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Cold calling for web design company

by achibs
9 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
We have been exploring the idea of cold calling companies that have a website that could use some work, but have not had a great conversion rate so far. Recently, we considered offering a free audit for a company where we review what is working and what needs to be improved, then detail and discuss our services. I'm thinking this will help get a more solid response.

Currently, I have a part-time sales consultant who is working about 5hrs a day, 3 times a week, and he contacts about 5-10 companies a day. He's been doing this for about 2 months now, and we've had 2 people say that they were interested in more information. However, when our full time consultant tries to connect with them, they disappear.

What are your thoughts? How do you/your company tackle cold calling for web design & web development? In the past, we have usually relied on our partners and organic traffic for leads, but would like to bring more leads in, (which is why we are considering cold calling as an option). Appreciate your thoughts and advice on this. Thanks!
#calling #cold #company #design #web
  • Profile picture of the author chaotic squid
    So your part-time sales consultant is spending 5 hours a day cold calling but is only contacting 5-10 businesses a day? Something is not adding up here....

    Seems like your conversion is low because your not reaching enough businesses. Tell him to get his hands out from under his pants and back on the phone.

    Most people who cold call on here talk about calling in the hundreds per day. Your volume simply isn't high enough.
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    • Profile picture of the author achibs
      That number did seem quite low. I'm all for qualifying leads before dialing, but it definitely seems like he's spending way too much time researching. Will do and thank you!
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  • Profile picture of the author chaotic squid
    Even if he's spending time "researching" it's obviously not paying off so something is very wrong with your process.

    I would get someone else to provide him with contact info/leads so that he can just pound the phone.
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    • Profile picture of the author MRakkar
      Ive done some cold calling for my own website. I don't even sell anything and I had a hard time with businesses taking me seriously. I was just trying to get businesses to list themselves on my site.

      I spent about 5hrs-7hrs 1 day and made a excel sheet of 400+ local businesses. I then made a script to follow when I made calls. The first 20 calls were time consuming but then I knew what to say and when to say it. The 1st day I made about 30 calls in 5hrs. By the 3rd day I was making about 60 calls in 5hrs.

      Id suggest doing all the "research" up front. Make a list of 200 potential clients and then spend the next 4 days contacting them. Its hard to jump start yourself doing research and finding 10 clients to call. Then getting in the grove of making phone calls. Or do research for 2 days and then call on the 3rd day. I bet you'd contact more clients that way.

      FYI...out of the 400 local businesses I contacted. I spoke to about 250 (150 or so told me to never contact them or just hung up). Of the 250 businesses I spoke to, only about 80 sounded interested. Of those 80, only 4 businesses actually signed up on my website for free and even that was after I called them 2-3 times. I even offered all 250 local business that actually listened to me, a free business video (I would physically go to their business and make a commercial for them to add to my website).

      If you believe in what you are doing, keep at it...believe in yourself and what you are doing. Good luck with your venture!
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      • Profile picture of the author achibs
        Thank you, MRakkar for the words of encouragement and advice. I've decided to take over the research and list building, and will give this list to one of my full time sales reps so they can start dialing. I've yet to see the benefits of having a part-time sales rep. They miss calls on the days/time they are not in and are often out of the loop. Will be starting with a goal of 20 calls per hour to ease them into it, but give them a target goal. Thanks again!
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        • Profile picture of the author MRakkar
          Originally Posted by achibs View Post

          Thank you, MRakkar for the words of encouragement and advice. I've decided to take over the research and list building, and will give this list to one of my full time sales reps so they can start dialing. I've yet to see the benefits of having a part-time sales rep. They miss calls on the days/time they are not in and are often out of the loop. Will be starting with a goal of 20 calls per hour to ease them into it, but give them a target goal. Thanks again!
          Let me know how it works out for you. Im interested in knowing what works best for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Peter Stavrou
    I've tried this as well.
    I found all websites that had issues, were outdated or simply just bad and then spent hours calling.
    I called around 200 companies and for those who had time to speak with me said they already had their own "IT people" and that they will pass the message on to have their website fixed.
    Out of the 200 I only managed to get one project out of it.

    I guess it's true what they say.... Business is built on relationships
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    • Profile picture of the author scajo
      Originally Posted by Peter Stavrou View Post

      I've tried this as well.
      I found all websites that had issues, were outdated or simply just bad and then spent hours calling.
      I called around 200 companies and for those who had time to speak with me said they already had their own "IT people" and that they will pass the message on to have their website fixed.
      Out of the 200 I only managed to get one project out of it.

      I guess it's true what they say.... Business is built on relationships
      Soo... If you'd call 200 each day than you would have 1 client each day. In my opinion that would be worth calling every day ������
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  • Profile picture of the author Cali16
    Originally Posted by achibs View Post

    Currently, I have a part-time sales consultant who is working about 5hrs a day, 3 times a week, and he contacts about 5-10 companies a day.
    Something is seriously wrong if, in 5 hours, your sales consultant is contacting only 5 to 10 companies. Have you asked him what he is doing with the rest of his time?

    It sounds like you need to hire someone who is not only very good at sales, but who also knows how to cold call effectively (and use their time productively).
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    If you don't face your fears, the only thing you'll ever see is what's in your comfort zone. ~Anne McClain, astronaut
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