| For Cold-Calling Success | | | | game is to make the person on the other line think |
| These days, with 90% of all buying research (B2B | | | | of you as “human.” Unless he or she |
| and consumer) done on the internet, cold-calling is a | | | | does that and does that quickly, you are toast and |
| huge challenge. It is hard to refute the fact that | | | | you’ve lost a lead for good. |
| when people or companies need a product or | | | | 2. Sound Intelligent – this goes for all sales, |
| service, they turn to Google. Though, as a sales | | | | however when it comes to cold-calling, you have to |
| professional, day in and day out, it is your job to find | | | | do this quite quickly. Many cold-callers come across as |
| new business. Technically, if you were in sales and | | | | unknowledgeable (well, I don’t have to say |
| were not a “hunter” you would be | | | | the word) and, thus gain little to no respect from the |
| referred to as more of an “account | | | | party on the receiving end. The second the targeted |
| manager.” That is my opinion and can be | | | | party does not think you are worth speaking to, |
| argued, however that is the way in which I see it. | | | | they quickly run and the lead is lost for good. |
| Terminology aside, there is a difference in the two | | | | 3. Research, Research, Research - know the person |
| roles. Back to the subject at hand: | | | | whom you are calling, know the company, know the |
| Below, you will find some tips and some thoughts | | | | industry and know the competitors. The key to |
| which should help you with your next cold-calling | | | | cold-calling is to not make it a |
| campaign: | | | | “cold-call.” There are many resources |
| 1. Understand that you are a pain – this is the | | | | out there for a sales professional to utilize in order to |
| first key to effective cold-calling. Nobody likes to be | | | | research who exactly his or her target market is and |
| cold-called, especially when they are busy working on | | | | the people within those respective companies. When |
| something else. Therefore, you’re only going | | | | you have this information and use it wisely, a few |
| to get through if you are pleasant. The object of the | | | | benefits come of it. |