched them thoroughly, only wish I had more positive prospects.

Tons of those calls and emails too here. I try to remember they are just tryin my to make a living and tell them no without getting irritable, but lately there are so many it is a bit ridiculous.

I block their numbers as soon as I hang up.

The emails are just as bad.....

Same here. Once I determine who they are they get blocked.

Same over here, i just ask them where they got my number from, they usually say from the internet, isay was i top of the page, oh yes ,i found you easily, i say ,then i dont need you then do i, bye bye.

I took over 160 calls one month from credit card processing companies once I started accepting cards. It decreased over the next six months, but was extremely annoying. When you get a yellow pages ad you'll take another 50-100 from shyster copy cat "yellow" advertising companies. Some swear we agreed to their terms over the phone since "it's legal to tape the conversation and use a YES as approval for services", no paperwork or signature required. NEVER use the word "yes" when they ask if you are the owner, or anytime during the conversation. Instead, use "I AM", "Speaking", or "Affirmative". It messes them up quick and doesn't give them the yes word to splice into the spot on the tape right after they ask if you agree to their services. Despite that advice, you'll start receiving bills from those shysters saying you approved their ad and the fees. I even listened to the alleged tape and was floored that they spliced our previous conversation together to get what I heard. Ignore them. Ignore the collections calls from those companies. I had one collections jerk that called every week for several months. I finally told him to take me to court, and that got him to stop calling. You owe them nothing and eventually they'll go away. Still, years later, I continue to get 5-10 calls/wk from salesmen (SEO optimizers mainly), and a lot of automated calls. I tell them to put me on their do not call list and hang up. The automated calls usually require you to listen to the entire message then "press 2 to be removed from the call list". Do it.

True that; I've heard that somewhere, not necessarily from another source. If you have a smartphone, use an app called Mr. Number; it'll enable you to block any give phone number.
Kevin's right; the phone solicitors will burn up your phone if you let them.

A simple no thank you will put that fire out.

Rule #1: advertising your business doesn't guarantee customers but will guarantee calls soliciting the purchase of more advertising.

I love the insurance agents

pay to play.....

I really like to talk on the phone so when I switch the conversation around and start asking where they are located, do they have any

pest problems, how about squirrels or raccoons, they stop calling pretty quick. I never had the problem Kevin ( USNret )has but I

will heed his warning. I can always tell when we get a telemarketer. I will hear two things. My wife will say, "Advanced wildlife

control," followed by a bang as she hangs up the phone ( and not very gently either )

my mother in law has been in the habit latley of giving the phone to my three year old.

"This is Bob with advertising.net"

"Yeaaa, Gramma says I can have popsicles and I can play with chaplin and one day I will be bigger like poppa and can go to work at the hospbibible like momma"

That's why I keep a sports horn by the phone. I've had them calling back so whizzed they were sputtering, only to get another shot. LOL

I've notice that every time we make a change to our marketing, the solicitors come out of the woodwork offering to...make a change to our marketing...

If it's a marketer that calls often, we switch the phone over to the fax machine. Sometimes I answer and tell them to hold for a sec. Then just lay the phone down and walk away. Or say, "Hello?.......". Then just as they start talking again, "Hello?...Hello?..." With caller ID, it's easy to prepare a response. Or will just let the machine get it, and if automated, pick up and wait to hit 2.
With four ph#'s going to same phone, we get called alot.

Like the horn idea bob . I was getting 40 to a 100 a day for awhile

Will the "No Call Registry" accept commercial #'s?

yes. When caller id shows an out of area code or toll free # it goes to voice mail, then gets blocked. A nuisance problem but that's the business we are in - solving nuisance problems!

You guys got it all wrong. On these cold winter days, the only calls you may get are sales calls. There is nothing more fun than to

have a great conversation with a recorded message. I've already gotten two dinner dates with computers and one night of dancing with

a tape recorder. Gosh, I hope this winter ends before I end up in the asylum. We haven't seen above freezing temperatures in months.

If I'm bored, and its a woman I usually interrupt them during their schpiel by asking what they are wearing. ....Then they stop and ask, "excuse me?" I tell them to continue. Then I do it again saying they have a sexy phone voice. I keep it going as long as I can until they hang up. I'm pretty easily entertained.