Cold calling can be intimidating to do, but it can be an effective way to reach new clients and increase business.
Cold calling is the process of contacting prospective customers who do not expect to be hearing from you.
You can use this call to explain what your business offers and how it can help the person or business on the other end of the line.
You are looking for a win-win. They win because they get what they need. You win because you make your sale.
1. Do Your Homework
- When calling businesses or people you think might be interested in your services, take the time to find out some information about them before calling.
- Try a simple Google search or looking on Linkedin.
- If the company you’re getting in touch with has a website, looking through their “about us” section will give you a lot of helpful information.
- This research will really help you target your pitch to the individual you’re reaching, making your call much more effective.
- This process will take time, but in the end you’ll have more success making a smaller number of well-planned calls than many identical calls to people you know nothing about.
2. Relate to Their Needs
- The best way to get people to listen to you receptively is to start out by relating to their needs.
- Instead of beginning your call with a long description of your company and its services, start with a question.
- If you run a recruiting business, for example, you could ask a company if they need help finding good, reliable employees.
- If you run advertisements, you could ask a company if they would like to increase their sales.
- Then you can introduce how your business can help to meet their needs.
- Throughout the conversation, keep the focus on their needs and on helping them.
- This will be easier if you’ve done your research on the company and what their goals are.
3. Don’t Give Up
- Cold calling can be tough.
- You’re likely to contact many people who are not interested in listening to you.
- Stay patient, and keep trying.
- It may take dozens of calls to find one new client, but at the end of the day you’ll still be generating new business.
- And remember to always stay polite and friendly.
- An upbeat tone and good manners will go a long way to keeping people on the other end engaged in the conversation.
Your Thoughts?
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