Key facts
- Go around the front desk instead of through it.
- Find the owner by name, then use their direct email, mobile or direct dial where you can find one.
- When you do call the main line, ask for the owner by first name, be friendly and brief, and treat the person who answers as a helper.
- Use the owner by first name and give a short, real reason.
Why does the front desk stop me?
Their job is to protect the owner from interruptions. A call with no name and a vague reason sounds like an interruption, so they stop it.
What should I say when I call?
Use the owner by first name and give a short, real reason. Ask the person who answers for help. Many owners trust their front desk, and a kind word gets passed along.
Is email better than calling?
Often, yes, for a first touch. A short email goes to the owner's own inbox. Follow with a call to a direct line once they know your name.
How to reach the owner
- Find the owner by name
Search for owners at the businesses you want, by industry and area.
- Get a direct line
Reveal the owner's email, mobile or direct dial where one is available.
- Email first
Send a short note with one clear question.
- Call the direct line
Mention your email and keep the call under a minute.
- Be kind at the front desk
If you call the main line, ask for help and use the owner's first name.
When does Buzzlist fit, and when does it not?
It fits when
- You want owners of US businesses by name, with email and phone where available.
- You call or email local businesses and want to skip the main line.
It does not fit when
- You want a script for tricking a receptionist. Honesty works better and keeps your name clean.
Questions people ask next
Is it rude to call an owner's mobile?
Not if you are brief, polite and have a real reason. Call during business hours and stop if they ask you to.
What if the front desk asks what it is about?
Tell the truth in one sentence. Then ask when the owner is usually free.
Does Buzzlist have direct phone numbers?
Where the Buzzlist database has them, yes. A contact is used only when Buzzlist reveals a usable email, mobile or direct dial.