Finding Offline Business Owner's Names?

Hey everyone!


I'm just starting offline method, working on sending out a second batch of "personalized" letters to businesses around my area


I've been having some trouble with a few businesses where the owner doesn't have an entry into Manta.com, WHOIS info is blocked(private), and I can't be certain from the secretary of state website (I checked a name in the search, it came up as a Database Programmer and his LinkedIn profile shows him as such aswell as registering for lawyers and doctors).

I was fortunate to pull the owner's name of one business through calling my local business registration office, however it took a bit and I couldn't bother her with 7+.

I tried calling a few businesses themselves, but the employees are hesitant to give out any information and I even called a business where the owner was reluctant to give a name.. ( I pretended to be a happy previous customer and wanted to send the owner a thank you card. She replies "No that's fine I don't need it." "are you the owner?" "..no.." haha wtf right. she's Asian though, they're so timid. and she pretended she couldn't understand me and hung up. )

However, I asked for "business owner / owner of the business". I think that phrase might have scared people.


Any tips to get the business owner's name when online database's aren't pulling up?

Just tell them that you have a big business opportunity for them and they will tell you everything !

I ran across and bookmarked this thread the other day. I haven't tried it yet, but seems like it will work pretty well.

netmoney1 said:

Ok, so I have been receiving a lot of positive feedback form this last method:

So, this is what we have been doing and it works like a charm!

1. Have you assistant call all of the businesses that you have identified as a potential target. Call from a blocked number and have him or her say this:

"Hi, I am calling from (county of the business you are calling - this is for US) county and I just needed to quickly update our records to make sure we have the correct information on file for (business name). We have the main phone number as (phone number you just called), the fax number as (fax number of the business), and the website as (website address of the business). Is this all correct? Great, also who is the owner of the business?"

...that is it! The caller is baiting the person on the end of the line. Is the number correct (YES! no sh#t it was just called lol)...anyway if your caller is very friendly with a nice tone the person on the other end of the line will just go with the flow and spit the name of the owner out 9 out of 10 times! I can't stress the friendly tone enough! It works like a charm!

It is THAT simple!!!!

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kevinmore said:

why you don't google it ?! :ebay:

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Because Google does not keep a database of business owners names? :hmmmm2:

kevinmore said:

why you don't google it ?!

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kevinmore said:

:ebay:

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Uhh... what was the point of you bumping this thread?

i own and run a retail store as well as a ecommerce site with 6000 plus products. my phone support rep is contacted nearly everyday by IMers, it gets rather annoying. she has been instructed to NEVER give out any of my contact information, under any circumstance.

when you run into situations like this i would suggest using any 'contact us' or email posted on the site. i might not answer the phones but i do review all emails or support messages. include some information about yourself, a summary why you are contacting me and what you are offering. don't make it sales pitchy make it somewhat personalized and your chances of getting a response increases dramatically.

hope that helps a little