Cold calling on Saturday??

22 replies
I didn't get as much done today as I would have wanted but I think I'm going to go a little out of my regular schedule and make some cold calls tomorrow.

What experience do you guys have with this?
#calling #cold #saturday
  • Profile picture of the author Warrior Ben
    I've had mixed results with cold calling on Saturday. I've actually found it to be a pretty good day to go and cold call by walking into the business and asking for the owner. Many small business owners work on the weekends, so it is a good time to get them.

    With that said, make sure you go visit them early in the day. Once the weekend shoppers start coming into their stores, the owners will start to get busy and they won't want to meet with you.

    If you get out there and start at 8:30am and start walking door to door, there is the potential to get some good results.

    -Ben
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Most call center work saturdays from 9am-to 1:00 pm.

    Across the board , years of stats have built up and they all agree thats a decent saturday window.

    I have telemarketed on National Holidays, and they were some of the best days ever, even though I complained about having to do it on a holiday the prospects were actually in a much better mood, and even more receptive with only the rare "Why are you calling on a holiday"? You might hear that 3-4 times in a 4 hour session on a holiday, ...but most people are actually more pleasant and easy to talk to.

    About the "Saturday Window":

    I have witnessed first hand at least 100 times on a Saturday, if you go past 1:00 for whatever area you are calling... then contact rates drop like 50% or more (This is the rule and its really very accurate and not just theoretical)... it becomes pointless after 1:00, but within that 8 or 9-1:00 window, contact rates are great and people are in a much better mood on Saturdays.

    Also, you can start on east coast and switch your list to west coast at 1:00 east coast time and that buys you a few more hours if you are calling nationally.

    Hope this helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author Rocket Media
      Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

      Most call center work saturdays from 9am-to 1:00 pm.

      Across the board , years of stats have built up and they all agree thats a decent saturday window.

      I have telemarketed on National Holidays, and they were some of the best days ever, even though I complained about having to do it on a holiday the prospects were actually in a much better mood, and even more receptive with only the rare "Why are you calling on a holiday"? You might hear that 3-4 times in a 4 hour session on a holiday, ...but most people are actually more pleasant and easy to talk to.

      About the "Saturday Window":

      I have witnessed first hand at least 100 times on a Saturday, if you go past 1:00 for whatever area you are calling... then contact rates drop like 50% or more (This is the rule and its really very accurate and not just theoretical)... it becomes pointless after 1:00, but within that 8 or 9-1:00 window, contact rates are great and people are in a much better mood on Saturdays.

      Also, you can start on east coast and switch your list to west coast at 1:00 east coast time and that buys you a few more hours if you are calling nationally.

      Hope this helps.
      Wow great post! That's exactly what I was looking to hear! Guess I just adopted myself an extra work day! It hit me the other day that it was pointless for me to skip Saturday's. I'm glad I posted this thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rocket Media
    I don't really like to go door to door unless I know the person or will have some sort of opener. Otherwise I just like to play number and make phone calls! It's much faster. I just tell them on the phone that I'm gonna stop by.
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    • Profile picture of the author RRG
      Originally Posted by Rocket Media View Post

      I don't really like to go door to door unless I know the person or will have some sort of opener. Otherwise I just like to play number and make phone calls! It's much faster. I just tell them on the phone that I'm gonna stop by.
      It's not really a cold call if you know the person.

      Here's an idea for calling on Saturdays and leaving voice mails:

      Write a short FREE Report.

      Give it a curiosity-provoking title. Something like, "The 7 Biggest Mistakes (Type of Company) Make With Their Marketing: Which OYnes Are You Making Now?"

      Leave a voice mail offering the FREE Report. You can put it on a squeeze page with instant PDF download . . . or even better, leave an 800# for a 24 hour "marketing mistakes" hotline. They leave their name, company name and address and you PRINT & MAIL the report.

      If you have a high enough LTV, you can afford a couple bucks for printing and mailing. You might find, as others have, that you get a higher conversion from mailing the report as opposed to having them download and have to print it themselves.

      Then, at the end of the report, after you have given away some good info that positions you as an expert (and differentiates you from the other 20 salespeople per week who cold call and try to sell them or get an appointment cold), close with a call-to-action, which is the appointment. Except you're different, so you don't call it an appointment or free consultation. You give it a proprietary name which telegraphs the benefit and that it won't take long.

      Maybe something like, "Call me to schedule your compliementary, no-obligation 17-Minute No B.S. Marketing Analysis."
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  • Profile picture of the author KO
    Saturday is great for leaving messages.

    I've seen a bunch of people on here saying you shouldn't leave messages. They must not be leaving the right messages, because call backs are the best.

    That's a good reason to call Saturday. If you hit a lot of professional offices that aren't opened on the weekend, you'll be the first message they hear when the week begins and you'll get a call.

    I have a friend who caters his business only to doctors and dentists and the only cold calling he does is at night and on the weekends when he knows the offices are closed. He get the call backs and closes them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joshua Morris
      Originally Posted by KO View Post

      Saturday is great for leaving messages.

      I've seen a bunch of people on here saying you shouldn't leave messages. They must not be leaving the right messages, because call backs are the best.

      That's a good reason to call Saturday. If you hit a lot of professional offices that aren't opened on the weekend, you'll be the first message they hear when the week begins and you'll get a call.

      I have a friend who caters his business only to doctors and dentists and the only cold calling he does is at night and on the weekends when he knows the offices are closed. He get the call backs and closes them.
      I agree... Call on Saturday, if you get through, great, but if not, its a great time to leave a message..
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    • Profile picture of the author LasseKohau
      Interesting strategy, working as a call in center and leave messages !!!

      Anyone else have exp. with this type of strategy ?

      Would work great to (us) European people, due to the time diff., when we target US E and W coast.

      LASSE
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    How did this turn out?
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  • Profile picture of the author mike3188
    great idea I may try this
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    • Profile picture of the author dtaylor
      I don't deal with retailers so I don't know how this works with them but I have found that dealing with a service company, professional, trade wholesaler etc. that Saturdays, minor holidays, Black Friday etc. are absolutely great times to get in touch with the owner. He is usually in there with limited or no staff, in a relaxed mood, not pressed for time.

      If you are doing walk-in visits you will not see as many people overall but you will usually have extremely high-quality visits with those that are in.

      The same applies to heavy snow days.

      Good luck,
      DTaylor
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  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    Reminds me of my old call center days. Lol... expect alot of hangups and curse words.
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    • Profile picture of the author dtaylor
      Originally Posted by danielkanuck View Post

      Reminds me of my old call center days. Lol... expect alot of hangups and curse words.
      In the B2B marketplace that has not been my experience.

      DTaylor
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    • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
      Originally Posted by danielkanuck View Post

      Reminds me of my old call center days. Lol... expect alot of hangups and curse words.
      You can expect that on Monday-Friday also lol I'm interested in hearing how it worked out though.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Durham
        Most horror stories come from residential calling. B2B is quite different.
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        • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
          Originally Posted by John Durham View Post

          Most horror stories come from residential calling. B2B is quite different.
          hey john, that same window applies to residential as well.
          I did it for yrs. really did not get grief cause it was a weekend,

          On a side note, i have tried a few sundays... wow. that was mistake


          --edit--
          Ya know, this thread got me thinking...

          The Saturday thing, is something i have known about for 10-12 yrs, maybe more.
          i took it for granted, that everyone knew.

          Now im wondering what else i take for granted, that others don't know about that would help them with there close ratios. I bet we all do it.

          Like simple things, like changing the closeing technique during the holidays.
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  • Profile picture of the author aimco
    Interesting - id o thought that saturday would be bad unless they were quite and bored as most want to be out of there assoon as possible
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    If you get a brainstorm Ken let us know, I want to hear the electrical firings going on in that head of yours! Nice posts, love reading them. Every now and then I hear someone talking who realy knows and you can tell because they relay the real experience, and you know it isnt rehash, its refreshing. Takes one to know one.

    Otherwise, honestly lately its tiring wading through all the bs, Im having more fun in the main discussion forum lately because I get tired of defending my hard earned credibility in here, and watching posers make up stories to the newbies , it makes me want to fight, and thats not good energy to stay in.

    Nice to see people like you, and a few others posting telemarketing truth...
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  • Profile picture of the author Dmagnet
    Saturday is a great day to reach local business owners. It's true that often they are working on the weekend. I should also add that most of the other sales people don't know this and so no competition. During the week it's not unusual to find out you are the 4th sales person to walk in the door that day so the owner's "Pavlovian" response is to get rid of you as quickly as possible. So as compared to the week the owners tend to be in a fairly good mood!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rearden
    Any ideas on which businesses are best to reach? Or does it really matter?
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    • Profile picture of the author midasman09
      Banned
      My 1st biz was a Burglar Alarm Co I started from my 2 bedrm apartment in Evanston, IL (a North Suburb of Chgo)

      In summers, while I was attending Northwestern U...I worked construction, helping build houses in Elk Grove Village (large burb west of Chgo)

      I remembered all the construction going on in the "Commercial" area of Elk Grove Village....so....in my 1st week of my new biz, I decided to "take a chance that the OWNERS of these commercial biznesses would be IN on Sat and I would NOT have to deal with the "Rejectors" ("Who you with? Who do you want to see? WHY?...etc)

      So....sure nuff, my first call was at 7:30am at a 1story bldg that made "Flavors" for soft drinks. Yup...I drove past the bldg and....there it was; The FANCY, NEW, SILVER SUV parked in BACK.

      I went around back and parked my 15yr old clunker next to the New SUV, gathered up my "Sales Stuff" and went in the back door....walked down the hallway to the office that had a light on...went to the doorway and when the guy sitting behind the desk noticed me, looked up and asked; "Yes! Can I help you!?

      To which I responded with introducing myself and stating what I do.

      Well....a few minutes later, the guy says, "OK! Take a look arournd and give me an estimate. Which I do and...write up a proposal....walk back to his office and hand it to him and....at the same time I say: "And, if you will give me an OK...RIGHT NOW...I'll knock $200 off the Installation!"

      The guy looks at my proposal...looks at me....looks back at my proposal (while I'm holding my breath)....then says: "Yup! Let's do it! Come in on Monday and see my Manager!"

      With that "VERBAL OK", I then went to 3 other plants in the area that had "Vehicles Parked behind the bldgs" and....I used the 1st plant Owners Name as a "Reference"; "Hi! Bob, the owner of XYZ Flavors asked me to stop by and give you a proposal for my Security System!"

      So I used a little "Black-Hat"! So what? I got THREE biz owners to agree to buy MY Security System....and....every Saturday afterwards, from 7:30am till 11:30 am...I sold FOUR....I repeat, FOUR...alarm systems for my New Alarm Co.

      I built it up to 17 employees using "Balls Out" sales techniques.

      So...I don't know how I'd do if I just made Phone Calls but....I knew (as I still do) that....if I can SEE THE PERSON WHO WRITES THE CHECKS... SHOW HIM/HER WHAT I'M DOING...."GRAB THEM BY THEIR GREED GLANDS, TURN THEM UPSIDE DOWN UNTIL MONEY FALLS OUT OF THEIR POCKETS!" I...would do OK!

      Don Alm....STILL grabbing Check Writers, flipping them upside down and SHAKING till money falls outa their pockets!
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Banned
    Do you think that saturdays is good for all industries???

    How about evenings (say 5 to 9 PM?)?
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