In the last article on cold calling we discussed about the efficacy of cold calling techniques, and when we can use it. In this article, we will discuss about the structure of a cold call. Indeed, given the brevity of time that we get in a cold call, we need to structuralize the communication we have in order to create interest. You can consider using the following structure while making the cold call. These are the crucial steps that must be followed while making a cold call.
1. Begin with telling your name and company’s name, and do it as succinctly as you can.
2. Use this brief moment to gain access to more time, may be 45-50 seconds more. This can only be done, if you address the client’s problem in one single line. You got me right. You will need to do some research before making the cold call. No blind cold calls please!
3. Once you got the time you asked for, get directly to the point and build the case, so that you can get a chance to have a face to face meeting.
4. Give some detail about the problem you seek to address and hide some details. The idea is to build curiosity.
5. Let the client take the lead. Your objective is to get to the meeting table, not to practice the one-upmanship.
6. No one likes pushy sales person, so hang up if the person is not interested.
Tags: Address, Brevity, Cold Call, Cold Calling Techniques, Cold Calls, Communication, Curiosity, Efficacy, Face To Face, Meeting Table, Objective, Sales Person, Single Line, Take The Lead
04 Jan 09 Playing multiple video formats in Windows
One of the most frustrating experiences for anyone using a computer is not being able to find out what to do after downloading a file. How many times have you encountered a situation where you know that you downloaded a video file or you are opening a website where you should be able to watch a clip but ended up staring at a blank screen instead? Some of us may have also experienced trying to watch a DVD on the computer and then receiving a cryptic message that a codec is required to watch it. The reason for this is most undeniably the format of the movie you are trying to watch. So how do we watch videos without the headache and heartache?
What we need is a codec. Codec is an amalgamation of two words: coder and decoder. A codec is used to either encode or decode a particular file. Video file formats are encoded in different formats to address various needs and a codec is used in creating those files and later on, decoding them. Some video formats allow for a more secure file. They are usually used for videos that are being sold commercially on the internet so that only those with the required license will be able to watch the video. Other video formats are used for compressing the videos so that the size of the video will be small enough for easy transmission over the internet. Finally, some video formats are used to stream the video to your browser as opposed to downloading them to your computer in one file.
One of the most popular video formats on the internet is the Flash format. The flash format is usually used by websites that stream the videos to your browser. Some examples of these sites are YouTube, DailyMotion, and Multiply. To play these videos, we need to install Adobe Flash onto the computer. Adobe Flash Player is available for free from www.adobe.com.
How about videos that we’ve snapped up using our cellphones or perhaps our digital cameras? These videos are usually encoded in 3gp or mp4(H.264) formats. While some videos that can be downloaded from the internet are in xvid(avi), mkv(matroska) or divx(avi) formats. Other websites would encode their videos in rmv(real video) or qt(quicktime) formats as well. So how do we open this confusing mix of codecs and how should we know which one to use to open them? Does it mean that we need to download a separate player for each of these videos? Well, you could do that, or an easier alternative would be to download a player that can play all the formats mentioned.
Codec packs are usually included with some of the free multiformat video players on the internet. Codec packs are bundles of codecs that are installed on your computer so that you can play any movie format concievable. Two of the most popular players that have these codec packs are VLC Player and Media Player Classic. VLC Player can be downloaded from http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ while Media Player Classic can be downloaded as part of the K-Lite Codec pack at: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_lite_codec_pack.htm .
Once you have installed these programs, you’d be hard-pressed to find a video you are unable to play. So sit back and relax; enjoy the movie.
Tags: 3gp, Address, Adobe Flash Player, Amalgamation, Blank Screen, browser, Cellphones, Codec, Cryptic Message, Digital Cameras, Experiences, Flash Format, H 264, Headache, Internet Video, Mp4, Video File Formats, Video Formats
