I received a letter recently from a company called Corporate Rain International.  Actually, I didn’t receive it -it was addressed to someone else in our organization, but we will get to that in a minute. This letter so effectively sold me on NEVER using this company that I thought I would share it with you.

First, let’s look at the pitch. Corporate Rain Founder & CEO Timothy Askew wants to request the opportunity to meet with me (sort of) to discuss his recent successful work with Easter Seals, Lighthouse for the Blind, etc. He then goes on to say that Corporate Rain is “the elite international company specializing in initiating the executive rainmaking process. Specifically, Corporate Rain executes high-level new business campaigns that open doors to new corporate business through substantial appointments with senior level executives.”

He then goes on to say that his company is the “#3 sales outsourcing firm in the world and the #1 boutique sales outsourcer by The Black Book of Outsourcing.” Wow, that’s pretty impressive stuff! Then he tells me that CR “creates a pipeline of new leads and prime prospects in your target market. We bring a bespoke and discreet outsourced executive presence to your new business efforts that will save you time and money.”

Finally, he lists a lot of impressive companies like AT&T, AIG, Wells Fargo, Deloitte & Touche, and others who are clients.  Sounds like a can’t miss prospect?  Corporate Rain will (for a fee) get me connected to that “pipeline of new leads.” Well, I’m a little worried about what that pipeline is connected to…

You see, despite the impressive credentials and the A-list clients (who may disappear after reading this), Mr. Askew lost me from the beginning: the letter was addressed to the wrong person. And that person was addressed by the wrong title. (A big deal when you work for the Salvation Army and the officers have ranks.) The letter had to work its way to me -the real decision maker for this type of service.

So, let’s review:

Corporate Rain claims they get you quality leads to get you in front of the decision makers.

Corporate Rain doesn’t know who the appropriate decision maker is in our organization, or that Salvation Army officers are addressed by rank, or that any of this could have been cleared up by spending less than 5 minutes on our website. And they think I’m going to hire them to qualify leads?

I won’t even go in to the whole “bespoke” thing.