Cold Calling Tips And 6 Ways To Make It Easier
Keywords: cold calling tips, cold calling, cold calling techniques
No matter what anyone tells you, cold calling is tough business for the average network marketer. Notice that I said average since we are not talking about experienced salespeople or industry experts that have people running after them to join their businesses. These people have the unique ability to use the telephone as a tool on an entirely different level. We are talking about the average Joe that has little to no experience in business and is told that he can just buy some leads and jump on the phone and start calling.
I’ve been in sales for over a decade and picking up that phone can be tough for me too, so I know where you are. There are some that would argue that calling purchased leads is not cold calling and these tips don’t apply. But, call it what you may, it’s not easy. With that said, cold calling prospects is a major part of the home business industry and it will probably remain that way for quite some time. So, for those of you that want to pursue this kind of marketing (not all of us do), here are a few ideas that may help to lessen your burden.
Generate Your Own Leads:
By generating your own leads, you immediately change the dynamics of cold calling and put yourself into a position of power and strength. When you purchase cold leads, you have no real idea when the lead was created, how it was created, or how many times that particular lead was sold. Therefore, you are generally at a disadvantage and you open the door to many surprises such as the person telling you that they never completed any requests for information.
When you generate your own leads, you personally know that the individual visited your web site and filled out a request form. You also know the exact time that the request was made. Most importantly, you don’t have to worry about the lead being sold to multiple people as you are the sole owner of that name. I would probably put generating your own leads near the top in terms of ways to make this task easier.
Target Your Market:
By targeting your market more effectively, you automatically reduce your stress in contacting your prospects. These people are going to be interested in your business, product, or service at a far higher rate, thereby making your task of contacting them less stressful. It’s critical to know what kinds of people are buying your product now and that will help you to pinpoint those that will want to hear from you the most.
Two Person Calling:
Another way to immediately erase some of the stress of cold calling is to spend time calling leads with a partner. By calling with another person, it allows you to have that support in the background and it’s also a great way to learn. Once the call is over, you and your partner can discuss what went well and what needs to be improved. In addition, you might even get a laugh or two from some of the crazy things that people say on the phone. Either way, it can definitely help to get you through the process.
Call with No Agenda:
If you call leads with the purpose of getting them into your business, you will raise your stress level 1000%. I sold advertising for years and never admitted to myself or my prospects that I was coming to sell them an ad. As a matter of fact, I had totally convinced myself that I simply wanted to “show them the sample” and that was it. I honestly believed and projected the attitude that I don’t care if you buy or not so don’t waste our time. On the other hand, if you are interested, I would be happy to stop by and show you what we are talking about. This basic attitude helped me to make many “no pressure” sales over the years and it also made things easier for my prospects.
Send Them Something in Advance:
Another way to help alleviate the stress of cold calling is to send your prospects something in advance. What you send will depend on your budget and a few other factors. You can send them an email with instructions on what the first step is to learn about your business. It doesn’t mean that you send them off to your company web site and hope that they will join. All you want to do is tell them in the email what the initial step is going to be. You can also do the same thing via mail with a postcard or letter.
How you make contact with the person is really not that important. The important thing is to break the ice and give yourself a reason to call them. It actually helps with your “no agenda” stance mentioned above. When you call leads that have received something from you in advance, it definitely makes it more comfortable to call them because you just want to make sure they received your information. You will pick up the phone with greater confidence and that will come through to your prospect.
Know Your Immediate Purpose:
There is truly no point whatsoever in cold calling any person if you don’t know why you are calling them. That may sound obvious but it’s not. Many new business owners will grab their list of hot prospects and start calling without any true direction of where they want the call to go.
- Do you want to simply confirm that they received your advance email or postcard?
- Do you want to invite them to a web site presentation or a phone presentation?
- Are you local and planning on meeting them at the next upcoming event?
These are the things that you should know prior to sitting down to make your first call. Once you are ready to start calling, set a time, stick to it, and just do it. Procrastination is the killer of all dreams (and it causes unwanted stress too). If you will take the time to employ the tips shared, the telephone should become your greatest asset.
E. Kinton, Jr. is a former U.S. Marine and the owner of NationalNetworkers.com which provides free network marketing training, tips, and resources. Visit:
www.NationalNetworkers.com . Article may be freely redistributed provided the signature box is included.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Guide To Dangerous Treats For Dogs (1)
Feeding a dog grapes or raisins can cause acute renal failure and can potentially be fatal. Even one raisin can be enough to kill a small ten-pound dog. Some much larger dogs, however, can eat a pound of raisins or grapes without any effect.
The Feasibility Of Help Desk Outsourcing (2)
Surely, there is someone, or some people, out there who are more than willing to commit their best work for you. Keith Londrie II is the and publisher of www.outsourcing-info.info A website that specializes in providing tips on outsourcing hat you can research on the internet.
How To Plan The Perfect Caribbean Honeymoon (3)
The best thing about Caribbean honeymoon package is that everything is all inclusive in the price of the trip. So, no need to worry about meals, drinks, beach privileges, resorts, and water sports.
Sales And Marketing - Let Others Do The Work (4)
The rewards will definitely come over time. Ken Harrington is an expert in the field of Referral Marketing, helping businesses grow beyond what they previously thought was possible. Visit www.FirstUpMarketing.com to find out more.
How To "Read" Your Favorite Novel In 3 Hours - Not 3 Months (5)
I continued this craze for reading right into college and even early in my career. I didn't quit even when I got married and had my first beautiful daughter.
Tame Your Windows Registry With Registry Cleaning Software (6)
The registry cleaning software will go into your computer, scan it and then repair the registry anytime that it is necessary to do so. Most of the time, this type of cleaner will look for all types of errors that may be lurking in your computer.
Consider Using Audio Books To Prepare For A Holiday In A Spanish Speaking Country (7)
This audio book, which is only around 1 hour and 15 minutes, will help you learn the 50 most needed words in the Spanish language. You will be able to speak holiday Spanish in only one day!
How To Use A Single Review To Skyrocket Your Affiliate Internet Marketing Traffic Conversion (8)
These types of websites should include a informational section that each article should be setting the reader up with a plan to use the product but this should be done passively, do not try to shove products down peoples throats because this will just make them run.
Way Of Consolidating Debt (9)
You may be surprised to learn how many people are in similar situations when it comes to debt. John Edmond runs www.card-debt.net where you can read many more up to the minute articles on dog training and control and don't forget to check out the blog at www.card-debt.net for more information
What Can I Learn About Womens Health And Fitness Training Options? (10)
This can help you get a better workout that is just for your needs. Yet another option for women's fitness training is purchasing home gym equipment. This can be a little expensive but worth it in the long run.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Tip On How To Lose Weight Fast (1)
If you can stick to this three prong approach for at least month, I guarantee that you will see results. However, that's not all. To get more free tips to lose weight fast, feel free to visit my web site.
Internet Marketing Success On Autopilot (2)
Others use them to provide information about pricing or product information. Autoresponders are also a nice way to welcome new members to a website or group as well as thank them after a visit.
Californian Businesses Sales: Hint And Tips (3)
It was actually a franchise of Jack in the Box, if you can believe that. It is hard to get excited over fast food if you work there, but if you own one of these places it can be a real gold mine.
Why We Play Games (4)
Competition is a close cousin of challenge. Many gamers are driven by the need to prove they are the best, to be pitted against their fellows and come out on top.
How To Compare Credit Card Interest Rates (5)
So make sure that the you'll be happy with the usual rates before you take up any promotional offers on any credit card. Lastly when comparing credit cards you should always compare APR's of credit cards they you are considering along with activation fees and additional fees and benefits.
Home Theatre: What To Get (6)
Home projectors that use a LCD is more likely to be less expensive than other models that use a combination of projection techniques. The most expensive type of home theatre projector uses something called Liquid Crystal on Silicon to display images that some people believe to offer the sharpest image from a projector.
Duty Free: What You Need To Know (7)
Although Gibraltar is part of the EU, it is outside the Community Customs territory. The Customs allowances for outside the EU therefore apply. There are special rules for cigarettes and some tobacco products from some EU countries.
An Introduction To Ecommerce (8)
Some of the common fraud detection mechanisms are Address Verification (AVS) which compares the customer's address with that on file with the issuing bank, CVV2 which makes use of the 3-digit security code on the credit card (4-digit on American Express cards).
Getting Out Of Debt (9)
Debt consolidation loans are especially useful for people who feel that they could cope better with a single monthly payment. If none of these are an option then the inevitable court proceedings will begin, Bankruptcy and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) are the two usual methods of satisfying the courts.
All The Secrets To Paid Internet Surveys (10)
Start Applying Once you have a list of a few hundred places that offer paid internet surveys, it's time to start applying. Now there are a few things that you have to take into consideration when it comes to making an application.