mr.mcsalesy

Enterprise Account Executive

Getting prospects home addresses during pandemic...

I recently worked with our marketing team to send customized experience packages to random execs. After scouring the internet, I surprisingly found a bunch of home addresses for my target contacts.

The message wasn't salesy, more of a "hey hope things are going well and if you want to chat about XYZ, text me".

What do ya'll think about this approach?

EDIT: I did call out in the personal note in the package that being stuck at home sucks and hopefully this would help make things a little better.

EDIT2: The people I generally reach out to aren't in security, legal, etc. From what i've seen, they are typically more open to creative outreach.

🔎 Prospecting

☁️ Software Tech

🦠 COVID-19

38 comments

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CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Initial reaction: that's creepy.

I need to marinate in this one for a bit.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Creepy as fuck. Would you want your prospects having your home address?

mr.mcsalesy

Valued Contributor

-2

Enterprise Account Executive

Normally you could send it to their HQ right? But with COVID, no one was in office...sooooooo, if it's found free online, I don't see a huge issue.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

You can find all sorts of shit about people online including their kid's school name, their personal social media accounts, mugshots, and more. Still doesn't mean it's appropriate to use that information in business communication.

You're going to look like a creepy stalker unless the prospect okays it being sent to their home address ahead of time.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Good way to get a restraining order and your company permanently blacklisted. I would personally return your gift and berate you if you sent something to my house if you didn't know me.

mr.mcsalesy

Valued Contributor

Enterprise Account Executive

Love it - so far no restraining order or blacklist (that I know of).

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Some poor SDR from your company is probably being auctioned off in some dark part of Eastern Europe right now.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

It's true. @paddy is there finding some fresh meat right now, I booked his flight.

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

Sorry what did I miss? I was cleaning off blood on my trousers.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

There's an SDR from Mr's organization up for grabs at the auction, get him for me pls. Also, I'd like some macarons. Thank u

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Okay you know what after thinking about this more, shooters gotta shoot. However, I think its a major gamble that could backfire in the worst possible ways. Personally, I would start with a letter first, warm them up and ask if they're okay with a tailored package.

CISOs want to burn the world down when they get a cold call that slips through their armor, so imagine you send a gift to someone who really, really, really values their privacy. Game over for you.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Quick thought. If they are an exec, wouldn't their mail be forwarded? I would be ok if I received something at home if I noticed the forwarding label on the package. Straight to my home? Don't like it.

TheLaughingWolf

WR Officer

Business Development Manager

Can we turn this into a Game Show. Get 15 SDR's to send CISOs home care packages and if they get an irate phone call or restraining order they get booted off.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

I’m super down for this.

mr.mcsalesy

Valued Contributor

Enterprise Account Executive

I did have one lady (VP of Fortune 100) respond via linkedin and thanking me for the wonderful charcuterie board that we sent her...

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Why not send it to their work address? That lady is surely an outlier.

mr.mcsalesy

Valued Contributor

Enterprise Account Executive

They were working from home...and no one would get the package at the office

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

I don't know, maybe start with a letter and wait till it's a warmer lead. People hate getting cold called and emailed, cold mailing shit to their home? That's crossing the line in my opinion.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

^This man gets it. It's time to ask yourself, what would Gong do?

chubbspeterson

Politicker

Business Development

A lot of places have people stopping into offices routinely to specifically check for mail and packages. If it's not theirs, they'll let their teammates know that they have a charcuterie board or whatever else you're sending people waiting for them at the office.

mr.mcsalesy

Valued Contributor

Enterprise Account Executive

This is great to know

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

@chubbspeterson Where the hell have you been.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Probably depends on what you're sending (obviously some people might look past it if you send something they really enjoy) and if you've actually engaged with the prospect positively in the past (most folks would freak out to get a package from someone they have never spoke to)

UserNotFound

Politicker

Account Executive

If I had willingly filled out a form and provided my home address- absolutely. Use it in whatever “creative outreach” endeavor you want. Otherwise, you’re headed toward a social media shit storm.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

There is only 1 situation where this is ok - if you have already spoken to them and have consent to send to their house. Anything else and you're throwing up red flags all over the place.

friendlyginge

Politicker

Account Executive

Could you use a service like Sendoso? This will notify the prospect via email that your company is trying to send a gift and have them confirm their addresses. It links to Amazon so you can send anything

sellingsellssold

Politicker

SDR

I would stick to zoom, phone calls, and emails. I would tell them that you are not comfortable giving out your address or you could make up a fake one and say that you are in a different state.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

OK, so last year I worked for a company with a good marketing budget. The kind of company that always has the swag, sends the swag, gives reps a lot of latitude with expenses as long as it's directly tied to a contact + revenue...and the kind of company that had to change abruptly due to the pandemic.

Since everyone was home during Covid and we wanted to send physical items to our prospects and customers, our company worked with Alyce. We'd send the email invite and the gift Alyce had researched and selected (or overrode it and sent something we personally felt was appropriate and likely to gain acceptance) and - here's the key - it was up to the contact to accept the gift and give their shipping (home) address to the Alyce platform. I never saw it. Much, much better than being viewed as a stalker! We did collect addresses for some bigger networking events, such as cocktail building or pumpkin carving led by our marketing team, but I got rid of those immediately and only received them by direct request after securing the invitation acceptance. Was it effective? Yes, it did lead to some opportunities.

Your proposed approach just sounds like it's going to backfire.

Sunbunny31

Arsonist

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

All that said, I would love to hear an update and find out if you got any opportunities...or restraining orders.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

This is so uncool.

supercloser

Opinionated

Director of Business Development

This is pretty creepy and off-putting. I'd suggest looking at other methods in engaging your c level prospects.