As someone who spends his entire working life in the sales and marketing realm, I feel compelled to speak out about the controversy related to the national do-not-call registry (DNCR).

First, some basics:

• The bottom-line purpose of the DNCR is to allow homeowners to stop a large percentage of in-bound telemarketing calls in one fell swoop, instead of having to say, "Stop calling me" one by one as calls are received.  
• Adding your phone numbers to the national registry is free. Visit http://www.donotcall.gov to add as many phone numbers as you like.  
• The DNCR does not limit calls by political organizations, charities or telephone surveyors.
• Anyone with whom you currently do business is also allowed to keep calling you, regardless of whether you add your number to the list.  
• Business-to-business telemarketing calls are still allowed – the DNCR is for only residential lines.  
• Many states already have their own do-not-call lists. (In cases where a state has a DNCR, telemarketers will be required to follow both national and state rules.)  
• The DNCR was originally set to go live on October 1, 2003 – this Wednesday – but federal judges have ruled that the entire effort may be unconstitutional, so the go-live date looks like it will be postponed.

Those are the basics, now I'll get on my soap box – feel free to exercise your right to "free listening" and hit the <Back> button now.

1. There are many telemarketers (and the organizations who represent them) who are aggressively fighting the DNCR effort, because, for some reason that totally escapes me, they want to continue calling people who DO NOT WANT to take their calls.  
   Personally, if I'm running a sales team, I am THRILLED with the DNCR, because my tax dollars are being used to eliminate a large percentage of my team's wasted dials.
    
   In my opinion, it is short-sighted and quite idiotic to oppose this effort, because it will INCREASE the offer-to-appointment/sale ratio.  
2. Many who oppose the DNCR effort are claiming that it hinders their right to free speech – they believe they have the right to use the resources for which I pay (my phone service) to give me their unsolicited opinions – "My insurance is better than what you have now."
    
   First, if you have a constitutional right to free speech – in this country you get to speak your mind – don't I also have a right to free listening – I get to choose the subjects to which I'll listen?
    
   Hey, anyone up for an effort to amend the constitution?
    
   Second, if you want to trump my right to free listening with your right to free speech, I'll make you this deal. As soon as you start paying my phone bill, I'll start listening to your free speech. Any takers?  
3. Eventually, the DNCR will pass in some form, because even if we don't have a constitutional right to free listening, most of us value our right to choose. The only problem I have with the list is its exclusions. Why are political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors exempt from bothering me?
    
   How about a checkbox on the DNCR for each of the groups? There could be a yes/no choice for business, government and charity solicitations, and an additional checkbox for survey participation. Then each of us could choose the types of calls we want to receive.
    
   Wouldn't this be better for everyone involved?

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now, but I'd like to finish with this tip. If you use telemarketing to reach residential prospects, I highly recommend you leverage the DNCR by never calling anyone on that list, because you'll eliminate a major time waster – calling people who DO NOT WANT you to call.

Good luck solving your sales puzzles!

Gill