what bothers you guys the most about cold calling?

10 years ago

Nothing, I don't do it

Cold calling is effective, but it takes a certain type of personality to do well, & that's certainly not my cup of tea.

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Erica Leggette 10 years ago

Nothing about it keeps me up and night or bothers me.

But I wouldn't mind one bit if one day I was able to do it AND remain in my element at the same time.
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- LastingLifeSuccess 10 years ago
  
  I did cold calling long ago when I sold real estate. What always bothered me was how much psychological effort it always took to keep in the game. Also, not knowing the first thing about selling anything was a real short coming for all my attempts. If you don't know how to discover buyer motivation it is extremely difficult to produce sales.
  
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iAmNameLess

10 years ago

Disconnected numbers. Doesn't keep me up at night but it sure does piss me off when I get a pretty decent lead then follow up after a day or two and get a disconnected number..

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Rearden

10 years ago

The only thing that would bother me is how much investment of your time it takes to properly make cold calling for appointments work.

It probably takes me 15 hours to set 15 appointments.

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TheCG

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Rearden

The only thing that would bother me is how much investment of your time it takes to properly make cold calling for appointments work.

It probably takes me 15 hours to set 15 appointments.

This...the amount of otherwise productive time spent to get to a yes.

Boring & tedious.

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Suseela

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Rearden

The only thing that would bother me is how much investment of your time it takes to properly make cold calling for appointments work.

It probably takes me 15 hours to set 15 appointments.

Damn, that is a lot of time on the phone. Have you thought about out sourcing?

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Jonwebb

10 years ago

So how do you guys get offline clients, of you get any at all?

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iAmNameLess

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Jonwebb

So how do you guys get offline clients, of you get any at all?

Cold calling.. I personally don't do much cold calling anymore unless projects are caught up with and my pipeline is getting dry. I have my sales people do 99.9% of the cold calling now.

I like email marketing, direct mail (though my last mailing was a complete flop), PPC, networking, referrals, etc. I've started to get some decent leads from organic rankings lately. Never got into linkedin much but have had a couple customers from there.

You're shooting yourself in the foot if you only do one thing to generate clients.

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internetmarketer1

10 years ago

Originally Posted by iAmNameLess

Cold calling.. I personally don't do much cold calling anymore unless projects are caught up with and my pipeline is getting dry. I have my sales people do 99.9% of the cold calling now.

I like email marketing, direct mail (though my last mailing was a complete flop), PPC, networking, referrals, etc. I've started to get some decent leads from organic rankings lately. Never got into linkedin much but have had a couple customers from there.

You're shooting yourself in the foot if you only do one thing to generate clients.

Exactly! It is always to search out new and new ways to generate clients. That is the way it should be. Never keep all your eggs in one basket

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ADukes81 10 years ago

Originally Posted by Jonwebb

So how do you guys get offline clients, of you get any at all?

Blogging. It takes time and patience, but I am seeing it pay off. Email marketing, networking, interviewing & the social channels. I might try some direct mail in the coming weeks.

Like Iamnameless said above, you need to do many things. I look at it as "lines in the water", like fishing.

Long term, I think blogging is the most effective, but PP is key. Patience AND persistence. I like to model the big boys like Neil Patel, Hubspot, Gary Vaynerchuk, Marcus Sheridan, Derek Halpren, Jay Baer, to name a few. What do they all do? Put out valuable content.

I was contacted by the biggest personal development website a few weeks ago. They are looking for reputable social media agencies to recommend to their members. It was because of my blog.

I just signed up the biggest custom home builder in Vegas ($2M+ homes) and it was because of my blog.

I am meeting with news anchor this week for coffee because of my blog.

I really love what I do and I love writing so blogging comes somewhat natural. It takes a lot of dedication to keep to a "content calendar", but like I tell all business owners. One blog post can generate leads for years to come. It is by far the cheapest marketing you can do.
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PanteraIM

10 years ago

I use cold calling techniques in conjunction with email marketing for lead nurturing.

After one year we have a massive list of people who CHOOSE to stay on our list and recieve free information around what we sell. We also combine that with usual IM strategies such as blogging and social media to keep exposure high

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Rearden

10 years ago

Observe, newbies and those aggressively getting ready to cold call but never do, that, among seasoned salespeople and prospectors, there is NOTHING so unbearable about cold calling that it keeps us worried, distressed, or frightened, enough to ruin our lives.

Perhaps the offshoot takeaway is that cold calling ain't that big a deal?

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Mwind076

10 years ago

Nothing at all.

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jsmm

10 years ago

When I can't get to speak to the decision maker and resort to selling the gate keeper and then having to make a second trip !
I always cold call with the attitude that I am walking out with the deal no matter what, I am selling them something to help them.
Most of all because I already did my homework on the client before I cold call them and found a need for my service so it is as simple as educating them on how they are losing business becuase of it. Every business owners ears go up when you say the words My God You Are Losing So Much Business Because Of -----------

Best of luck
ps. Nothing keeps me up at night other then my kids...

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Mwind076

10 years ago

Originally Posted by jsmm

When I can't get to speak to the decision maker and resort to selling the gate keeper and then having to make a second trip !
I always cold call with the attitude that I am walking out with the deal no matter what, I am selling them something to help them.

I'm positive you know this...but you should never "resort" to selling or pitching anyone that can't cut a check. Not only is it a waste of time, but it's a huge red flag to them that you're just talking to someone to talk and you don't know what you're doing. So, I ask, just because I'm curious - Why would you "sell to the gatekeeper?"

PS...it's not selling unless you sell.

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digichik

10 years ago

Not having the time to do it every day. I'm successful at getting appointments through cold calling, many days I have multiple appointments and don't have the time to do any calling.

I'm one of those people who, actually, enjoys cold calling.

Now if I can just figure out how to close $5000+ sales on the phone... I'll get there.

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socialentry

10 years ago

It can be really boring at times.

In a group environment it can be fun in a way because it is competitive and a certain camaraderie develops.

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bsummers

10 years ago

Nothing. If you do things right, nothing can keep you up at night. That is why it is important that you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally when cold calling.

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daniyal100 10 years ago

What bothers me most is that I need to dial almost 200 numbers to talk to just 50 persons and 10 conversations hopefully
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- Mwind076 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by daniyal100
  
  What bothers me most is that I need to dial almost 200 numbers to talk to just 50 persons and 10 conversations hopefully
  
  Your list sucks...that is a horrible rate. Unless you are scrubbing a random list, you need a better one.
  
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  gtownfunk 10 years ago
  
  I'm surprised how many people make cold calls with old phones that aren't automated to help make cold calls. It's 2013, technology has come a long way and with the latest technology you can spend less than you did before and get way more features.. I helped a guy today get set up making phone blasts (not using a service, on his own machine)...
  
  There are even FREE 'predictive dialers' so your whole sales team can get set up and all those disconnects and busies don't waste anyone's time any more. This kind of crap used to only be available on million dollar phone systems, now anyone can do it if they have a VOIP guy. Question is, do you have a VOIP guy to help get you set up to use all this free stuff? I do...
  
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  daniyal100 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Mwind076
  
  Your list sucks...that is a horrible rate. Unless you are scrubbing a random list, you need a better one.
  
  So tell me how many people you talk to out of 100 dials with your incredible list
  
  And don't recommend me from where to buy list because I know it does'nt make any real difference at all so I am not interested in buying list okay.
  
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dave147

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Jonwebb

a simple question. What keeps you up at night, about cold calling?

Not bothered by cold calling...all it is, is a phone call, and for me only 2 things can happen...

1. They are interested and meeting is set
2. They are not interested and I hang up...politely of course

However...
From the calls that are "not interested" It doesn't end there, especially if I believe I can help their business and they already told me they want more business.

This is where is use, what I call the "RED" method...

R = Ring Them

E = Email Them

D = Drop in on Them

After the "no interest" phone call...

I will send them one email a couple of days later.

From those that do not respond, or respond with "thanks but not interested"
a couple of days later,
I will cold walk-in to the business.

By the end of the week I am either...

In the office discussing my services with the decision maker.

or I get my info onto the decision makers desk.

or I get to call back when decision maker is there.

The main idea behind the RED method is...

It shows persistence and by the time you meet them, your services have kind of become "familiar" and easier to say yes to.
It shows that you care and they should take a closer look at your services.

So...no, I am not bothered by cold calling, it does not matter if they say no

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Jason Kanigan

10 years ago

Originally Posted by dave147

Not bothered by cold calling...all it is, is a phone call, and for me only 2 things can happen...

1. They are interested and meeting is set
2. They are not interested and I hang up...politely of course

However...
From the calls that are "not interested" It doesn't end there, especially if I believe I can help their business and they already told me they want more business.

This is where is use, what I call the "RED" method...

R = Ring Them

E = Email Them

D = Drop in on Them

After the "no interest" phone call...

I will send them one email a couple of days later.

From those that do not respond, or respond with "thanks but not interested"
a couple of days later,
I will cold walk-in to the business.

By the end of the week I am either...

In the office discussing my services with the decision maker.

or I get my info onto the decision makers desk.

or I get to call back when decision maker is there.

The main idea behind the RED method is...

It shows persistence and by the time you meet them, your services have kind of become "familiar" and easier to say yes to.
It shows that you care and they should take a closer look at your services.

So...no, I am not bothered by cold calling, it does not matter if they say no

What I like about this is that you understand they can't really qualify Out on a knee-jerk "Not interested" in the first call. You haven't had a real conversation yet. So the additional two attempts give you opportunities for that to happen. And they might be in a more receptive mood.

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mediamarket

10 years ago

For cold calls its all about perfecting your sales pitch, and answering their questions perfect , be confident and it shows why conversating.

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Sean14

10 years ago

The fact that you have to go through so many people and so many questions before you actually reach the concerned person.

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greenMinimalism

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Sean14

The fact that you have to go through so many people and so many questions before you actually reach the concerned person.

This. I absolutely agree. The failure rate is really disheartening. It didn't bother me, it was just dull and demoralizing. Really takes a certain type of person.

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Jason Kanigan

10 years ago

Originally Posted by greenMinimalism

This. I absolutely agree. The failure rate is really disheartening. It didn't bother me, it was just dull and demoralizing. Really takes a certain type of person.

Originally Posted by Sean14

The fact that you have to go through so many people and so many questions before you actually reach the concerned person.

Did you guys ever use this opening to get to the right person quickly?

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ml#post5922488

The main problem I see with people making calls is that they're not prepared for the reality of it. Lots of people aren't going to be available. Why would you take this personally, though? It's the same when I'm calling.

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arkina

10 years ago

I hate bothering people. By nature, I am introverted and I hate imposing on others. You would nto know this when you see or hear me selling, but I am dying inside when I do it!

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workdfitness

10 years ago

I think for me and its something I am working to overcome is the idea that I am bothering someone. I have always been this way so I don't really enjoy it. I know this is something I personally need to change. I know I am providing value to them and what I have can actually do them a lot of good. I have a difficult time when I hear excuses that I know are total BS.
That and cold calling is very time consuming. If I wanted to be a telemarketer I would of went and applied for that job.

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design89

10 years ago

Originally Posted by workdfitness

I think for me and its something I am working to overcome is the idea that I am bothering someone. I have always been this way so I don't really enjoy it. I know this is something I personally need to change. I know I am providing value to them and what I have can actually do them a lot of good. I have a difficult time when I hear excuses that I know are total BS.
That and cold calling is very time consuming. If I wanted to be a telemarketer I would of went and applied for that job.

Speaking of BS excuses, today I called a company and asked them if they would be interested in a redesign of their website,, they told me they didn't have a website and hung up.. I was like WTF im looking at it right now I got the number from it lol

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Jason Kanigan

10 years ago

Originally Posted by design89

Speaking of BS excuses, today I called a company and asked them if they would be interested in a redesign of their website,, they told me they didn't have a website and hung up.. I was like WTF im looking at it right now I got the number from it lol

Your mistake: don't ask them if they want a redesign. It's too early for that. Find out what THEY think of their existing site first. How it's performing If they're happy with current results, do you think they're going to be open to a redesign? And on the other side, if they are unhappy, do you think they're going to want to leave it the way it is?

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ronr 10 years ago

Cold calling works and I don't mind rejection but I think what bothers me about cold calling is it's so inefficient when it comes to time so it's hard for me consistently.

I can spend an hour to write a personalized email and send it to hundreds of people using software while I'm doing other things. I don't need to rewrite the email for every person I send it to. Tomorrow I can send the email to hundreds (or thousands) more people.

I can spend a couple of hours writing a postcard or letter and mail it out to a hundred businesses. Again I don't have to rewrite the letter/post card to every business. Yes I do need to put a label on it but I can do it while watching TV or easy and cheap to outsource.

I can create a FB ad to attract businesses into a funnel. Once I have an ad that works it will bring interested business owners into my funnel automatically. If I call them I already have a relationship with them and I know they have some interest.

If I cold call, I have physically start a conversation every time, to each gatekeeper, business owner, etc. To me it's like writing an email or letter to each business individually. There's no way to shorten the process so it's like a job, trading your time for money. I could hire a telemarketer but it's much easier to hire someone to send emails or direct mail for you than it is to hire a good telemarker that will last.

Not knocking cold calling because it works but this is what bothers me the most about it.

Ron
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ColdCallCommando

10 years ago

Nothing, I pick up the phone for a few hours and make a couple thousand...simple

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RandyChen

10 years ago

Nothing. In my opinion this is the most effective way to get those thousand dollar sales. I once had a female working for me doing cold calls 8 hours a day. She had an awesome personality and was very knowledgeable in the business so there were massive sales. I paid her a good chunk for the work she did, but it was way better than spending money on sending useless emails.

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WebdevelopmentGroup

10 years ago

Nothing I love it all

even when they hang up.

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what bothers you guys the most about cold calling?

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