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Sales representatives hate making cold calls, and business owners hate getting them. Why do we keep going through the process? Because cold calling can be effective when done correctly. Cold calls are one of the most common and oldest forms of lead generation. In fact, according to The Balance Small Business, over 70 percent of people still prefer to be contacted by phone when asked how they want a business to get in touch.
The key to a successful cold call is in the preparation. Before you even start dialing, you need to have a good script and know your product inside out. You also need to be comfortable with rejection and be able to think on your feet. But if you can master these things, cold calling can be a great way to generate leads for your business.
Here are some tips for making a successful cold call:
1. Do your research
Before you make a single call, you need to do your research. This means finding out everything you can about the lead and their company. Google them, check their website and social media accounts, read any articles they’ve been featured in – basically, try to get as much information as possible. The more you know about them, the easier it will be to pitch your product or service. And when you do eventually make contact, they’ll be impressed that you took the time to find out about them.
2. Have a script – but know when to deviate from it
Having a script is essential for making a successful cold call. It gives you a structure and keeps you focused on what you need to say. But at the same time, it’s important that you don’t sound like you’re reading from a script. This is where doing your research comes in handy – if you know enough about the lead and their company, you’ll be able to deviate from the script naturally and have a conversation with them instead of just reading them a pitch. Just make sure that you always keep the main points of your pitch in mind so that you don’t stray too far off course.
3. Be prepared for rejection – and don’t take it personally Nobody likes getting hung up on or told no, but it’s important that you don’t take rejection personally when making cold calls. Remember that it’s not about you – it’s about finding someone who needs what you have to offer. So if someone isn’t interested, just move on to the next call without dwelling on it too much. And if someone does express interest in learning more about your product or service, great! You can Breathe easy knowing that your efforts haven’t been wasted Jot down some notes after each call so that you can keep track of who was interested and who wasn’t – this will come in handy later when following up with leads . Above all else , stay positive and upbeat throughout the entire process , even if it feels like an uphill battle .
