cold calling still effectve?

[Kitjaii]

Hey guys,

Was wondering if you guys think cold calling businesses would still be effective nowadays? I am starting one of the "groupon" clone sites in Toronto Canada since there are only a few successful ones here for now. Been cold calling for 1-2 days, but i find it extremely difficult to close a deal or even plan an appointment.

I think it's the way my script is written , as its not persausive enough to convince the person on the phone. Would you guys think outsourcing outside of the country would be an ideal way to lead sales? I have checked acouple of websites but it seems pretty costly still for a person who is on a budget.

[marketingquotes]

Hi There,

Indeed cold calling is still a very effective way to generate leads, appointments and new business - however the product that you are 'marketing' needs to be right.

'Groupon' is primarily web based - so it is not really the type of product that would be sold over the phone.

Have you considered other forms of marketing to businesses in Toronto?

Regards,

Marketing Quotes Support.

[stand856]

Try out cold calling for a week or so, then go out and do face to face meetings with the business owners and see which one works better. I personally prefer going out and meeting clients face to face, but it all depends on your time restrictions.

[Kitjaii]

hey guys,

thanks for the reviews .. face - face is not a bad idea as i have considered this method before. In terms of finding other ways or promoting the business. What are some other effective methods other than cold calling? I think cold calling is the way to drive in sales for a new business.

[Kitjaii]

I also realized that outsourcing would be an opportunity to drive sales if I were to hire cal agents from an outsource company.. lets say odesk... If i were to only hire 2-3 agents and manage them on my own. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this implementation? Assuming that i will be managing everything with excel and email communication. Would it be hassle for somebody whos inexperienced in the call industry?

[jake_russell]

in a start up it is critical to minimize costs. I see no reason for you to outsource your cold calling. if it is doable then you can do it. cold calling can still work but you mentioned your script and I think that may be the problem. when you call someone with a laid out script it can come across as a sales pitch and an unfriendly one at that. you want to simply introduce yourself, your company, ask them if you caught them at a good time to tell them about this new advertising opportunity. if so then simply tell them what you can do for them. stay focused on them and their company and how you can help them.

[TOP LINE AUTOMOTIVE]

We are a small company, we we have done well when we have hired cold callers just to go out and hand out our fliers. If they seem interested then we follow up. Not much luck with phone calls but we still do both.

[amuthanjrv]

Cold calling is an important stage and technique in the selling process. Cold calling abilities are also useful in many aspects of business and work communications outside of sales activities and the selling function.

Good cold calling - performed properly and not as merely an indiscriminate 'numbers game' - is a fundamental and highly transferable capability, whose basic principles are found in the behaviors and techniques of all great entrepreneurs and leaders.

[akmholdings]

Cold calling is effective if you are trying to help the people you are calling. Don't try and sell them but rather ask many questions and see if they need your help. good salesmen ask way more questions than they do telling a prospect how much they need a particular product or service.

[JKansas]

If you, or a call center call me, There is a 90% chance I will blow you off. If you walk in to my store, that chance decreases, and if you walk in twice, it's even less.

I think your success rates will be infinitely higher with you walking into a business vs. you having a call center call them. I would say e-mail would be a more productive method than a call center. If you call me during the day, i'm busy with work. If you call me at night i'm busy with family. But if you send me an email i'll come across it when it's convenient for me. Walk-ins might not always be at a convenient time, but your face will be seen and your literature or card are more likely to be looked at. I would focus on a well thought out card, email, and brochure/flyer to go along with your website and try out some face to face sales.

Just my opinion though,

Jared

[Prodigal]

Cold calling is still effective but not as it was before...

I used to be in the same business and quit it after finding some better alternatives

Success/failure of any campaign mostly depends on the product/service being offered ...