Magnus Marketing Blog

Had an interesting situation happen just the other day. I sent a VAR500 an email introducing my client and their solution in the hopes of working with them. I hadn't called to follow up yet, when I saw an RE: from the person who, according to his LinkedIN profile, was both the VP of Business Development and a long-time sales coach.

In the 3 paragraph email, he spent one line thanking me for reaching out and 3 paragraphs criticizing the wording of my email. Essentially, he stated, he nearly discarded my compelling email because the first line was "too marketing oriented". I spent 5 minutes crafting a response to his email thanking him for his critique and explaining why I wrote the line the way I did and then noted the following:

"I appreciate the time you took to critique my email. Evidently, however, there is no fit with our solution which was the reason I reached out in the first place...."

Nowhere in his response did he outline any reasons why the technology would not be a fit with his client base. He did read the email, because he noted that the overall copy (sans the first line) was compelling. BTW: He did respond to the email.

Is this guy interested in business development for his firm or in getting clients for his coaching business? A more astute person would have spent five minutes and three paragraphs outlining FIRST why the solution did not fit with the client base, then spend a couple lines on an "oh, by the way, I almost didn't respond to your email because the first line really turned me off...and this is what you should write instead".

One thing I hate also are people who share critiques without knowing who they are talking to, the context of the situation, and what is going on. This bozo didn't even provide any insight into HOW the email could have been more compelling.

His observation was feedback taken, I can see how the interpretation would exist and that was appreciated. However, I would have been more interested in why the solution wasn't a fit with their client base. I get a feeling that even if I had asked that, he wouldn't have been able to intelligently answer. I suggest he focus on building his coaching business where his true motivation lie and let his employer find someone more concerned about the company and its growth. Another "Vice President" who isn't.....