(If you’re in a hurry, skip to the script or download free sales call templates.)<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve found that cold calling is an excellent way to engage prospects one-on-one and move them to the next step in the buying process.<\/p>\n In the past, cold calling meant using a \u201cspray and pray\u201d method, spending time making intrusive calls with no prior qualification. You hoped that your message would resonate with someone, but there were no guarantees.<\/p>\n Thankfully, there\u2019s a better way.<\/p>\n Cold calling is most effective when paired with strategies such as prospecting and sales qualification<\/a>. It can also be used with the inbound methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n In inbound sales<\/a>, prospects willingly \u201copt in\u201d and become a lead after encountering your website or campaign. Digital channels, however, may not be enough to close a sale. Prospective buyers may need a \u201ccold call\u201d that helps them make a decision. As a result, inbound sales calls aren\u2019t entirely cold. Instead, they\u2019re lukewarm. Customers have some knowledge of an interest in your product \u2014 you\u2019re just providing more data.<\/p>\n Outbound sales<\/a> happen when you reach out to prospects who have never interacted with your company or your website. Research helps narrow your focus and increase the chances of a sale, and enterprise communication solutions<\/a> help simplify your outbound communications by connecting your telephone sales with your other digital channels.<\/p>\n This means that with enough research and qualification, a cold call can be executed in a way that’s no longer \u201ccold.\u201d<\/p>\n So, what does a typical cold call look like in sales?<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n During a cold call, you\u2018re working from an inherently disadvantaged position. Your prospect can hang up at any point \u2014 and you don\u2019t have that luxury.<\/p>\n It\u2018s on you to keep the conversation going, so having an incentive in your back pocket is a big help. One of the better selling points you can reference is a new offering. Pique your prospect\u2019s interest by referencing the amazing, cutting-edge, or novel game-changer of a new product or service your company just released.<\/p>\n Here’s what that call might look like:<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. I wanted to introduce you to our latest product\/service, [Product\/Service Name] \u2014 which has been extremely well-received by early users. It\u2019s designed to [brief description of the product’s purpose].<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d love to schedule a brief call or meeting to show you how [Product\/Service Name] can benefit your business. Would you have some time this week to discuss further?<\/em><\/p>\n Customer referrals are one of the most \u2014 if not the <\/em>most \u2014 effective avenues sales professionals have for warming up leads and successfully converting cold calls.<\/p>\n With that said, you can’t just call up a referred prospect and say, \u201cOne of your friends said I should call you, so I\u2018m calling you. As someone who was referred, you are obligated to buy my product or service by default. You\u2019re welcome.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You need to be a little<\/em> more tactful than that. Here’s a look at how you could structure that call:<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. [Referrer\u2019s Name] suggested I reach out to you. They mentioned you might be interested in [specific area related to your product\/service].<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d love to share more about how we\u2019ve helped other businesses like yours and explore if we might be a good fit. Could we set up a quick call this week?<\/em><\/p>\n You always benefit from having some sort of incentive to back your cold call. The object of cold calling is to create and capitalize on urgency in a tight window \u2014 and sometimes, offering a little reward can help that case.<\/p>\n One of the more common \u201clittle rewards\u201d sales organizations offer is a free trial. Here’s a script that plays into that:<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n This is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. I\u2019m excited to let you know about a free trial we\u2019re offering for [Product\/Service Name]. It\u2019s a great way to experience the benefits firsthand without any commitment.<\/em><\/p>\n Would you be interested in giving it a try? I can help you get started and answer any questions you might have. How does that sound?<\/em><\/p>\n Sometimes, you can pique a prospect\u2018s interest by asking for their expertise. It\u2019s a great way to connect and quickly build rapport with a potential customer. The caveat? Aim for sincere rather than \u201cschmoozy.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to tell the difference: If you ask for expertise but then launch directly into your sales pitch, you\u2019re schmoozing. If you take time to consider and respond to honest feedback, you\u2019re being sincere.<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company]. We\u2019re in the process of developing [Product\/Service Name], and I\u2019d love to get your expert feedback on it. Your insights would be incredibly valuable to us.<\/em><\/p>\n Would you be open to a brief conversation to share your thoughts? I promise it won\u2019t take more than 15 minutes of your time.<\/em><\/p>\n In-person or virtual events are another way to add value for prospects and develop rapport. In some cases, the best way to raise awareness of these events is through direct contact via cold calls.<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. We\u2019re hosting an exclusive event on [Date] that I think you would find very valuable. It\u2019s focused on [Event Topic] and will feature industry leaders like [Speaker\u2019s Name].<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d love for you to join us. Can I send you more details and register you for the event?<\/em><\/p>\n Remember the first and third scripts on this list? The ones where I talked about how having some sort of incentive makes a cold call script even more compelling? This one is also in that wheelhouse. A special offer is an excellent centerpiece to a thoughtful, effective cold call.<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. We\u2019re currently offering a special promotion on [Product\/Service Name] for a limited time. It\u2019s a great opportunity to [describe the offer\u2019s benefits].<\/em><\/p>\n Would you like more details on how you can take advantage of this offer? I\u2019d be happy to help you with that.<\/em><\/p>\n Prospects make invaluable additions to your broader network, even if you don’t hard sell them right away. This call script gives you an approachable, not-too-intrusive avenue to connect and develop rapport with prospects.<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n This is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. I\u2019ve been following your work at [Prospect\u2019s Company], and I\u2019m very impressed with what you\u2019re doing in the [Their Field\/Industry] space.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d love to connect and see if there are any opportunities for us to collaborate or share insights. Would you be open to a brief call sometime this week?<\/em><\/p>\n Social proof can be a huge<\/em> asset in sales. If you can demonstrate that your prospect\u2019s peers have been successful with your offering, you can establish trust. Use this script to help you get there.<\/p>\n Hi [Prospect\u2019s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n My name is [Your Name] from [Company Name]. I wanted to share a success story about how we helped [Another Company\u2019s Name] achieve [specific result]. I thought you might find it relevant given your focus on [specific area].<\/em><\/p>\n Could we schedule a call to discuss how we might be able to achieve similar results for you?<\/em><\/p>\n The incentive is back again. This time, I\u2019m suggesting a free consultation to help a prospect identify and remedy issues relevant to your expertise.<\/p>\n Hello [Prospect’s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n This is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. We’re offering complimentary consultations to help businesses identify key areas for improvement with [specific focus].<\/em><\/p>\n I think you\u2019d find this extremely valuable, and I\u2019d love to arrange a time for us to discuss how we can help. Are you available for a quick call?<\/em><\/p>\n Discounting is another form of incentive. While it remains a contentious concept among salespeople, reduced prices can help pique customer interest. Curious about trying a discount call? Go with a script like this.<\/p>\n Hello [Prospect’s Name],<\/em><\/p>\n This is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. We\u2019re currently running a special promotion on our [product\/service] that I think could be a great fit for your needs.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d love to provide you with more details and see how we can help you take advantage of this offer. Can we schedule a brief call?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n In my experience, the typical, cold calling script most salespeople use doesn\u2019t work. Here’s how to create a standout cold call script to improve your connect rate.<\/p>\n First, you need to cherry-pick who you\u2018ll call. Your time is valuable \u2014 don\u2019t waste it on prospects that aren\u2018t a good fit for your product. Think about who your best customers are (or who you\u2019ve had the most success calling in the past) and look for common attributes.<\/p>\n Industry verticals are a good place to start. For example, maybe you deal exclusively with hospitality and retail companies. Or, your target markets could be finance and banking. Once you\u2019ve figured out which verticals to target, you’re ready for step 2.<\/p>\n Cold calling expert Alex Hobbs<\/a> describes identifying verticals for outbound sales as \u201ccritical to revenue attainment today … even inbounds need to be worked with an outbound motion! You can’t just be an order taker\/the fish are not jumping into the boat anymore!\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found that it\u2019s easier to find specific companies or people who could use your product or service using a tool like LinkedIn.<\/p>\n Let\u2018s say you\u2019re looking for US-based hotel companies who might benefit from your on-site goat yoga classes (I mean, who doesn\u2018t want to do Shavasana with a baby goat while they\u2019re on vacation?).<\/p>\n Search \u201cGeneral manager\u201d with the \u201cHospitality\u201d filter.<\/p>\n Voila<\/em> \u2014 a list of potential customers.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve also found that regional companies are a great start to your list, as people love to do business with other locals.<\/p>\n I know, I know, you’d rather just pick up the phone and call. But, spending just a few minutes on research can significantly increase your success rate.<\/p>\n Since you\u2018re already on LinkedIn, check out each prospect\u2019s profile to personalize your approach. You’ll want to know:<\/p>\n Here\u2018s one thing I never fail to do: Look up how to pronounce the prospect\u2019s name.<\/p>\n Nothing makes people more annoyed and less likely to listen than hearing their name butchered by some fast-talking rep, so this step is crucial.<\/p>\n Some people add how they pronounce their name on Facebook and LinkedIn. If your prospect hasn’t added this feature to their profile, try using PronounceNames<\/a> to get an idea.<\/p>\n And if you\u2018re still out of luck? Be honest. When you start the call, say: \u201cI want to be sure I\u2019m saying your name correctly. How do you pronounce it?\u201d<\/p>\n You should also follow their pronouns if they are listed in their LinkedIn bio. If you\u2019re not familiar with how to use gender-neutral pronouns, here\u2019s a great blog<\/a> on the topic.<\/p>\n![\"Free](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/53\/64e5789a-605c-4e14-90d9-8aa3df310ee1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
What is the purpose of cold calling?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cold Call Script Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. The \u201cIntroducing a New Offering\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. The \u201cReferral Introduction\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. The \u201cOffering a Free Trial\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. The \u201cRequesting Feedback\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. The \u201cEvent Invitation\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. The \u201cSpecial Offer Introduction\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. The \u201cNetwork-Building\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. The \u201cCustomer Success Story\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. The \u201cComplimentary Consultation Offer\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
10. The \u201cDiscount Offer\u201d Call<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How to Create a Cold Call Script<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"three](\"http:\/\/www.backstagelenses.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cold-calling-techniques-1-20250226-3071401.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n1. Identify 2-3 verticals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Identify 20 good-fit prospects.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"the](\"http:\/\/www.backstagelenses.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cold-calling-techniques-2-20250226-9743716.webp\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\n3. Research each prospect.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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