Would you rather get a call or email first from somebody doing outreach? Please help!

[NervousNel]

I'm back in the workplace part time after time away, loving it but confidence all shot to pieces.

I do outreach for a charity, letting other relevant organisations know about useful (and free!) things we can offer them that are beneficial to their clients.

My background is PR. I always would email journalists in the first instance, before following up with a call (unless I have a working relationship with the journo where I'd just pick up the phone).

New boss wants me to cold call everyone first - I'm getting lots of voicemail and just phones ringing out.

Should I go with my gut and suggest emailing first or wwyd? I really love this job and want to be good at it, it's a great opportunity for me and don't want to mess it up by being shit and having no success with my phone calls!

Definitely email first! That way, if their phone does ring they will more likely answer it as they may have already seen that you have tried to get into contact with them and be aware of why you are ringing.

See, this is what I think. It also acts as a conversational opener, rather than feeling completely like a cold caller.

As its a new job, I'd follow the bosses advice, but keep a log of how many answer etc. After a few weeks, suggest again- that you send an email first. Ask if you could 'trial' your system, for a week, or even a day to see if it help.

Another option is just do the trial yourself and see what works best.

I had a similar role (not charity). Check that your number doesn't show as spam on phones- ours often did depending on their provider. Do test calls to your own mobile/friend etc to see what comes up.

I personally think the email 1st is far better. On the call, you can refer to the email, they can check it and you will likely get further. Let us know how you get on.

I forgot to add. Some people wanted me to send them an email before I went into details about why I was calling. In 99% of cases, they were more than willing to have a call back, or even wait on the phone whilst I sent them an email and they'd check it out!

I never answer an unknown number.

Total waste.

I hate being cold called and marketed to. An email (IF relevant to me) and a personalised phone call in follow up is more appropriate.

That's the bit that I'm finding frustrating, I think - what we're offering is free and is a really nice thing for the (vulnerable due to medical needs) people in it's aimed at. It's genuinely something that enriches people's lives and they don't need to pay for it!

But a cold call just isn't the right way of approaching anyone. I would think it odd if I got such a call tbh whereas I'd skim an email, and realise we could benefit from it and be much more likely to want to take the next steps on the phone.

Nobody answers cold calls especially now that people are WFH and so use personal mobiles not office phones.

Yes email