Can cold-calling generate web design sales?

[tom-knox]

And how?
I'm looking to establish myself locally and need to get some clients on board, what do we think guys?

[barbaragabogrecan]

Nice post. Be positive with yourself, your colleagues, and especially the people you are cold calling. If you are not enthusiastic and positive about what you offer, people are going to know right away. Cold calling should be incorporated into the daily life of every business. Once we understood the value of cold calling, we hired a person to do business development cold calls full time, in an effort to introduce ourselves and develop relationships with Web design firms across the United States. Thanks for sharing.

[Milkerz]

I started cold calling today, the very first call accepted and registered with my business...then 2 hours later and noone else had registered out of about 200.

I tried emailing a few businesses to try, about 10, and 2 signed up straight away - I believe this may be a better way. Use the 'bcc' box for all of the email addresses so they don't know you may be offering to their competitors also.

Luke

[tom-knox]

I started cold calling today, the very first call accepted and registered with my business...then 2 hours later and noone else had registered out of about 200.

I tried emailing a few businesses to try, about 10, and 2 signed up straight away - I believe this may be a better way. Use the 'bcc' box for all of the email addresses so they don't know you may be offering to their competitors also.

Luke

Nice post. Be positive with yourself, your colleagues, and especially the people you are cold calling. If you are not enthusiastic and positive about what you offer, people are going to know right away. Cold calling should be incorporated into the daily life of every business. Once we understood the value of cold calling, we hired a person to do business development cold calls full time, in an effort to introduce ourselves and develop relationships with Web design firms across the United States. Thanks for sharing.

Can you guys let me know about the kinds of businesses you run that you've been successful cold-calling with?
Thanks for your help so far. Nice to get the opinions of actual entrepreneurs.

[dwightf23]

You ever try sms marketing?

[MAaron]

From a sales perspective, it may take seven or more contacts with a lead to create a sale.

If your target is a local area business, you might try going or presenting where they hang out:
- Chambers of Commerce
- Local community college
- Craigslist local
- Library
- Local church bulletins

Some are no cost or low cost activities.

Regards,
Melanie

[fthom]

I haven't tried cold calling personally as I don't receiving cold calls myself... so why put others in that position.
"Cold emailing" I have done in the past, to little avail - a couple of leads requesting quotes but never any real work.

In web design people want to know they are hiring someone they trust, that is why word of mouth is the biggest way in which you will get work. To get more local work you need to build up your network of contacts.....

Go along to any network events you can, get on social networking sites, run your own networking event to launch your new business or perhaps sponsor another event with a website.

Best of luck with it all......

[jesterx]

for the right person it can be lucrative. I did this for about a year and mastered it, then outsourced it to others and told them and trained them how to do it. Took myself out of the equation.. that is the smart way but you need to do the hard work first and work out how it works and test before you outsource. But it can work very well if u do this properly.

[bdunndchi]

Cold calling can always work no matter what type of business you have. How do you think business was done before the internet? It can be hard and sometimes downright depressing if you let it get to you, but you have to stick with it and stay positive. Keep your goals realistic so that you aren't disappointed when you get a no.

For example if you are designing websites:

Do a local search for businesses in your area. See if 1) they even have a website, and 2) if there website desperately needs updated. Find the businesses that fit this criteria and make them your target.

Design a few mock websites that show off your design skills and upload them to the web.

If you have an iPad or a laptop, you can take that with you and actually show the manager your websites when you make contact with them. If not, get business cards with the website address so they can view your websites on their own.

Have a list of several benefits ready to explain to your potential customer why they need your services.

Contact the business either by phone or in person and try to set up a meeting with the general manager (or whomever is in charge of that kind of decision).

Don't give up.

[GlamGirl]

It can work for you, if you know how to do it and not be sales pitchy it can work even better for you, not sure if you want to be "trained in how to do it successfully, but http://www.danijohnson.com/ has incredible training for this type of sales. For any type for that matter.
Good luck!

[mainsremmachine]

If you want to generate as many financial sales leads as you can and be successful in your business, don\’t use cold calling. Instead, use SEO, pay per click and other Internet marketing strategies to have leads looking for you. Your business will skyrocket and you\’ll generate more income than you can believe.