How I made $799 in 2 hours cold calling

17 replies
Hi everyone,

I've decided to turn IM my full time profession.

Yesterday I started cold calling with the intention of selling SEO to small businesses.

I called for roughly 3 hours and I banked one client paying $799 for a one page website, no monthly and two other warmish leads to go into the pipeline.

Here is my script, it's really really simple.

(When speaking to DM)

Hi, my name is Matthew calling from Pantera Marketing. We specialize in the (X) industry in getting you on the front page of G which is where your business needs to be to generate business online.

((I actually bullet point my entire script, I NEVER read anything verbatim))

How is business going with you?

Are you looking to grow your business?

When prospects object I simply ignore their objections, (can't talk, no money, budget, dont need more business, economy, blah)

I keep agreeing with what they're saying and push thru their early call reluctance. Far too many salespeople give up here and assume that the prospect is NQ when they give them their usual lies and false objections. I find just by accepting their resistance and keep asking questions that add value to the interaction it makes uncovering opportunities so much easier!

Once I uncover the opportunity and qualify them for budget, need and urgency. I send them a proposal email which builds the value of the proposal.

Not that the value of what you sell is what they get
  • Item #1 worth $99
  • Item #2 worth $47
  • Item #2 worth $197

I then follow up the email the day after.

I find that this 3 day sales cycle works best when there's an urgent need

Just thought I'd share some inspiration for my fellow warriors. If you have any Qs let me know )
#$799 #calling #cold #hours #made
  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    That's a huge amount for just two hours, and you did a nice job. I see you become a billionaire in just a year if you keep it that way.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7728167].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
      Originally Posted by kellyyarnsbro View Post

      That's a huge amount for just two hours, and you did a nice job. I see you become a billionaire in just a year if you keep it that way.
      I use to turn over $8,000 to $10,000 a day working as a telesales agent in a as seen on TV call centre This isn't much LOL. I was only making $1-2k a week making so many sales as well, pushing out 50 to 60 orders a day, 10 hours a day. It was so rough.

      But I guess it made me stronger and more resilient when I make my cold calls.

      Thanks for your feedback
      Signature

      you cant hold no groove if you ain't got no pocket.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7728178].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author art72
    Hmmmm...

    When I met my wife 21 years ago, she was telemarketing for at&t on something they called their win back program. She was 24, and pulling $1,500 a week on average back in 1992, so that was some serious coin.

    Meanwhile, I was 19 - self-employed (*former stoner/surfer) ice cream truck owner, pulling $1000- $1200 per week.

    I tried telemarketing one time and was 'let go' after 2 days... just couldn't do cold calling.

    When it comes to writing proposals, visualizing a customers needs, fixing stuff... I rock!!!

    Your example (which is awesome) just gave me an idea!-

    If I put my wife on a simple script, as the one you shared above and I do the writing and business end...

    I could see a solution to our current financial issues.

    Thank-You
    Signature
    Atop a tree with Buddha ain't a bad place to take rest!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7728212].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
      Originally Posted by art72 View Post

      Hmmmm...

      When I met my wife 21 years ago, she was telemarketing for at&t on something they called their win back program. She was 24, and pulling $1,500 a week on average back in 1992, so that was some serious coin.

      Meanwhile, I was 19 - self-employed (*former stoner/surfer) ice cream truck owner, pulling $1000- $1200 per week.

      I tried telemarketing one time and was 'let go' after 2 days... just couldn't do cold calling.

      When it comes to writing proposals, visualizing a customers needs, fixing stuff... I rock!!!

      Your example (which is awesome) just gave me an idea!-

      If I put my wife on a simple script, as the one you shared above and I do the writing and business end...

      I could see a solution to our current financial issues.

      Thank-You
      You could have your wife do the prospecting and you call back the qualify prospects if you don't like to do it yourself.

      I also contract to freelancers on odesk just to generate leads for my autoresponder with a 'Hot', checkmark they press if the prospect wants to buy right now.

      I follow up on the hot leads only and keep cold calling prospects to fill my funnel.

      I send my list helpful articles/info that shows value and builds trust. More of a long term lead nurturing/strategical tool.

      Good luck man! I know it's tough out there, but all you really need to do is pick up the phone.
      Signature

      you cant hold no groove if you ain't got no pocket.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7728240].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
      art72,

      Your post about at&t "winback" brought back some memories.

      Back then, every carrier (and there were many) wanted long distance AND
      the very lucrative, local toll calls.

      A person with about 30 minutes of education and a little ambition could
      go out, door to door, and make $1,000 - $2,000 per week.

      Straight commission.

      I'll stop here, as I don't want to take the thread off course.

      Pantera,

      Great point about pushing through the initial resistance.

      You don't have to be a pitbull, but if you have something that you sell, that
      would benefit the prospect, then you have an obligation to present it to them
      and to ask for the order.

      The simple fact is, there are more people who will say "yes" to your offer than
      you could ever hope to reach.

      Get started!

      Ron
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7754386].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    You guys are good. No doubt about it. Just keep it up and the sooner you'll rule the world of IM.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7728241].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kelvintoro
    That's a good amount for two hours of work. I would be happy with that amount for a month. LOL Your experience in telemarketing is really an advantage. Ah, if only I'm also good at telemarketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7729481].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author CudaFish
    Well done bud! I know it's chump change for ya, but it's more important to just get back on the phone.

    Here's a little tip though. Focus a bit more in the law of reciprocity. In your first block pitch after you say hello, offer them some assurance that they are special and that you've put together let's say a customized analysis of their website and you'd like to send it to them to show them the specific areas of their market where they can easily surpass (competitor 1 here) in terms of market share.

    (Not a word for word script, if you want that pm me hehe. Just a thought from my IM sales experience)

    - Mark Cuda
    Signature
    cudafish.com | marketing | design | work / life balance
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7729876].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dad2four
    I wanted to comment to Cuda and Pantera.

    I'm a programmer and have zero sales experience.

    I put sales peeps on a pedistal.

    Sales is where the rubber meets the road in any business.

    You can have a crack IM staff, the ultimate executive staff, an ace quality assurance team, effecient manufacturing, on and on and on. But, if you don't have sales you don't have anything.

    Your two posts were both way cool. They were little views inside the minds of a couple obvious sales pros.

    It's the missing link in my ability to perform IM.

    I can build anything techinically, but I have to get the sales side down. I had a great conversation with MikeTurner out here a few weeks back and he is a great salesman too. He made a few statements that just like what you guys said here were awesome views into how sales pros function.

    Good Stuff

    Thanks!!!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730025].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PaulintheSticks
    Originally Posted by PanteraIM View Post

    H

    Not that the value of what you sell is what they get
    • Item #1 worth $99
    • Item #2 worth $47
    • Item #2 worth $197
    Congratulations! Nice job. But I'm confused by the above.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730499].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7730600].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Anoosh Kashefi
    Cool thread that got me thinking a lot about sales. A ton of my friends and family are in sales and they make good money.

    One of my buddies wont leave me alone about local marketing for the last few weeks so maybe I should get started with that. Just been so busy recently.

    Anyway good stuff. Thanks again
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7732440].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GuyFromEssex
    This is a great thread! Congratulations!

    I have a question for you. Do you deal with any particular niche that you focus on or contact any type of business? I didn't really understand your pricing structure either:

    Item #1 worth $99
    Item #2 worth $47
    Item #2 worth $197

    How does this work?

    Thanks
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7753576].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SashaLee
    Hi there,

    Well done PanteraIM! Re-Spect!

    Keep up the good work and thanks for posting your success. It'll be inspiring for many I hope!

    All the best,

    Sasha.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7753587].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Nino
    799$ for a 1 PAGE website?

    That's pretty damn good...
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7754185].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Just another example of how a good cold caller can eat most consultants lunch any day of the week, and why IMr's need to open themselves up to listening to the experience of offline sales people, particularly telesales. Great thread. Keep it up!

    If this is your first sale doing this on your own, you will probably find that you may be able to optimize your process even more. What you will find is that the dialing itself will make this work from 3 different directions and you may be able to cut some more fat off of the system...but Im sure you will figure that out as you go along.

    Pushing through the inital objections is a trait of most hardcore callers - "I understand...like I was saying..." lol

    I wish I knew better ways to teach people that kind of will power working from home. Without ever having worked under pressure in a call center, its hard for them to grasp the level of intensity.

    Good stuff.

    -John
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7754325].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author metafever
    Great work @PanteraIM . . . !!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7754623].message }}

Trending Topics