Thread: cold calling

Have you tried prospecting door to door? Getting face to face with someone is very powerful, more powerful than just talking on the phone.

For some, cold calling works. However, keep in mind that different people have different skill sets and fortes, if cold calling is one of your strengths then that's great. I know for me, I am more of a face-to-face person and I dont come off well on the phone (at least initially). I would suggest joining local boards and networks to maximize your exposure within the community.

Cold calling could work for some and wont for the others. When you are cold calling you have to be very polite with the customer and also have to be confident. You have to clear each and every query of the customer only then will you be successful in cold calling.

Each person has his or her own sales approach. So I am going to list what tends to work for me, no matter what I am selling.

One Time Sales: You have to provide some reason for the person to talk to you or see you. Are you giving away something? Are you located in a place that people want to be?

Cold Calling: I think this can be tremendously effective; however, I say this with a caveat. There are very few people who can call someone they've never met and have them buy something.

Why not?

• Trust: They don't know you. They don't feel like they "owe" you anything.
• Timing: Chances aren't very good that they needed the exact product that you are offering at the exact time that they need it.
• Cost: Not everyone has the money readily available to spend on whatever you are offering at the time you call them.
• Bad Fit: They might not really need what you are offering, even if it is free, because it might not fit any needs they have.

Cold calling, to me, is a really good tool to use as an appointment setter. My purpose is get myself in front of the person.

Once I meet the person, then I can learn more things about them. They can learn some things about me and things that I might be able to offer them.

This digs my well BEFORE I am thirsty. So when they are ready to buy, you have a head start on everyone else who is just starting to contact them.

NOTE: Once I get to know them and their needs, I have no problem strongly suggesting something, if I truly believe that what I am offering will honestly benefit them--not just me. However, this takes time to learn enough to be able to do this. To do it beforehand is just plain being pushy, because you want to sell them something to meet YOUR needs--not theirs.

Conclusion: For most people, cold calling can be terrific when it's used properly.

Cold calling can be different from person to person. Some have abilities to perform better in cold calling process but some fails to do. If a person is planning to get a product and at the same time if you make cold calling, you can sell the product but sometimes it can be hard, as customer differs from call to call.

Sure, use craigslist. Does your broker have listings that you can advertise? If not, get written permission to advertise listings from other brokers. Then post them all on craigslist everyday. Do 30 of them or more. Then you will get phone calls daily. I do it all the time. I always have buyers, always, from doing this.