What the 2021 Summer Interns Have Learned

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

Written by Audrey Tuttle

Dunlap Marketing has a heart for helping the current generation of college students with their desire to get real-world experience – we’re proud to have hosted over 20 interns over the past six years (check out some of our previous interns here, here, and here)! Our summer internship program has created an opportunity for these ambitious individuals to work firsthand with the leadership team and staff at Dunlap Marketing. Each year we have been blown away from the talent and hard work that has been shown by our interns, and this year is no exception. With a group of six students who come from a variety of different colleges, they have been able to grow their knowledge outside of the classroom and work on various projects within our company.

They have gained experience in cold calling, lead generation, telemarketing, marketing through social media, data research, B2B operations, and much more. Additionally, the interns have learned about the ins and outs of being successful in the workforce through the weekly breakout sessions with Mike Dunlap and Kaitlin Dunlap Cuevas.

Of course, these statements can only be backed with a fun Q&A with the interns…

What work have you been doing at Dunlap Marketing?

“I have been working on research projects where we have been gathering information via telephone as well as online research. I recently started a project where we are surveying current customers to see the future of their fleet’s regarding electric vehicles!” – Scott Ashmore, Texas A&M University, Finance Major

“Over the course of my internship at Dunlap Marketing, I have been working on several B2B campaigns. Typically, this includes calling other businesses, obtaining general information, setting appointments and performing surveys.” –  Molly Rhoden, University of Oklahoma, Business Management.

What skills have you developed while working at Dunlap?

“While setting appointments, closing can be a tough task, and I feel as if my ability to read the customer and communicate clearly and efficiently has grown immensely.” – Thomas Nassab, Clemson University, Financial Management

“I would say the biggest skill I have developed is confidence when talking to people. I’m not always the most outgoing person so getting more comfortable talking to other people in a professional environment has definitely improved my communication skills.”- Daniel Corteguera, Southwestern University, Majoring in Business and Minoring in Spanish

We love hearing what our interns have to say about their experience at Dunlap Marketing. Check out next week’s blog for part two of our intern Q&A. You won’t want to miss it!

Introducing Consulting Services for In-House Prospecting

Posted on by Mike Dunlap

Dunlap Marketing has recently rolled out two new services we will consult you and your team on: internal lead generation and internal appointment setting.

We are ready to get your sales team geared up to do what we do best – prospecting. Whether you’re adding a prospecting branch to your current sales team, or just refining the skills of your current team, we’re here to help you be as successful as possible at in-house prospecting.

Okay, So What’s The Deal?

Let’s look at the overall sales process as a four-person relay race. Each person runs one lap, passing the baton to the next runner at the end of their lap. In a business environment, each of the four laps of the race represents a stage of the sales process and look something like this: 

  • Lap 1: Prospecting
  • Lap 2: Salesperson Hustle
  • Lap 3: Product or Service
  • Lap 4: Company Name and Reputation

Laps 2, 3, and 4 might look differently at various companies. However, the one consistent variable is that Prospecting is Lap 1. Without prospecting, there would be no other stages of the sales process. 

Dunlap Marketing is passionate about prospecting – it’s where we have made our living since 1996. We have developed and implemented thousands of campaigns – not to toot our own horn, but we know what we’re doing when it comes to prospecting. We can help you get your own in-house prospecting campaign launched within a few weeks.

Very interesting. You’ve caught my attention.

You might be thinking “what needs to be in place for a successful prospecting campaign?”

  • Overall plan
  • Proper messaging
  • Targeted database records (and CRM tool to manage)
  • Staff willing to execute the campaign
  • Staff training
  • Implementation and a set schedule for calling times
  • Calendaring and pacing
  • Reporting and measurement
  • Ongoing management 

That’s a lot…now what?

We’ve got your back. Dunlap Marketing can guide you through the complete process, or we can isolate specific steps inside the process. Our approach is unique, but simple. Prospecting is necessary for every industry, every business, and every sales team. 

Let’s get the ball rolling and determine if our skills are a good fit for your needs.  

Additional Tools:

Three Things a Global Pandemic Has Taught Me About Business (And Life in General)

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

From the perspective of a 30-year-old

Hi, I’m Kaitlin. If you have worked with Dunlap Marketing in the past, chances are we have met. You can often find me at Dunlap Marketing working on business development, project management, and being a “sponge” (learning as much as I can about our business and how to lead a successful company).

You see, I’m 30-years-old and have a unique gig – for the past six years, I have worked for my dad, Mike Dunlap (you guessed it, as in the Dunlap behind Dunlap Marketing). I feel it would be careless of me to not be as “sponge-y” as possible during this time in my career.

While I was lying in bed last night, I could not stop thinking about how I want to be a “sponge” now more than ever. We each have our own perspective on how COVID-19 has affected our personal jobs, the businesses we work for, and the economy in general. I hope I can learn from what I’ve seen Dunlap Marketing, our customers, our prospects, our country, and our world go through these past few months – and what we will continue going through for the foreseeable future.

At this point, the pandemic has taught me THREE things about business:

  • People are good – For me, it’s easy to get sucked into negative media coverage that portrays people as “not good”. However, I find reassurance when I remember this batch of “not good” people are the minority. The majority of people in our communities are kind, loving, and thoughtful. In business, it is also important to keep in mind the notion that “people are good”. Remember, now more than ever, we all have lives outside of work. If you have a coworker, client, or vendor who is taking out a bad mood on you, try to approach the situation with grace. You do not know what is happening in their personal life. We all handle stress, uncertainty, and personal issues differently. More times than not, people are good – inside and outside the business world.  
  • The importance of a solid foundation – We have all watched companies, big and small, go through layoffs, struggle to keep the lights on, and some even making the tough decision to permanently close their doors. The Coronavirus does not discriminate – all businesses are experiencing impacts from its wrath. One similarity I’ve noticed in businesses who are withstanding the virus is: they have a strong foundation. The foundation I’m referring to are the leaders who have not only structured their organizations in a way that allows them to stay afloat during such miserable economic times, but who are also able to make tough, yet necessary decisions.

“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

  • It is okay to fall back on the basics – The basics are different for each of us. They are what feels comfortable, even during times of discomfort. In my personal life, the basics are: getting a full night’s sleep, prioritizing exercise, and spending time with my family. At work, the basics look a little differently, but provide an equal amount of comfort. Dunlap Marketing’s basics are: keeping our sales funnel full, providing high-quality appointments to our customers, and maintaining a safe, healthy work environment for our employees. These basics, along with a strong foundation, are what have provided Dunlap Marketing the opportunity not only to continue serving our clients, but also to stay in business. What are the basics in your job and at your company?

To close out, I will leave you with an action item. What is something you have learned during the pandemic? Drop your thoughts in the comments – I looking forward to the opportunity to learn from you, as well!

Dunlap Develops the Future of Business Pt2

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

Written by Audrey Tuttle

Last week we started the exciting piece covering our intern’s reflection on their time so far at Dunlap Marketing. Of course, we understand that one part would simply not be enough to cover the fun Q&A with our fantastic group of interns, so here we present the second part…

What is your favorite thing about working at Dunlap?

“My favorite thing about working at Dunlap Marketing is the breakout sessions that we have once a week. Some of my favorite topics have been professionalism and budgeting. These two concepts are so important because they will both be key in ensuring our success in the real world after college, but also can be carried over to my personal life!” Grace Mosby, The University of Texas at Austin, Business Major

“I have absolutely loved gaining work experience from a very intellectual leadership team. They have created a great culture and friendly work environment here at Dunlap Marketing. I really look forward to coming to the office every day and learning more from them.” Audrey Tuttle, Texas Tech University, Marketing

How has your experience been working with the leadership team at Dunlap?

“Kaitlin and Mike are both incredibly encouraging, which has helped me to feel comfortable and has been really motivating! Their care for the work and for the people at Dunlap Marketing is contagious.” Allison Holleb, Washington University in St. Louis, Psychological and Brain Sciences/Political Science

“Mike and Kaitlin have been so great to work with, they are very helpful and accommodating. Any time I have a question, they are quick to help, and are great with keeping me busy and challenged with my work. I am so grateful for the opportunity they gave me.” Grant Haney, Texas A&M University, Finance

Is there anything that you have learned here that will be beneficial in your future within the business world? If so, what is it?

“At Dunlap, I have learned a lot about setting individual and realistic professional goals for both short and long periods of time. I think this will help me a lot in the business world by preparing me to set expectations for myself and others that are attainable and push me to work harder at the same time.” Addi Barrett, Belmont University, Commercial Music/Songwriting

“The biggest thing that I have learned at Dunlap Marketing is the importance of continually seeking out opportunities to learn from those around you, whether it’s from people within your own organization or from people you meet through networking!” Allison Holleb, Washington University in St. Louis, Psychological and Brain Sciences/Political Science

These students learn a lot within the classrooms of their renown universities, but there is only so much you can learn in the classroom setting. It takes hands on experience in the work force to truly grasp the knowledge of the corporate world. The Dunlap Marketing team thoroughly enjoys watching this bright group of students excel at putting their classroom knowledge to the test in real-life work experiences. We are proud to be part of our interns continued growth and anxiously await to see the impact they will have on the business world.