Cold Calling Strategies For Business Newcomers
Author: Naz Daud
In running a business most of us at some point have to do some cold calling. Just these two words "cold calling" can strike fear into the heart of even the most determined entrepreneur.
So how can we make cold calling easier? Here are some tips that might help:
1. Who are you going to ask for?
Try and find out the name of the person you want to speak to before you pick up the phone. There is nothing worse than saying "Can I speak to the manager?" Immediately the secretary knows that this might be sales call.
How do you do this? There are many websites and publications that actually tell you the size of the company and who the boss is. Your local chamber of commerce might be able to help with this regard. Attending networking meetings is another way to find out who the decision makers are.
2. Learn more about your target.
Get to know a little bit about the business before you call them. This way when you speak for the first time with somebody new you have some common ground.
3. Talk to your existing customer base
Talk to your customers and any business people you are friends and ask for help. Many will be happy to give you referrals and a few might even make the initial call for you!
4. Make friends with other sales people
Make friends with sales people and share information and contacts. This will work great as long you are not selling identical products and competing with each other! You can make the initial introduction call for your friend and they can do the same for you.
5. Make friends with other business owners
Especially with businesses that have a lot of sales people. This works on the basis "I scratch your back, you scratch mine." You can share referrals and help each other.
6. Practise makes perfect...
The more calls you do the better you will become. Reward yourself with a point every time someone says "no" to you. Once you hit ten points it is time to stop for a break.
7. I do not care how good you are...
Nobody can cold call for a full 8 hours without getting absolutely shattered. It is far better to spend say three hours every day cold calling than to dedicate one day a week to this task. Choose the time of the day you are at your best. Some people are great in the mornings whilst others perform better in the afternoons.
8. Buy a decent headset.
This will enable you to make notes whilst you are the phone, stop your neck getting sore and even allow you to carry on a little longer when you are on a roll. Work like a pro and get professional results.
9. Send a thank you note.
Building relationships with existing customers and people who did give you the time of day is what it is all about.
10. Change anxiety into something positive.
Learn to turn your feelings of dread into something more powerful. Actors can turn stage fright into something positive that makes them perform better on a live stage and so can you.
11. If all else fails...
Then employ someone else to do it for you. If your time is better spent converting people who have already agreed to meet you then pay a telemarketing company to make your cold calls.
If you can start enjoying talking to new people and stop taking "no" as a personal insult then you are on your way. Tell little jokes and one liners and have a laugh at the same time as trying to make that appointment. You are allowed to have fun when you are cold calling!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/cold-calling-strategies-for-business-newcomers-223718.html
About the Author
Naz Daud - CityLocal Franchise Opportunity Franchise Opportunity & Business Opportunity UK Business Directory & Business Franchises
Cold Sore Remedies?
Anyone have a quick remedy for a cold sore? (Please keep the herpes jokes to a minimum…it’s not herpes)
Any over the counter or home remdies?
Use Acycolovir 200 mg or 400 mg– five or three times a day respectively. Must have a doctor’s prescription, and you must take it as soon as you feel the tingle. It will not bump out or scab. If you are too late in detecting the virus, and begin to get it–take the medication anyway and it will not be nearly as severe. This really works. Good Luck.
If you have a cold sore on your mouth does that mean you have herpes and you should wear a condum?
or is it different please no jokes i want to be safe and i dont know. is it the same virus and if so what can you do about it.
It’s pretty much always a good idea to use a condom, especially since you can never be totally sure of other person’s sexual background. However, Herpes is one of several STD’s where even wearing a condom may or may not prevent spreading. The reason is that the disease is spread from direct skin to skin contact, and not through fluids like some of the other STD’s. So, any part of the skin not covered may be susceptible to the herpes virus. Furthermore, this is one of several viral STD’s for which many people do not show symptoms, and are simply carriers. This is true for Type I (generally oral) and Type II (generally genital). As a matter of fact, there is a pretty large segment of the population that carry the herpes virus and don’t know it (especially type I). Not showing symptoms does not mean that you can not spread it. However, if the symptoms are present you are much more likely to spread it. Finally, it’s possible that you could have Herpes only orally, only genitally, or in both locations. So, just because you have a cold sore doesn’t necessarily mean you have herpes genitally or vise versa. My advice to you would be not to worry about the oral variety too much, unless you are having an outbreak. In that case, then just don’t kiss anyone or perform oral sex on them until it clears. But as for the condom, I’d suggest using it if there’s any doubt at all. The good news is that herpes is more of a nuisance than anything. At the end of the day, it won’t kill you. I hope this helps…
whats the difference between a pimple and a cold sore on your lip? Not a joke I wanna know?
Hey! This isn’t a silly question, actually. The basic difference is that pimples are caused by excess oil in the skin or a build up of dirt on the skin that is blocking one of your skins pores – and also by a small infection of a hair follicle (it may be an ingrown hair, etc).
Whereas, a cold sore is caused by the herpes virus. This is very contagious, so if you have a cold sore, don’t go kissing anyone because you will spread it. It isn’t life threatening, there is a huge population of people who have this virus. It lies dormant in your system and you usually develop cold sores when your immune system is weakened (say after a cold), excess stress or lack of nutrients (causing low immunity through deficiencies). I hope this has been helpful!!!!
I have a cold sore, how do I get rid of it and where’d it come from?
Herpes jokes are not necessary.
u can get different creams and it can come from different things such as stress and umm yes it is a form of herpes so if u came in contact with it then u most likely got it from that person but i know lots of ppl that get it when they are stressed
A simple, serious survey: Do you get cold sores? (hold the herpes jokes, or not, whatever…)?
yeah i get one like every other year
i hate them!