Are you a broker or trucker looking to find more shippers? It can be tough to find new customers for your freight broker business. Without a steady stream of new customers, your business is in danger of stagnating.
A high-quality shippers list is the perfect tool for finding more customers for your freight broker business. With this, you’ll have all the contact info you need to start building relationships with potential new customers.
Small to medium-sized freight brokerages can benefit greatly from using a shippers list. A shippers list is a database of pre-approved shippers that you can use to find and book shipments quickly and easily. This will save you time and money, while also helping you maintain a high level of customer service.
The simplicity of how it was put out in these words seems surreal given that it promises saving time – a very precious asset – and money – today’s most elusive commodity. These claims may be difficult to prove and that’s what we are going to find out.
What is a Shippers list?
A shippers list is a list containing reliable information about shippers that a freight brokerage can use to find and book shipments. This list can be helpful in streamlining a company or business’s processes in expanding and marketing to shippers to gain business. Having a shippers list can also help improve customer service by making it easier to find shipments.
These are easy to agree upon. Now, how easy is it to come up with such a list?
Creating a reliable shippers list can be a daunting task, and here are several ways that brokers recommend to make it easier. One way is to compile information from other freight brokers or transportation companies. This information can be helpful in finding reliable shippers. Another way to create a shippers list is to research shippers online. This can include looking at company websites, checking trade journals or using online shipping directories.
Creating a shippers list can be a time-consuming process, but it is important to make sure that the list is reliable and up-to-date. By taking the time to compile a shippers list you can be confident about, you are on your way to improving your bottom line and providing better customer service.
Let’s admit it! This suddenly got REAL very quickly! This list is tedious and taxing to create. Good News! There are shippers list (eg. LoadPilot’s Giant Directory of 30,000 Shippers & Other Leads) that you can purchase to avoid the hassle and make the most out of the investment.
Five BIG Benefits of Using a Shippers List Include:
1. Improved efficiency in finding and booking shipments
When it comes to shipping freight, time is of the essence. A Shippers list can help you to quickly and easily find and book shipments, while also providing you with valuable information about available shipping options. This will give you greater control over the shipping process overall, and help you to provide enhanced customer service levels.
2. Reduced costs associated with finding and booking shipments
The cost of doing business is always a concern, and using a Shippers list can help to reduce the costs associated with finding and booking shipments. By having access to a list of pre-approved shippers, you do not need to do the research yourself and compile the list. You are saving so much on time which in itself, is a very expensive factor.
3. Enhanced customer service levels
Having a Shippers list can help brokers maintain a high level of professionalism and customer satisfaction. The shippers on a shippers list are also more likely to be reliable and provide a higher level of service as the creators of these shippers lists vouch for their company’s credibility to include them in their list. This is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction. In addition, using a Shippers list can help freight brokers build relationships with their clients by providing information to prepare brokers for their conversation. By developing a relationship of trust, brokers can foster loyalty and repeat business.
4. Increased visibility into available shipping options
When you have a Shippers list, you have increased visibility into available shipping options. This means that you can quickly and easily find shipments that fit your needs, without spending time contacting individual shippers. Additionally, by having a pre-approved list of shippers, you can improve your customer service by providing quick and easy quotes.
5. Greater control over the shipping process overall
Since you are working on a list of shippers with their information in your hand, you can practically map out your business strategy in contacting and making business with them. You have the freedom to decide who to contact when to contact and what talking points to highlight to make the conversation fruitful for you and your clients. You have flexibility over your schedule, confidence with a well-planned pitch, and efficiency in documenting and assessing your work.
Factors to consider when choosing a Shippers list to purchase
When purchasing a Shippers list, there are a number of factors to consider in order to make the most of the investment. The most important factors include:
1. Size of the Shippers list
It is important to ensure that the Shippers list is large enough to meet your needs. A list of 30,000 shippers may sound like a lot, but if you are shipping freight on a regular basis, you may find that you quickly exhaust the list. Make sure to consider the size of the list when making your purchase.
2. Type of Information Included in the List
The type of information included in the Shippers list is also important to consider. The best lists will include contact information for each shipper, as well as details about their shipping requirements. This information will help you to quickly and easily determine whether or not a particular shipper is a good match for your needs.
3. Frequency of Updates
When considering a Shippers list, it is also important to consider the frequency of updates. The best lists will be updated on a regular basis, in order to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date. This is especially important if you are shipping freight on a regular basis, as new shippers are constantly entering the market.
4. Cost of the Shippers list
The cost of the Shippers list is also an important consideration. The best lists will be priced reasonably, so that you can make the most of your investment. There are a number of ways to find affordable lists, so make sure to shop around before making your purchase.
5. User-Friendliness of the List
The user-friendliness of the list is also an important consideration. The best lists will be easy to use, so that you can quickly and easily find the information you need. Additionally, the list should be easy to print, so that you can use it as a reference when talking to potential shippers.
When considering a Shippers list, keep these factors in mind in order to make the most of your investment. With the right list, you can save time and money when shipping freight.
Optimizing your Shippers list
When using a Shippers list, keep in mind that your goal is to make the most out of every penny on this investment. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your list:
1. Plan your Contacts
Shippers lists, most often than not, come with more than just contact information. It is packed with details about the shippers’ business for you to be able to get to know who you are potentially speaking to and set-up an engaging conversation. Filter your shippers by industry, frequency of loads, location, etc. (depending on your expertise in communication). Make sure you speak to the ones you can relate to the most so that the conversation would be lighter. You’ll soon realize that they become your practice for your marketing skills. They would sharpen you and prepare you for your conversations with the bigger players in the industry.
2. Update your database
Sure, the list is an updated one when you purchased it. But three months down the road could already bring about several changes to these businesses. If you stumble upon phone numbers telling you they aren’t connected to the company you’re calling, be confident enough to ask if they would know how to contact the company. Most of the time, the company is still there and may just be waiting for your call. Don’t burn those bridges that easily.
3. Make regular contact with shippers
You’ve already established that relationship, might as well keep it. It’s mutually beneficial anyway. It is important to contact shippers on the list regularly in order to maintain relationships of trust. You are expected to send them updates here and there about their loads, but what brings communication an extra mile ahead? It’s that fancy email on the holidays, an invite to your company events (if they can participate), or just a simple update of your company’s growth. It’s establishing presence and subconsciously imprinting yourself in their minds.
So What is the Conclusion on Shippers Lists?
A shippers list is a very powerful tool to jumpstart your freight broker business. It opens you to numerous opportunities to build ties with shippers, and your future business partners. To avoid the legwork in creating one, you can tap on businesses who prepare these. Using the factors to consider to choose the right one for your company and ensuring that you practice your conversations with these shippers, you’re assured that every penny spent on your shippers list, is a worthwhile investment.