What the 2021 Summer Interns Have Learned – Part 2

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

Written by Audrey Tuttle

Last week, our blog featured an exciting post showing off this year’s summer interns. This week, we wanted to write an equally exciting post continuing the Q&A with these special individuals. Dunlap Marketing is determined to prepare these aspiring businesspeople with everything they will need to know prior to entering the business world.

Without further ado, here is part two!

What is your favorite thing about working at Dunlap Marketing?

“I really enjoy our weekly breakout sessions. I feel like I have learned a lot this summer through that time with Kaitlin. She has taught us many valuable lessons that we can start applying to our lives now, but that will be especially important post-college graduation.” – Amy Djuvik, Texas A&M University, Supply Chain Management

“My favorite thing about working at Dunlap has been collaborating and working with other interns. It is nice to have people my age in a professional setting!” – Scott Ashmore, Texas A&M University, Finance Major

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

“Working with Kaitlin and Mike has been such an amazing experience. They encourage you to ask for help when needed which allowed me to perform my job duties to the best of my ability. They have created a warm and welcoming work environment that generates the desire to come into the office each and every day and truly enjoy the work that I do.” – Molly Rhoden, University of Oklahoma, Business Management Major

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

“The detail that goes into a lot of things can show people that you care and that they are valued, so I think that is something that can really help me in the future if I remember to always pay attention to details.” – Daniel Corteguera, Southwestern University, Business Major and Spanish Minor

“I think learning to be comfortable with cold calls has been very beneficial because no matter what you do you will have to talk to people and being able to make a good first impression quickly will help in all areas of life; business and social.”- Amy Djuvik, Texas A&M University, Supply Chain Management

We have had an incredible summer watching these interns grow within many areas of our company, and we are excited to see the impact that they each will make on the business world.

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!

How to Restart Your Business Now

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

Written by Audrey Tuttle

We are living through a remarkable time that will go down in the history books and be studied through generations to come. The Coronavirus will not only be remembered for its immediate effect on humanity, but also for its destructive impact on our economy and business structures as a whole. It would be a powerful statement to explain to your business partners and to future generations that during this historic event, your business not only survived the wrath of the Coronavirus but it thrived in its aftermath. Don’t wait, restart your business now!

As businesses are reopening and trying to settle themselves into their pre-Corona state, there is no better time to ensure the success of your company. Dunlap Marketing’s Recovery Program will do that and more.

With our extremely affordable Recovery Program options, you will have the opportunity to work with the successful team at Dunlap Marketing who has been working with companies like yours since 1996. We will provide a four-month prospecting and appointment setting program as well as outbound prospecting phone calls with permission-based email follow-ups. We will take care of your recovery needs and put your business back on track towards success.

“Each day you don’t prospect is a day in the future you don’t have anything to sell.”

Mike Dunlap, President

Provided by Dunlap Marketing:

  • 24 years of knowledge and experience in B2B appointment setting and B2B lead generation services
  • Onsite and ongoing management supervision of your campaign – all work is performed in our Houston office
  • Staff members are W2 employees of the company who have an average of 12+ years of appointment setting and lead generation work
  • Assistance in developing an effective call message (script)
  • All campaign programming, setup, and development work

This program is only being offered for a limited time, so take advantage of this great deal while it lasts. Not only are you able to choose which of the three recovery options is the best fit for your needs, you also get the bonus of 25% off normal pricing with each of the programs.

Your business’s success will be an affirmation to your customers and competition on your ability to face adversity. Be the business that goes down in the history books, not as the company that fell apart from this unfortunate virus but the one that pushed past the challenge and flourished in its existence. The future of your business depends on the choices you make today, make the right choice and check out Dunlap Marketing’s Recovery Program. We look forward to working with you.

For questions or inquiries, contact us online. Or, reach out to Mike Dunlap at miked@dunlapmarketing.com, 281.496.9870 x 140 or Kaitlin Dunlap Cuevas at kaitlind@dunlapmarketing.com, 281.496.9870 x 180.

Getting Your Telemarketing Campaign Started

Posted on by Kaitlin Dunlap

ARTICLE #4 IN A 6 ARTICLE SERIES

feet running

When you sign up for a marathon, or any athletic event, there is a lot of planning that goes into training and the day of the event. While the planning is necessary and will help your marathon go smoothly, there is one fact: the only way to cross the finish line is by taking one step at a time. When doing appointment setting and lead generation, the same approach holds true.

This “one step at a time” principle can be used in many different aspects of work. Similar to running a marathon, looking at a prospect list that needs to be called can seem like a difficult task to complete. However, if you make one call at a time you will eventually get through your list and cross the finish line!

Making cold calls is not what someone puts first on their “to do” list. Human nature usually drives people to do everything else on their list before making telemarketing calls. Commonly, they hope that time runs out before they have to make the calls. Or, they hope their boss assigns them other work before they have to get on the phone. This type of behavior is exactly why many call projects either never get started or they are started, but are never completed.

When assigned the task of telemarketing, try to designate specific times of day to make these calls. Treat the assignment like it’s an appointment. Everyone is willing to stop what they are doing to honor an appointment. Schedule specific blocks of time in your calendar each day, over an extended period of time. Each block of time should be approximately two hours long. Additionally, set reasonable and measurable expectations, such as:

  • Number of calls made
  • Number of actionable events identified
  • Number of appointments set

Two-hour segments each day is enough to settle into a rhythm, but not so much time that someone gets burned out. Two hours per day over four or five days per week results in 32-40 calling hours per month. This much time will typically yield very positive results and selling opportunities.

Do not let yourself get stuck on trying to make the telemarketing campaign perfect before going live with your calls, as this is rarely possible. If you seek perfection, there is a good chance the calls will never get started. Accept that there might be shortcomings (ie: possible unexpected questions, questions you don’t have answers to, missing contact names). This is okay, but if you have followed steps 1, 2 & 3 there is a good chance you are prepared to start calling. You can refine and optimize as you go. Keep in mind these calls simply get the sales process started; this should be your primary goal. There will be future steps as you advance through the sales process to address questions that you were unable to answer during your first calls.

When someone asks, “how do you run a marathon?” the answer is “one step at a time”. Now it’s time to pick up your phone and get your appointment setting and lead generation campaign started, “one call at a time”!

Stay tuned for our next article discussing follow up best practices.