Cold Calling – When making a cold call, there are a few Dos and Dont’s that you should keep in mind in order to make the most of the opportunity and avoid coming across as unprofessional.
What to Do When Cold Calling
Prepare
Prepare what you’re going to say ahead of time so that you sound confident and polished. This includes having a great opening line that will grab the person’s attention, as well as knowing what you want to say about your product or service.
Do Your Research
Do your research on the company and the individual you’re calling so that you can personalize your pitch. This will help show that you’re knowledgeable about them and are more likely to get their attention.
Focus on them
Keep the conversation focused on the other person and what they might be interested in. This goes back to doing your research—if you know what they’re looking for, you can tailor the conversation to be about them and their needs.
What NOT to Do When Cold Calling
Forget the intro
Just start talking without any sort of introduction. This will make you sound like a salesperson right off the bat and turn the person off.
Stick to a script
Rattle off a script without taking into account the conversation that’s happening. A script can be helpful to have as a guide, but be flexible enough to go off of it if needed.
Forget the Follow-Up
Forget to follow up after the call! Send a thank-you note or an email recap of what was discussed so that the person has a reminder of who you are and what you discussed.
