Should I cold call after I cold emailed?

I beg to disagree. As someone who has cold called 'off the cuff' for over 30 years to tens of thousands of businesses, there is no way the average person would come across as sincere when trying to use a script. By all means have a bullit-point list in front of you when telephoning, but no matter how good a script is only a small percentage will have the ability and quick wittedness to implement it correctly. Cold calling is an art that very few have and the only true way to learn that art is with experience.


My point exactly. If something happens at each point in your pitch, chances are that there will be hundreds of variations as no two conversations will go exactly the same way. A script will not prepare or help you under these circumstances. You get to sound natural with experience, knowing your product well, and having a belief in your product that will come across in calls.

Your not starting without a track if you bullit-point a list.

If you can't maintain control in a conversation when your talking about your OWN product then I don't think a wooden scripted approach will help. Simply means your not cut out for cold calling.

By the same token it won't sound natural on your first pitch or maybe even the next fifty without a script. But eventually it will. Once you have that adaptability it will breed confidence. Being reliant upon a script won't achieve that.

It's not about measuring your results, it's about finding a happy medium your comfortable with. If your not comfortable then it's not for you. Every call is different so you have to approach them as such; with different responses as the situation arises. You might have to try dozens of scripts before settling on one that you feel provided a modicum of success, but it won't prepare you for the unexpected.

I've always found it interesting that people will suggest you stay clear of any phrases that might immediately indicate you're a salesperson. The theory being that at the moment you are identified as such, you will be shut down in some fashion.

So what are these things that give us away?

Typically harmless phrases like, "how are you?"

So what is the gameplan here? At what point do they find out you're selling something? Is this merely to get past the gatekeeper? Aren't you tricking the gatekeeper if you do this....the gatekeeper that everyone says you need to get on your side?

Now what I'm about to say is simply my opinion, and it also is my experience. If you take to time to read it, you may find value in it. If not, that's ok as well.

First, I would suggest that people who are so ignorant that they would dismiss a person because they thought they were a salesperson, is not likely to be a viable prospect in the first place.

I respect people's time and I respect people who respect my time as well as their own. Letting the prospect understand the purpose of your call is being respectful of their time, and yours. Most successful business people will appreciate it.

Business people, successful business people, are typically busy. Part of the reason people become successful in the business world is because they remain open to new ideas. As salespeople, we are taught that we should never prejudge. Making the assumption that someone will be annoyed by a phone call from a salesperson is certainly prejudging.

Much of this comes down to your belief in what you are offering. Is it a good product or service? Is it priced right? Is it something that will be of value to the prospect?

Next comes this: Assuming that you are talking to a qualified prospect; Have you properly prepared yourself to present your offer in a concise manner? Are you prepared to answer the questions that you might typically expect? Is it going to be easy for the prospect to aquire what you're offering?

All that being said, is there one GOOD reason to hide the fact that you are making a sales call?