What is cold calling and why – still – use it?
Cold calling is a traditional sales technique that attempts to source new business from companies who have not demonstrated any interest with the company in question before.
They are not expecting contact and have not given permission to be approached.
With cold calling, the salesperson does not expect the potential customer to contact and show interest in what the company offers.
It differentiates from warm calling by there being no pre-introduction or directed campaign towards them previously, at all.
Cold Calling is an early stage technique in the sales process. And, despite the connotations of being out-dated, phone prospecting is still an imperative part of many businesses’ sales approach.
And that is because there are not enough warm leads to survive off alone.
It is also a way to generate leads from absolute scratch in the most simplified form and provides an open platform to access a completely new potential clientele and target pool.
Despite some disadvantages, the technique allows to obtain immediate responses from the client, collect strategic data for later approaches and answer questions from the contacts.
Though it may not work every time, there is nothing to say that the next conversation you provoke will not lead to a sale.
And that could escalate within a matter of moments if you are lucky enough to pick up the phone to the optimal target.
āIn any market, 85% of the available new business goes to 5% of salespeople who know the secret of successful cold calling.ā
This is a quote from Sales Trainer, Bob Etheringtonās book ā āCold Calling for Chickensā
He stresses that the ācoldā aspect of ācold callingā is only so for those not doing it correctly.
So the reasons for and the benefits of cold calling are clear for all to see.
But how-to cold call successfully is another thing altogether.
Yes, you can get lucky and coincidentally come across a person with a direct need for what you are offering ā but in most cases, that will not occur.
Some tips for when you start with your cold calling strategy
To make cold calls more efficiently, you need to take into account that the internet has transformed the way people shop, thereby forcing changes in companies’ sales processes.
As we said before, in some ways the technique can be used to obtain positive results. But it will depend on the current context of your company.
You can combine this sales technique with digital marketing actions to reach leads, offering exactly the content they are looking for within your niche market, what they need to learn before buying.
Keep reading:Ā Essentials B2B Lead Generation Tips
Thus, by creating a bait for generating leads, your company can capture the phone and/or email of several potential customers through forms, for example.
When we talk about complex sales, this approach works even better if the call is not focused directly on the sale but on understanding what problems the potential customer is experiencing and how the material helped.
Thus, there is a starting point to move towards commercial proposals.
So, taking into account advantages, disadvantages and changes in consumer behavior, you can use cold calling to prospect and can follow some practical tips to be more successful.
1. Preparation is the key to elevation
Cold calling tips are all good and well but If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail.
It is an obvious thing to say but if you have prepared your cold calling script to absolute perfection then there is a strong chance that youāll succeed in making a positive impact.
Check out some cold calling scripts with this content.Ā
2. Investigation & ResearchĀ
This preparation phase involves a large amount of investigation pre-call into researching who you are going to be speaking to, their industry and business needs.
Therefore you can adapt and promote specific details or services towards them.
It will make your sales calls far more comfortable, knowing something you can refer to, bring in or use as common ground at any point in the call.
Investigate annual reports and other public information to establish detailed product/service information and USPās.
These should be listed so that you can allude to them throughout a cold call script/phrase log.
3. Picture the Target
If possible, try and find an image of who you are phoning.
It will make the call far easier mentally as it personalises the situation, reminding you that they are just another human being.
For this, you can check the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, their own website or another personal database.
4. Heat up a ācold callā
Yes, cold calls involve no previous introduction but you can change that by sending a brochure with a polite message, informing of an incoming call.
Then you have created an automatic follow-up opportunity which can make the introduction to the ācold callā a far more comfortable and āwarmingā experience.
5. Phone Manner
Use your initiative and go in with an approach which oozes confidence with a tone of voice which insinuates a friendliness.
Meanwhile adopting a purposeful attitude and remaining professional at all times.
If you can incorporate those factors then you will strike the perfect balance in pushing through a sale.
Do not burst in and overwhelm your contact. Ask questions, familiarise yourself with them and their requirements. Especially if your research was limited or came to a dead end.
6. Establish Understanding
If you can meet common ground and establish an understanding with the person on the other end, it could be the start of an effective and prosperous relationship.
Be Personal when you can be, but do not cross the line of formality.
7. Improve Your Results With Record and Log
It is very important to keep a record of your calls and log your results and history. Create a simple code to notify which conversations went well and why.
It will help you to develop your cold calling techniques and improve your cold calling script over time.
Donāt allow yourself to continue making the same mistakes again and again ā learn from them.
8. Experiment with cold call timing
If you are having less success calling at a certain point in the day, then switch it up.
Different times will be more appropriate for many and people will be more lenient. Put yourself in the shoes of somebody in their job with their deadlines/meetings and schedule in mind.
Think about when you would have the most time to receive a call.
If so, ask your boss to rearrange your hours accordingly. Especially when pitching for sales in alternative timezones.
Keep reading: How to get to know your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)?
9. Manipulate the Office Manager
The office manager or receptionist is key to your continued access to potential sales and therefore if you can keep them on your side, smooze and create a relationship with them, you are going to have a far stronger chance of progressing in your sales venture.
Other ways to bypass the gatekeeper include leaving a voicemail to ensure that your message reaches its target and another strategic maneuver would be to call at times which allows you to avoid the front-desk.
Maybe when they are yet to arrive at work or are taking their lunch.
This leaves a greater chance that a more senior figure will answer the phone and grant you direct access.
10. Get Behind your Product/Service
You will find cold calling to be so much easier if you genuinely believe in what you are promoting.
If you can create an emotional attachment to the company, brand and product, then it will come across far more genuine in your pitch and in your desire to succeed with the sale.
Hereās the reason why cold calling is not a dead technique
So, although email is still the main channel for generating outbound MQLs, cold calls still generate good results with reasonable effort.
Your prospect’s email box, over time, receives emails from your competitors and other people who end up competing for the same space and their precious attention time.
Do not follow a cast script, follow the missing pieces that your leads are playing along the way in the call.
The only way to be successful with this proposal is being genuinely consultative and directing your communication to the possible lead problem.
