Tips to Succeed with Cold Calling!!

Cold calling is a technique of imploring potential customers without any prior connection with the prospects. Here, the target person or companies are referred as prospects. Cold calling has less to do with the interest of the prospects, i.e. cold calling is not dependent on the fact if the prospects have shown interest in your product/deal beforehand.

Undoubtedly, it has a very low success rate, not more than 2% even by the skilled professionals, nonetheless it bags huge importance for many ventures.  

Cold calling is all about buying time and selling the meeting; working on the policy of "The more the name, the more the business". It might not benefit immediately but definitely opens gates for further profitable clients. The key to succeed is to have patience and not to lose hope. 

Here are a few check points which will help in succeeding at cold calls.

1. A DETAILED RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR PROSPECT. 

Before making a cold call, be sure of doing a background check on your prospect. Do not reveal the fact that you know a lot, but don't make a fool of yourself in front of the prospect that you don’t have the basic information about the market. Prospects might appreciate the personalization and open up a bit easier if you approach in the right way.

2. HAVE AN OUTLINE OF YOUR CONVERSATION.

Before making your call, have a pre-planned set of properly arranged questions you have for your prospect. Do not follow a script like a robot, add emotions to it. Human to human. Try to make a connection with your prospect on the grounds of mutual interest. Plan out a great opening sentence for yourself.

3. WATCH YOUR TONE.

More than your words, your way of speaking really matters here. Especially when you are over a call and the prospect can’t see your expressions or gestures, you need to focus on your tone, because it is going to be the main factor of your impression on the prospect. 

4. FOCUS ON YOUR PROSPECT, NOT YOU.

While making a call, you need to be aware about your focus area – It’s about the prospect, not you. Make everything about him/her. You need him/her to believe that the ultimate motive of your call is to help him/her by giving a way of fulfilling the needs.  

You can start with complements about any of their previous achievements and make them feel accomplished . Who doesn't like to feel positive about oneself? Yet again, background check is important for this. 

5. DON’T APPEAR TO BE TRYING TOO HARD.

Stay calm. Don’t stress the prospect and neither yourself. Always keep in mind, the main motive of the call is not to make the deal, but to gain trust and buy a meeting further. 

Try to hold on the prospect for the longest you can. 

6.  DO NOT LET REJECTION DEMOTIVATE YOU.

The main demerit of cold calling is you would be hung up a number of times even before making your opening statement. It might cause an emotional set back.

Don’t be disheartened by these failures. Success is yet to come.

7. WHICH TIME OF THE DAY TO MAKE THE CALL – CHOOSE WISELY.

Always make the call at the time you know is appropriate for your prospect. By this, your chances of making a real conversation increases.

Again, BACKGROUND CHECK.

8. USE YOUR PREVIOUS CLIENTS AS PROOFS.

Do tell about the success you have created with your previous clients.  Give examples of similar needs to other prospects and how you could help them. Selling the success stories of someone with similar pains as of  the prospect might actually work in your favor.

9. DO NOT WASTE TIME.

With a proper background detailing about the prospect, you will definitely have an idea if you can actually help them or not. If the prospect is beyond your limits, don't even try. TIME IS IMPORTANT - for them, as well as for you. Make a good list of prospects who you actually believe you can help.

10. IMPACTFUL VOICEMAILS.

At the end, learn the art of sending impactful voicemails.

Make voice messages with connecting statements. Keep it short. Don’t worry about getting a reply, focus on gaining your prospect's trust and end with a note that triggers curiosity.

Figure out the tips in which you are lacking and once you get a hold on these, success rate of cold calling is bound to go up!