[brownbob06]

I cold called for a company as a job (yea, I was a telemarketer). and it absolutely sucked. I eventually just stopped calling people and made music with the numbers.

I do have to say though, that a few tips I learned that seemed to work were to make sure you control the conversation, don't seem pushy, but make sure YOU are asking the questions. My job was to get people to get a free estimate on windows, siding, basement finishing, or waterproofing, it was someone elses job to actually make the sale. and that was hard, I wasn't even trying to sell anything, just give free estimates...It also sucks when you call and get the response "He died three years ago."

My Experience: Cold calling doesn't work. But if you have a targeted set of people you are calling, that's not cold calling, those are what we considered warm leads.
So: Get a script, and a little bit of a targeted call list and you'll have better results. The company I worked for had people sign up at malls and things to win free basement finishing systems or siding and stuff like that. Of course that was just a ploy to get the numbers . (someone did actually win, but it was through the franchise, owens corning, not the individual company, so it was nationwide)

[crackah]

I think cold calling works.

I cold call businesses, primarily IT administrators and there is a really good response.

It just depends, Cold calling households would suck

[brownbob06]

Yea, but like I said, you're calling a more targeted group of people that may have interest in your product, not just calling random numbers off of call lists. So I suggest calling people who you may actually have a chance at, although it may be a long shot even, then you're already a step above cold calling, you have warm leads. We used to fight over warm leads at my old job, haha.

[StealYourDreams]

There is no doubt that cold calling works. You need a decent list, lists are so cheap that there is usually no reason to be calling from a phone book. Just a reminder to the guy that said if you have targeted leads it's a warm call, it's not; It's still a cold call.

To the person that said dont use a script: Unless you have spent a significant amount of time on the phone and know everything a prospect could possibly tell you, every trial close, every rebuttal, and know the product/ service inside and out, then a script is a good idea.

It takes my guys about 300 calls to talk to 5-6 qualified prospects. Out of those 5-6 they front call close 2-3. Generally we call people back the next day and qualify them again. The average reps sends out 6-10 packs a week and closes 1-2 deals. The average deal is 15k. A mediocre rep will generate 40-60k in business by pounding the phones. A good closer will generate 100k+ in new business.

They're selling high risk investments. If you can get a guy to write you a sizable check over the phone than yes, cold calling does work.

[FUN-GUYZ!]

Originally Posted by samo

Hey Fun-Guyz, can you go into detail on what you actually did in the past? What exactly is selling advertising to apartment communities? I'm just curious, thanks.

Hi Samo,

I started selling Internet advertising to apartment communities for the world's largest publisher of classified advertising. From there, I started consulting for the largest REIT's in the country, eventually was promoted to open magazines around the country and started the "reverse publishing" age for the company and continued to push "multi-medium" advertising.

The great thing about the multifamily housing industry is that it's a very competitive industry and they have huge budgets for advertising. My job was to convince these companies to give me a large portion of that budget.

After that, I went into business for myself. I started (with a partner) a turnkey web building site called the Apartment Web Builders. It was a great time to start it, but unfortunetly my partner caused the company to impload. (don't really want to get into that now). This was very unfortunate, because we were literally a week away from signing a $250,000 deal with one of the largest REIT's in America.

Great industry to make money in! I still have other profitable ideas...the industry is about 5-10 years behind the technology curve, however they are starting to catch up.

Jason

[warrensway]

If you are cold calling it can work very effectively if you are calling based on referrals. Some may not consider this cold calling but take for example you have a product and you get 3 names from someone to call and then from each of those you get 3 more and you mention the person that gave them to you ... it works much better.

[vasg]

I used to do that for some of my clients the more you do the easier it gets but I refuse to do it with my own business. I just think of how much I hate those calls myself.

Originally Posted by cassjsu

What are your thoughts on cold calling? I cold called 5 people last week. It was so hard. I felt like I was begging for clients. What script do you use if you participate in cold calling? Do you think that cold calling is a waste of time?

[PrivateerNation]

Hi,

If you did 5 cold calls and hated it. Skip it. Seriously! The number one lesson in business is, "If it ain't fun it won't get done." There are tons of ways to approach prospects. Find one that you enjoy and do that. If you aren't having fun in the day to day building of your business you are in the wrong business.

[Crysco]

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Business's are usually more open but people don't usually want to be bothered on the phone.

I find that talking to people you run into is much easier, just being out you'd be surprised who you run into. Also attend events in your area, here chamber of commerce puts on a IUGO events.

You never really know who the millionare next door is, plus once you get in front of a few people and they see the value of your product/service just ask for referrals. Maybe plant that seed in the beginning of your meeting with them for the sale. Just a few points you may want to consider everyone is different.

[vacationofwealth]

You always want to ask for permission with a cold call. " If I can show you a way to generate and extra 10k a month from home part time would you be open to receiving more information?" Something simple like that, change it to your market your are targeting. Be right up front with the benefit to them, then have a great information system that will either hook em or crook em!

[adam_haroun]

Originally Posted by nocci01

Cold calling stinks...I used to until I learned about Attraction Marketing. Learn how to use target marketing and how to create endless leads. Who finds who first is very important. I learned how to attract endless leads with a very cost effective way (as in...even if you have a low budget). You can get the 7 videos for free at the link in my signature...the one about rejection.

Right on!

Does cold calling work? YES.

Do other methods work FAR BETTER THAN COLD CALLING?! YES!

Attraction marketing, or whatever you wish to call it, is the way to go.

Basically, in business, there's the "push" strategy of marketing (cold calling, sales tools, prospecting, etc.)...which might work well for some people, but takes a certain personality (and/or a TON of diligence) to properly master...

...and there's "pull" marketing - which basically is about providing so much VALUE to clients that they will WANT to do business with you.

On a large scale, look at someone like Oprah. Her entire business and empire is built off the philosophy of "pull" marketing...she has given her audience and clientele so much free value/information/knowledge for FREE through her show and other publictity mediums, that when she refers them to her magazine, a book, product, singer, etc...people go CRAZY!

Now - obviously Oprah has the advantage of BILLIONS of dollars to invest, being broadcast in every corner of the globe, and being among the most known celebrities on earth - but the the fact remains that the basic idea of "pull" marketing is the WAY TO GO!

That's my personal business philosophy, anyways...