Rejection
It should be obvious to you by now that you need the Receptionist. You can see that her or his job is a little more important to you than just sitting at the front desk. She or he is more than just someone with whom you can past the time of day. In most companies and businesses she or he is there to help you find the person or persons to which you can be of service.
However, the grass may not be as green as it appears to be. In some companies or businesses the Receptionist is sometime permitted and even directed to give you the brush-off when, in her or his (the Receptionist) opinion, their company or business will not benefit from your product. You have to figure out a way to get past this Receptionist. You have to sell her or him on your services and benefits to her or his company or business. Maybe you have done work for a company or business with a similar product line. Tell her or him about it. It may work.
Another way is to go around her or him with direct mail. I remember one time our salesman was calling cold turkey and the Receptionist very coldly and belligerently told him, "We never use product. We don't currently use product. We never in the future shall use product and if we did, our out-of-state main branch office would buy it for us!"
I can't think of any response from any Receptionist as cold and final as that reply. That company was not going to buy product period. The next day, as part of an on going direct mail campaign, I had some direct mail (just a printed undated form letter with my business card attached) ready to mail. The salesman happened to see the one addressed to that particular company. He related what happened between the Receptionist and himself and suggested that I don't waste the postage on them. Well, to make a long story short, the letter was mailed. The next day I was called by the General Manager. Over a period of several years they bought thousands dollars worth of products and services.
Another way around the brush-off is by using the telephone. I have found that you can usually get a hold of the president of the company or business. Tell him or her who you are and what you do. Ask for an appointment. If he or she is the person to see he or she will usually see you. If not, he or she may direct you to the right person.
I have also noticed that when a competitor lands the account, they give one of the advantages for doing business with them is that all salesmen can easily be given the brush-off by telling them, "All that type of service is handled by your rival."
In this way the company's executives won't be bothered by salespersons trying to sell goods and services that the rival provides. A good sales point or reason to use an intermediary.
If you get this kind of brush-off, try to find out the name, within that company, of the person responsible for dealing with the rival. Try then or at a later date to contact him or her so that you can give your sales presentation to him or her. Find out, is there someone else in that company or business who might be interested in you.
Regardless of the reason for the brush-off, remember, you have a service or product that is of benefit to some person within that company or business. He or she needs you. It is up to you to visit that person. Give him or her a chance to hear your story and see your presentation.
It all gets down to this. If no one knows about you, your work or what you can do for them, you are not going to sell anything. The more people who do know, the better your chances are of being remembered when they have a need for you to fill.