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Cold calling is the process of contacting a lead over the phone who has not been successfully contacted before. This can mean they haven’t been called at all, or that they’ve never responded. In this article, we’ll go over the major details of cold calling — how it works, whether it’s effective, and how to make cold calls that result in meetings — so you can decide whether cold calling is right for your business.
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Cold calling is a sales prospecting activity that involves calling new leads you’ve found or received from an employer or marketing team (such as marketing qualified leads [MQLs]). On the call, you try to generate interest in your product or service and qualify them as a prospect worthy of further lead nurturing. The ultimate goal of a cold call is to book a more in-depth meeting where you’ll further discuss the lead’s needs and how your solution can help them.
The process of making a cold call is similar to other types of outbound lead generation: compile a list of relevant leads and their contact information, research those leads, conduct your outreach (cold call), qualify the leads, and track your success to continue iterating on your strategy. Learning some key cold calling tips can help you improve your strategy and overcome call reluctance, or the resistance to make cold calls.
On the call itself, most sellers rely on a pre-prepared cold calling script that outlines the flow of the call but leaves room for variability. Typically, a cold call starts with a brief introduction before the salesperson delivers a short elevator pitch, overcomes any objections, and ends with a strong call-to-action regarding next steps.
Although the advancement of technology has made some sellers question whether cold calling is still effective, many businesses continue to find it to be a useful method to generate outbound leads. Most cold callers are B2B, but certain B2C sellers cold call individual consumers, as well. Before we dive into the specifics of who should make these calls and how, let’s discuss the method’s effectiveness so you can judge whether it can boost your lead generation efforts.
Cold calling is one of the most effective lead conversion tools available to B2B (and some B2C) sales professionals. While there are many ways to contact a cold lead, there’s nothing like speaking over the phone. In fact, 82% of buyers say they’ve accepted meetings with salespeople after exchanges that started with a cold call. Our article on cold calling statistics lists additional trustworthy data regarding cold calling and whether it’s a good use of salespeople’s time.
Unlike emails, once you’ve made your pitch, the response is immediate. Not only that, but you’re able to make rebuttals in real-time. These benefits make cold calling a vital aspect of lead generation and nurturing, especially for certain types of businesses.
However, keep in mind that cold calling is an involved process and can be time-consuming. On average, sellers must make 18 calls to connect with a lead, and many answered calls end with the lead declining their offer for a follow-up call or meeting. A positive mindset and ample preparation are key, as is ensuring you’re the right business or professional for cold calling.
Cold calling can be a useful tool for many types of businesses, but there are certain types of sellers that tend to get the best use out of this type of direct outreach. Below are some prime candidates for cold calling:
In general, companies looking for a personal way to qualify leads will find merit in cold calling. Since the process can take time, some businesses focus instead on other prospecting methods (e.g., cold emailing, cold canvassing, social selling, networking, referrals) or on online lead generation methods that attract leads to the company. Those that do cold call need to learn how to find leads, prepare for and make calls, and track their results in an effort to do it successfully.
Cold calling is a useful lead generation strategy, but it isn’t the only one available. For a complete list of the best outbound prospecting strategies, check out our ultimate guide on sales prospecting.
A significant part of cold calling involves finding appropriate leads to call and their phone numbers. To do so, build an ideal customer profile (ICP), or a description of the person or company that needs your product or service and can afford it. Then, search online for leads that fit your ICP, or use an existing list if your employer provides you with one.
When it’s time to gather your leads’ phone numbers, you can do so in one of two ways:
Once you’ve put together or received your list of leads and their phone numbers (and searched the numbers to ensure they’re not on the National Do Not Call Registry, if you’re a B2C seller), you can research and begin calling the leads.
To be a successful cold caller, there are several concrete steps you can take to improve your call preparation and execution. When a sales professional is underprepared to be on the phone, it’s obvious to the customer. If you don’t know where you’re going with the call, you’ll come off as nervous, underinformed, and inconsiderate of the lead’s time.
So, let’s outline the steps to a good cold call so you aren’t caught off guard:
As you follow these steps and gain experience as a cold caller, you’ll see your success start to improve over time. Incorporating cold calling software throughout your process can also help you be more efficient and effective.
At the end of each cold call, salespeople can track their results in their CRM software by entering the outcome of the call and calculating their conversion rate. By keeping track of specific metrics and displaying them via reports and dashboards, they can better understand how successful they are in their efforts and experiment with new ideas to increase that success.
Measure your results through the steps below:
The first step in putting this tracking together is to choose the data that will most accurately measure your cold calling results. To determine the appropriate metrics to track in your CRM, read our article on CRM metrics. If you don’t already have a CRM, learn more about them and choose the one that’s right for you with the help of our articles on CRM software. As you track and improve your results, you’ll become more confident and more willing to cold call.
Though not illegal, the FTC manages a National Do Not Call Registry for consumers. Those who register cannot be solicited over the phone and can seek recourse if they are. However, this is specific to consumers and does not cover other businesses for B2B sellers. If you’re a B2C seller, make sure you consult the Do Not Call Registry prior to cold calling to ensure you’re not calling someone on the list. Check the FTC for more info.
Further, there may be additional restrictions for some industries selling to consumers. If you’re selling financial products, for example, the SEC sets hours in which you can and can’t call consumers, in addition to whether they’re on the registry or not. Make sure you understand any industry-specific rules and regulations before cold calling.
Call reluctance is the resistance, disinterest, or fear cold callers feel when they have to pick up the phone and contact a lead. This resistance can cause even an experienced salesperson to make fewer calls or have unproductive conversations. Sales reps often feel reluctant to cold call not just because it can be tedious, but because of a few underlying reasons.
Specifically, these are the main factors that can cause call reluctance:
Luckily, there are solutions to each of these causes. As salespeople practice their scripts, they’ll be more prepared and will calm their nerves. By separating themselves from the product, rejection will feel less personal. Reps that use a mind-over-matter approach and an energetic voice on calls will build energy and even inspire leads to be enthusiastic, as well. Ultimately, the best way to overcome call reluctance is to gain experience and build a record of success.
Cold calling is an outbound lead generation strategy that, with preparation, proper execution, and patience, can be effective for many businesses. As a salesperson, while your performance on a call matters, you’ll need to put in the work on the backend to be successful. Consider the resources we’ve given you, and decide whether cold calling is right for you. If it is, check out our guide to making a successful cold call, where we give you a step-by-step process to follow.