Help re Cold Calling

[twincrazy]

As the title reads, Ive been working for my fathers business for 7yrs now I used to do admin and a bit of selling here and there, but mainly admin

We then took on an admin girl a year ago who is just amazing so good at her job, so the last year I have been cold calling just part time around my little girl

I work from home mainly and I am really finding it very hard

We do have a good tool, but I lose my patience if I cant get through to anybody that is interested

I have lost all interest but there is nothing else for me to do within the company so this is what I have to continue doing

Just after some advice tips etc

Thanks x

Cold-calling is possibly the second most soul-destroying job after door-to-door selling, and working alone won't help. Any way you could work from the office, just for the moral support?

Look for another job?

I have a friend who is a very successful cold caller because he has a skin like a rhino. I also have a husband who works as a sales director/ managing director in manufacturing what he has found more successful in these tough times are:

1. Driving round industrial estates identifying possible customers leaving his card and getting e-mail address of correct purchasing manager.
2. Get out yellow pages and phone round companies don't ask to speak to purchasing manager just ask for e-mail address
3. He then creates sales e-mails that he sends out which people can read at their leisure.

He finds that it takes 4 to 6 months to convert any of these to a sale and he has to be prepared to be flexible on price. He converted to e-mails as he himself had found himself less open to calls (actually will not even talk) since the recession, but e-mails he will look at in quiet moments when it suits him.

I totally agree very soul destroying but no I couldnt walk away now from my dads business especially being an only child.

I think the way forward to is to be thick skinned, and plod on it is a good feeling when you do open up an account.

Lizcat I do send out emails just after a brief introduction, and I tend to use business magent for leads

Still .. need a firework up my backside!!

As I say he thinks it takes 4 to 6 months to get response he is also happy with a 2% response to leads.
Currently chasing business is pretty soul destroying.

what does your company sell? Have you thought of using facebook, twitter, linkedin (though do appreciate that this might not be appropriate). Has your company got a website that you can do some work on/refer potential customers to? I

Ex sales trainer here technique - so depends what you are selling - ie one off product or long term service but I would be happy to give you some ideas !

If you are ok with technique and pitch and its just motivation - you need to ''reward '' yourself ie coffee break every 15 calls - new lipstick for every new lead (what ever motivates you obviously though) and as Carlajean says cold calling is not the only option these days

It is hard work. Set yourself reasonable targets for calls leads and sales and the rewards for hitting them. It would be easier to do in a team but no reason why not when it's just you.

You just need to find a way to sell it to yourself! How about pitting a pound in a jar for every lead and spending tge jar on a holiday in the summer? 16 leads a week would mean £500 in 8 months!

I'm sorry, probably not what you want to hear but I hate cold callers with a vengence. I am ex-directory for a reason but somehow my phone number keeps getting onto some mailing list and I'm constantly getting calls. DS was quite ill a few weeks ago and was up all night most nights so trying to sleep in the day. One day the same company phoned 3 times in the space of about 2 hours, refusing to take no for an answer and each time woke DS up

As others have said, perhaps look at other alternatives to cold calling.

It does depend on the type of business- what is best - there are some good online tips for calling if you google

MOSagain - you need to register with the TPS - telephone preference service -takes about 5 mintutes

Careful when cold calling out of the phone book I don't think it's legal although most companies do it !! (because of tps)

thanks for info ref TPS, have just registered