[Challenge] Overcoming The Fear of Cold Calling

14 replies
The only thing holding me back in my business is my fear of Cold Calling. NO MORE! This thread and personal challenge is setup to share my experience and document my journey that will result in a successful Local offline business services company.

Overview

Knowledged and experienced in most forms of online marketing. Have several properties ready to sell through depending on the business and services I want to offer. Will test all.

Services

- Web Design
- SEO
- Local Listings
- Social Media
- Lead Generation
- Web Hosting
- SEM

Process

100 calls per day, everyday, period. Will be testing all opportunities and combinations to evaluate what works and gets the best return for my time. These include:

- Free Custom Report
- Free demo website
- 10 trial Leads
- Heavily discounted "Starter" package

I want to create lifetime customers expanding them through the many services I provide. With that I am going with the "get them in the door" method through the above free / cheap services.


Goal

- No more fear of calling
- 100 calls per day
- 3-5 interested in knowing more per 100 calls
- 1 sale per 200 calls

Updates

Will start my day visiting this thread and reviewing, adding, and commenting about my process, results, and experiences. Stats will play a heavy part and I expect them to get better over time as I fine tune the process.

I hope this helps those who fear cold calling as it can provide a source of inspiration.

Truth be told, I probabaly fear cold calling more than the average person. It has been a thorn in my side for the better part of 10 years.

John
#calling #challenge #cold #fear #overcoming
  • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
    Good luck today, just pick up the phone and start dialing, every no is one step closer to a yes !!
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  • Profile picture of the author gotguanxi
    John, that is a solid plan that you have there and a good structure to base your cold calling on. You should be aiming for a sale every 100 calls though in my opinion..

    However one thing I would say is don't over think your position too much. Just get on with it! Jump right in, it's always hard to start off but it will become second nature to you in no time.

    I wish you the best with your endeavours and i'll be following your progress, please have a look at my thread as I think it could help you quite a lot pal

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...s-morning.html

    Regards
    Nate
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  • Profile picture of the author jtooder
    Thanks for the comments, it is just a matter of jumping in so here I go... Had per 100 calls as an original goal but replaced with 200 to lower my expectations. I typically use any excuse to stop calling so per 100 would give me an easy out

    gotguanxi:Read through your thread, inspirational for sure as it shows what it can be like when my system is fine tuned.

    JT
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  • Profile picture of the author rbecklund
    100 or 200 per sale, whatever. As long as you make enough calls you will get sales. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author kvnkane
    i honestly dont see a reason why you would set a "100 calls a sale" target, it only adds pressure to yourself. sometimes things are out of your hands and you wont make a sale every 100 calls and sometimes you will make 2 or 3, thats the way it works.

    i think if your a newbie you should aim to make 200 calls a day and go from there. im no expert though at cold calling so take my advice with a pinch of salt.
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  • Profile picture of the author jtooder
    Day 1 - Lead Generation Service

    Called asking if they are looking for more local business and that my site / service can provide leads.

    Calls: 100
    Not available: 28
    Not Interested: 39
    Call back: 22
    Interested: 11

    The Interested are expecting a followup email explaining the process / service. Going to take the rest of the day preparing the email and landing page to sell a batch of 10 leads.

    Summary - Im exhausted, I think the rejection takes its toll. Broke up the calling in 2 batches of 50 taking a good break in between to reset. Calling is still a chore but getting past today feels good.

    JT
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    • Profile picture of the author businessnewbie
      Originally Posted by jtooder View Post

      Day 1 - Lead Generation Service

      Called asking if they are looking for more local business and that my site / service can provide leads.

      Calls: 100
      Not available: 28
      Not Interested: 39
      Call back: 22
      Interested: 11

      The Interested are expecting a followup email explaining the process / service. Going to take the rest of the day preparing the email and landing page to sell a batch of 10 leads.

      Summary - Im exhausted, I think the rejection takes its toll. Broke up the calling in 2 batches of 50 taking a good break in between to reset. Calling is still a chore but getting past today feels good.

      JT
      Hey that's awesome
      You are an inspiration to us afraidie cats.
      Are you using a script? Did you write it yourself?
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      • Profile picture of the author jtooder
        Originally Posted by AussieT View Post

        Well done for taking action JT. Hope you can close a few for your efforts.
        Thanks AussieT: Emails will only go out tomorrow, struggling with the landing page with more information.

        Originally Posted by rbecklund View Post

        Good job. What I do for people that want an email is send them a short email maybe recapping what we talked about and telling them I will follow up. I also attach a nice pdf we have that covers all of our services and prices. With that and our website it gives them a good idea about who we are.
        Email will be a recap and link for more info. Attachment a good idea too, will try that method during testing.

        Originally Posted by flightrisk View Post

        Great job for getting out there, I felt the same way but now its really nothing to call businesses, they want to talk. Either they need you or they dont its that simple.

        If your selling leads why not give them 5 at first than see how they feel after that?

        odd how 39 would not want leads or atleast want to know what its about.

        "Hey I have this site thats getting 10 calls a day and I dont offer your service, would you like the leads?"
        I figure if they are interested, 5 or 10 is not much different. If they like, I hope they will try.

        The 39 is a mish mash reasons including "my site is getting redone", "We have a guy", etc... all polite not interested.

        Originally Posted by businessnewbie View Post

        Hey that's awesome
        You are an inspiration to us afraidie cats.
        Are you using a script? Did you write it yourself?
        Not a script, but a list of bullet points of stuff I want to say during a call. Figure talking as natural as possible is best.

        First 100 call day ever is a good first step, 2 days in a row will be another.

        GL me
        JT
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  • Profile picture of the author AussieT
    Well done for taking action JT. Hope you can close a few for your efforts.
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  • Profile picture of the author rbecklund
    Good job. What I do for people that want an email is send them a short email maybe recapping what we talked about and telling them I will follow up. I also attach a nice pdf we have that covers all of our services and prices. With that and our website it gives them a good idea about who we are.
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    • Profile picture of the author flightrisk
      Great job for getting out there, I felt the same way but now its really nothing to call businesses, they want to talk. Either they need you or they dont its that simple.

      If your selling leads why not give them 5 at first than see how they feel after that?

      odd how 39 would not want leads or atleast want to know what its about.

      "Hey I have this site thats getting 10 calls a day and I dont offer your service, would you like the leads?"
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  • Profile picture of the author rolltide
    Great job on taking action. Keep us posted on your results. You can check out my thread for my updates as well.


    Let's all make some $$$$$$$$$$ in May!
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    Make $150 everytime someone backs up their computer!
    http://goo.gl/07M6K

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  • Profile picture of the author wilder1047
    I'm at work (yes, still unhappily employed)

    I get a phone call at the hotel.

    Hi is Jack there please?

    No, he actually got fired.

    Ohhh, why did he get fired?

    Ah, for a couple reasons (all sexual harrassment)

    Oh okay, sooo, what do you look like?

    Who is this??

    My names Melissa, I like to call randoms and flirt with them, I hope that isn't a problem...

    Nope, no problem at all, but I've got a customer, bye.
    Hahaha, now that takes guts!
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  • Profile picture of the author 919492
    How is it going with calling?
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