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What approach should I take when cold calling?

Written by: Trent Leyshan

Article Overview: I encourage people to cold-call by coming from a place of 'contribution' first; I call this approach 'buying-in'. In highly resistant sales executions, like cold-calling, you have to buy-in before you can successfully sell-in because the mass of cold-callers that have gone before you, have trained your customers to ignore you.

What approach should I take when cold calling?

Your reason for contact, either cold-call or warm referral, must be of substance and not just another random-act-of-selling.

I also encourage people to take the time (prior to making initial contact) to understand who your calling and how you can contribute to them most, and make that the sole reason for your call.

I encourage people to cold-call by coming from a place of 'contribution' first; I call this approach 'buying-in'. In highly resistant sales executions, like cold-calling, you have to buy-in before you can successfully sell-in because the mass of cold-callers that have gone before you, have trained your customers to ignore you.

Like anything in life, you get out what you put in. So make every call an opportunity to learn about your customers (so even if you get a "not interested" response you are still taking away value you can apply next time.) And be sure to use each call to positively promote not just your company but yourself.

If someone looked me in the eyes and said with conviction, "I love cold-calling and I'm going to be the world's best cold-caller!" and they were prepared to stick long enough to realise their vision, I have no doubt they would succeed in the end. Conversely, most people cold-call because they have no choice and don't enjoy the process, making their efforts condemned before the first call is even made.

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Article Tags: cold call, cold caller, cold callers, cold calling, conviction, executions, interested response, no doubt, random act, referral, sole reason



Related Forum Posts
Re: Who hates cold calling? - I think it really depends on what you are selling. For example, we sell chiropractic software that they can enter and store their notes on. Since the law is requiring them to go electronic by 2014, we have a pretty good chance of calling someone who needs it. I agree that for other products and services cold calling would probably be a waste of time. I think the key to cold calling is knowing how to get past the gate keeper. If you just keep calling people and have no clue how to get to the decision maker, cold calling is a BIG waste of time. There are some really good books out there that will teach a person how to do that if he/she decides cold calling would be helpful to their business.
I hate Cold Calling! - In my past I was really scared to cold calling until I realized that cold calling in my line of work was the only way for me to generate accounts. I assiociated large amounts of pain in my life with not cold calling such as loss of house, car, wife.... The fear of losing all of that helped me over come the fear. Good luck with your problem It might help to think its all in your head and the only thing in the world that you have control over is your own mental thinking.
Re: Who hates cold calling? - Why anyone would use cold calling is beyond me. It's simply an ineffective tactic and a waste of time when you measure conversion rate. If you really understanding your customer segments and how your products and services provide value, there are many more effective strategies than cold calling.
Re: Who hates cold calling? - Hi Gerry, This is excellent advice for anyone who needs to cold call. I think that one of the main reasons people fail with cold calling is that they fear it and that comes through when they approach people even over the phone. By knowing something about the people beforehand a lot of that fear will be alleviated. MichelleJ
Re: Who hates cold calling? - Here's how I have had success with cold calling: Adopt the right attitude.If you fear/hate cold calling, chances are you are feeling like an intruder. The person on the other end of the line isn't making us feel that way. We are. Why do we feel like an intruder? Could be a couple of reasons. One: we don't really believe in the value our product offers. Two: we aren't calling a somewhat qualified prospect. The person you are calling has problems. He/she WANTS solutions. EXAMPLE: I cold called someone yesterday. An ad agency. The web site offered a direct line to the agency principal. This was the conversation: "Hi, I'm a direct response copywriter who works with agencies who are swamped with writing projects. Do you ever hire outside writers?" [i:4b9wkh89]KEY: In one sentence he knows what I want. Before I called, I know that most agencies hire outside writers. It's a question of whether or not they need one now. [/i:4b9wkh89] His response? Yes. Now , here's where I need to resist the temptation to [u:4b9wkh89]tell[/u:4b9wkh89] him how great I am. I simply said, "I'd like to email you some evidence that shows how I can add value for your clients. Where can I email it to?" He gave me his email address and that was the end of the cold call. He didn't say , hmmmm, that would be nice...he simply, literally told me his email addresss. That's a sign he has a need. I sent him off some recent results I produced for a client. Yesterday he sent me an email asking to learn more about me. Who knows where it will go but it started with a cold call. So, why did this approach allow me to be heard and generate interest? I knew something about my potential prospect's needs. I let him know quickly what I was after. I didn't try to bend his ear with a 'Stop me when you hear something you like' story. Try this and see how if works for you. It's important to believe what you are offering can change the life of the person you're calling. Once you believe that, it's easy to understand that every time you make a call , you have a chance to make a difference for someone.


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