Appropriate time to wait?

[tritongirl]

    Have contacted a couple of companies in regard to something in the industry - not a sponsorship/partnership.  If you make a phone call or perhaps send an email expecting an answer in return, what is the appropriate amount of time to wait before you contact a second time?  While I don't want to be worrisome, I do need timely answers when working toward a deadline.  Why is it so hard to sometimes get a simple 'yes' or 'no'?!?!   

[Bountiful Waters]

Dana,

Depends on the type of business you contacted. Unsolicited contacts are low on my return call priority concerning any of my businesses. In the investment business, I return all calls to my clients within 24 hrs and rarely not return them within minutes. I get bombarded with unsolicited calls, emails, and regular mail. If I recognize it coming from a client, that is top priority. Potential clients, within 24-48hrs, and "I want somethig from you" contacts, rarely. I don't have the time in most cases during the week. I review these types of contacts quickly on saturday mornings. If you can show up, you stand a better chance of making an impression. If it is done my phone or email, litle response. I would make the intitial contact early in the morning which is when businesses are least likely to be overloaded. You will also catch people in a better mood on fridays.

[coldfront]

TG, just asking...but when you contact companies, do you typically have a specific name?  If not, that's another area that helps ... if you contact a specific person, I'd give them up to a week...unless it's a 'hot' issue...then follow up calls aren't innapropriate.

Don't think it's much different than 'interview' etiquette actually.  Or, to put it another way, even if the phone call is 'the next day' a polite person shouldn't have any problems or create any issues...

I'd say give them another 'jingle' whenever you want.  No hard/fast rules here...

[tritongirl]

Great advice!  Wish I had studied marketing in college, but it's hard to know when you are younger what you will be interested in when you are older.  Although I have learned ALOT on my own, I am very eager to learn all I can.  Suppose I have a fear of being annoying - fine line between annoying and persistant. 

Going to tell a little of what's going on - perhaps it will help someone else in the future.

Anyway, I had contacted a National company (Company X) via email the first time and asked if I could call Company X on a certain date.  Received a reply from Company X's co-owner(the wife) and made the call as she advised on last Monday.  The kind woman seemed very interested in my 'pitch' and suggested she discuss the issue with the other decision maker whom I believe to be her husband.  The 'pitch' was in regard to an opportunity for them to make their presence known in an area they otherwise might not target with me doing the work involved without a large investment.  Had planned to call female co-owner in the morning to follow-up.  So afraid of blowing it!     Guess I need some reassurance from some folks "in the know"!

[coldfront]

actually, you've gone way past what's business etiquette and gotten to the true level...the personal level...already.

If you still haven't gotten a call back from the guy...just drop him a call...and always ask 'is this a GOOD time' to talk?  If not, ask when you can call back...or if he prefers email...

Low key, polite persistence should never be a problem...good luck!