初识Jason,是在去年的5月,谷歌开发得来。
和往日一样,处理完手头的出货文件,打开邮箱,回复客户,跟进客户, 处理一下社交平台信息,开始周而复始的谷歌开发工作。
翻了几页,看到一家澳洲的公司,做的很杂,有沙发,有床垫,有抱枕,有实木家具,有卧室摆设等等。 查看了他们的History简介,得知该公司是澳洲一家大型的卧室家具进口商。查了一下产业链,嗯,是一家独立的公司,业务还算集中。
结合LinkedIn和其他社交平台,找到该公司的CEO Daniel, 以及产品经理 Jason. 搜到Jason邮箱,Daniel邮箱,添加Linkedin好友。
一天后,顺利通过。
Mike选择了与产品经理Jason展开话题,而不是CEO Daniel, 原因很简单, 公司业务很广,老板会很忙,或者忙着享受人生,业务阶层要对等。
hello, Jason.
Got your company information from Google, knowing that your company is a big importer of bedroom furniture.
We are China factory of ***, 3-year vendor of **** projects in Perth, Australia.
We saw *** is also in your business list, checking if our items can be a big breakthrough in your profit margin.
You can see more info at ****.com
Mike
(Email and Inmail)
Jason收到信息后,选择Email沟通,个人感觉因为Inmail下拉太麻烦,不如邮件直观方便。
Hello Mike,
Thanks for your email.
We are now working with ***, we are good.
We don't have interest in new suppliers.
regards,
Jason
看到这里,Mike觉得Jason是个懂礼貌的人,因为即使不感兴趣,也回复了一下Mike的邮件。
于是Mike觉得再次尝试沟通。
Yes, Jason
Could understand.
It's time-cost to seek and negotiate with new suppliers.
But still, sometimes, fresh things can be a surprise.
Here we enclosed our items for your reference.
You can compare them with your current items and figure its value out.
Thanks.
Mike
Jason还是礼貌的回复了,
Hello Mike,
Thanks for the info.
Will check.
Jason
接下来就是三个月的沉默,期间Mike跟进了很多次,基本上每个月都跟进几次,扯不同的话题,试图引起对方注意,说白了就是刷存在感。
(邮件太多,特此省略)
看看对方的LinkedIn, 这货基本不刷新任何post。 好吧,漫长的等待。
期间还是不断撩起,尽管是一个人的舞台。有发产品图,有发工厂图,有发价格变更,有发新品信息推送。
终于,在第八个月,客户回复了,
Hello Mike,
Thanks for all the emails.
I've read them all.
The reason I didn't reply is that we are not importing for several months due to stock.
Now we need **** for hotel projects, the estimated quantity of *** will be 1025pcs.
You can refer to enclosed file for details.
We are satisfied with the files and photos, but still, sample is required by our boss.
Pls advice.
Jason
Mike很欣慰,嗯,你这货还记得我的存在。
注意,不要做回答问题的机器人,要多思考,学会问,善于引导。
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the reply.
Your provided information is quite helpful.
Offer has been enclosed, too.
Sample is no problem.
But you know normal size sample will cost much by Express way.
If by Sea, it is time-cost, which is bad for projects' business on time.
So we advise to make one small size sample and deliver it by Express.
Kindly let us know
Mike
Jason很快回复,
Hello Mike,
You are right.
Time is important for this business.
Do what you say.
Jason
之后就是跟Jason索取 Address 和 post code了。
有人觉得,在他网站找不行么?
千万要注意,有时候,一些国外的网站上的address也是乱写的,在这点必须要直接和客户索取,做到万无一失。
有人说,你为啥不要freight charge, 大哥,这么大的客户,你废话的时候,可能别人已经寄过去了。
经常有人 纠结样品费和运费问题,无论是哪个客户,你想要顺利拿下,或者顺利谈判,必须要事先做一些调查分析,看看客户的底子(规模,业务范围,从属关系等等)
如果客户就一个小门脸,杂货铺,那么自然不值得你大费周章垫付寄样。
寄送样品的同时,Mike同时寄送了公司的产品册,Mike的3张名片以及一个U盘(生产视频和产品高清图)。
六天后,DHL包裹顺利到达Perth海关,提醒Jason注意收件。
一天后,软件更新状态,已经签收,名字不是Jason, 估计是公司前台或者其他人。
三天后,再次联系Jason。
Hi Jason,
Good day.
You must have checked the samples.
And I know you may discuss with your customers, too.
So we will wait for your updates on that.
Thanks in advance.
Mike
Jason并未回复,一星期后,Mike再次联系
Hi Jason,
It's me again.
I'm writing to follow up the sample issues.
How is your talks with your clients?
Anything I could help?
Mike
Jason还是没有回复,Mike有点着急了,打电话,客户前台接的,说Jason去度假了,老板也不在,打了三次都是如此,于是Mike想了想,嗯,可能是托词 (因为当时澳洲那几天没有什么节日),Mike分析可能是在等其他供应商的Samples到位,综合比较,再统一回复。
很快,一个礼拜又过去了,客户还是无消息,Mike再次跟进
Hi Jason,
Got to know from your colleague that you are on vacation.
Sorry if my emails have brought any troubles to your holiday.
But you know the samples had been sent for days.
Have you got any feedback news from your clients?
Mike
Jason总算出现了
Hello Mike,
It's ok.
My vacation had been over since last week.
We are planning a visit to you.
No worries.
Jason
Mike一看,这是有戏啊,赶紧回复:
Hi Jason,
Great.
Our address is *****(中英版本)
You can fly to Beijing International Airport.
We'll drive there to pick you up.
Pls do inform us your schedule before coming.
Thx,
Mike
几天后,Jason回复了具体时间安排,然后如约而至。
看厂过程中,Jason提到了很多专业问题,不过对于一直摸索产品的我们,不是问题。
在此过程,还给Jason和他的同事实地展示了生产和真空包装的全部过程。
之后就是具体的谈判了,付款方式神马的之前并未提及,因为还没走到合作兴趣那一步。
但是总体谈判很顺畅,澳洲客户还是蛮好的。
当然,少不了一番讨价还价,但是比起阿三,这不值得一提,而且,在后期与原材料供应商的谈判中,量大了,这些都不是问题,成本是可以转嫁的,但是记着,羊毛出在羊身上,千万别为了接单狂拉低价。
然后就是一起去吃个饭,送回酒店。
面对客户的夸赞(英语+产品专业度),我甚至欣慰,客户跟我讲,与你合作不代表你的价格是最好的,但是全程沟通,与你是最顺畅的,有些人根本说不清(没提是英语问题还是产品不懂的问题)。
有人说,不会英语一样做外贸,我想说,英语好是加分项,强项,硬实力。
如果你不懂产品还不学,还要学人谈判,那就是找死了,如果客户问一次你哑巴一次,那印象绝对是大打折扣的,尤其是见面和即时通讯的沟通条件下。
有人可能跟进半个月或者一个月就果断放弃了自己辛苦找到的客户,觉得不回复的客户,跟下去也是浪费时间。
其实,找新客户只是扩大销售漏斗基数,维护老客户和跟进在谈客户才是最重要的。因为没人能够在一两封邮件的情况下就轻松拿下订单。也不能说是奇迹,这也肯定建立在你产品达标,个人业务素质达标的基础上。 其实这些邮件也只是其中的一些,跟进邮件其实海了去了。
不抛弃不放弃,我愿意做客户孤独的守望者。