Cold Calling - What Are Your Top 5 Tips?
I know there are many here who, as part of their job, have had to do cold calling. You know, that wonderful time where you door knock at businesses to raise awareness of your business and to garner new clients.
Some of us may have tried to sell vacuum cleaners, insurance, cell phone plans or even energy company products. I am sure that some loved it; others hated it!
Back in 2015, I wrote a blog about my experiences back in the early 2000s as I worked to start my window washing business. Here is the link to that blog:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/funkydunc208/blog/...
But I am now in 2017, and about to embark on a new cold calling drive. I want to develop a large commercial route for my window washing business that I have recently restarted in Australia's third largest city. It occurred to me that here at Wealthy Affiliate, amongst these thousands of experienced business people, will be cold calling gurus. People who have nailed the skilled of making the call, promoting the product and closing the deal.
So I reach out to you all. What are your Top 5 Tips that I can use to promote and grow my business? I have a website already, courtesy of the amazing training at WA. I need ideas for once I am on the street and walking into the boutique, cafe, realtor, car dealership, etc.
Looking forward to hearing from you all.
Till next time,
Recent Comments
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Do they have block association meetings in your neighborhood, which is a sort of neighborhood meeting.
Schools might be another source; I've done workshops at PTA meetings, you just speak with the Parent Coordinator (that's how it's set up in the states anyway).
Interesting concept. I am particularly focussing on shops at present so that I can build up a list of commercial clients.
I have a landscaping business. When I was in phase of growing our business I have offered to new clients a free one month of our services . I was working for me.
Thanks for the post Duncan.
I have heard about the success of that tip from others. I will have to see how to implement that with the shops I visit.
Thanks heaps.
Hi Duncan, Name card, some shops would allow you to put your ad in their shop. Thank you for sharing! :)
Tell them you are the best with 17 years experience
Give a free demo
Competitive prices
Tell them you like to go out and meet with them first to establish a good rapport
Word of mouth is the best way
http://www.businessballs.com/cold_calling.htm
Hope you get something useful, Dunc.
Wow, that article is amazing. I have read part of it but will go back and read the entirety in a measured manner that will allow me to absorb it all.
Thank you so much for sending that through. I really appreciate it.
Duncan
Create a terrific flyer
Leave the flyer in waiting rooms, buses, trains, cafés etc.
Sometimes people hire magazines, and they rotate, leave a flyer in every magazine.
Here is also a training course which can give you ideas
Thank you, Loes. I will check out the training course. I have a great flyer already printed. I will use them when appropriate.
Hope you are doing well.
Duncan
Cold calling is very similar to an email campaign.
Trust building means NO hard selling!
It means sharing information about the benefits of what you are offering, not just the fe#1 don't do it!atures of the product or service.
Coming from the cleaning industry, I know what you are going through...
(I WAS going to start my 'tip' list off with: #1 Don't Do it!, but decided you were serious!)
From my point of view, a large part of cold calling has been putting the other person at ease.
Choose the right words. This means planning what you can of your could call.
Share instead of tell
Help instead of work
Agree instead of contract
Opinions instead of references
Introduce instead of meet
etc.
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Here are some of the things I would do...
Tip # 1. I focus on getting an appointment first...If you can't get in the door, you can't make a sale...I generally try to break the ice, give an elevator speech in a natural manner (practiced but flows - not like reading a script type thing) then ask for a time, date etc. and restate at the end so it commits the called person...
Tip # 2. Research the company/person you are calling...I try to find out who the decision makers are and learn a bit about their company and them...As long as it is not overdone and falls into the natural conversation, it can help...It also helps you not waste time on those that have no power to do anything for you.
Tip # 3. Go for the big companies/customers first...It takes the same amount of time to go after a small company as it does for a big one, so start with the big ones...
Tip # 4. Check into referrals...Some of your current customers may be willing to share their contacts and even recommend you and your service. This makes getting the appointment and the sale easier...
Tip # 5. Be flexible. Every potential client is unique and has their own set of problems or situation...By you being flexible you get the appointment and also appear to someone they can work with...
On top of that, knowing your service or product is important. In your case that is an easy one, it is your business...Se what the competition is doing and how your service differs, and use that in the sales pitch, pointing out how the service you provides xxx as opposed to others providing 0000....
Having an approachable manner is also helpful. I mean by this that you are natural, open, build rapport quickly, and "likable"...These traits are a matter of EQ (emotional intelligence) and are innate to a degree, but can be learned...
I feel pretty sure that you will have no problems with this cold calling thing, you do seem like the kind of person that can make this work for you...
Best of luck!
Dave : )
Hey Dave,
Sorry for the late reply but they are all excellent tips. It seems like they come from someone with serious experience.
Thank you very much,
Duncan