Build your professional network on facebook via our app Go to app
 
 
 
Industry : IT Services Functional Area : Productivity & Performance
Activity:  23 comments  1053 views  last activity : 07 06 2010 20:18:04 +0000
 Refer 55
Share
 
 
 

Fixing business meetings has never been that easy as it’s always difficult to digest a tight slap while cold calling (I have received many). We have been spending days and even nights in generating leads and maintaining sales funnel, however adding a little tactics to our efforts could make a huge difference. Presenting below the 10 Best ways to cold call, bypass gatekeepers and opening other bottlenecks.

 
  1. Act like a CEO: The best way to get through gatekeepers is to act like a CEO of your company and not just a Business Development Manager. Tell him that you need to talk to Mr. Henson for 3 mins and for that you want to take an appointment to discuss business. Taking an appointment is the finest way ever to crack through. Ask her what time is he free and you can call him that time. Do not take the first time suggested by EA. Tell her that you are extremely busy at that time and have back to back meetings scheduled on that day. Take the next best time slot from her.
  1. Calling Hour: Calling in early hours works better than calling at late hours (assumption based on experience). Do not worry, if you have missed early hours; the next best thing could be calling 5 mins. before every complete hour as that is the time when any prior meeting will come to an end.
  1. Reach higher in Hierarchy: The best way to reach a Director IT could be dialing in CIO’s EA and asking for Director IT. Tell that you got transferred to her extension by reception and then ask direct number for Director IT. Once transferred, tell Director that you just got transferred from CIO’s Desk and have been suggested to talk to you. He will greet you, if you do that.
  1. Find Direct Numbers Direct numbers are the best when cold calling as it saves you a lot of time when you have to call 100s of these. You would usually not get any direct number from US switch boards. The best way to get a direct number could be calling in UK office when you know that the person you want to located is in US. Here you can ask for direct number to any Director/CIO office.
  1. Straight Messaging: Be very straight to your message. Do not ever hide your objective of call while speaking to prospect. Tell the prospect on the face that you want to follow-up regarding services to Oracle which was implemented by Wipro last year and want to know the status of the contract renewal.
  1. Circle the Best: Be confident about your product/service. Circle down the best points of your product and impress the purchaser about you being number 1 in your space. Tell him that if he is not listening to you then he is loosing something.
  1. No waste of Time: Be precise about the time you want to take in that call. – “I would like to take next 30 Sec. and not even a single sec. more than that”. Assure him that you are not here to waste his time.
  1. Avoid Slaps: Ask him his profile or search for his profile on internet just by Googling his name before you make a call. It could be a “One tight Slap” situation if you are pitching wrong proposition to wrong party.
  1. The Gyan: Do not try to sell him in the first call. Do not try to give him all “Gyan” (he being the right guy to trap) in one go. Request him for a time; if he is not interested to give you time then it is clear that he doesn’t require any services at this point; move on for new prospect. Give him freedom to select his time. It could be after 2 weeks.
  1. Call Closing: Do not close the call before you take a next date to follow-up with client. They are going to need your services some day for sure if not today. It doesn’t matter if your prospect tells to follow-up next year. Immediately mark your calendar wit the same.
- Nishchal
 Top Comment : avena suri   | 05 03 2008 10:56:38 +0000
I really appreciate the way you have simplified the work flow and provided all the coups and capers in bullet points. good job!!
 
23 comments on "10 Best ways to Cold Call, bypass gatekeepers and other bottlenecks."
  Commented by  Melwin Pais, Software Developer, Novellus Systems (India)    | 10 15 2009 16:55:35 +0000
Its nice to know these ideas, but isn´t it unethical at some levels to go for workarounds?
  Commented by  Devi Kaladeen, Audit Manager, Health Sector Development Unit    | 04 15 2009 02:18:08 +0000
Interesting article.
  Commented by  sivaprasad, Sales Executive/Officer, Torry Harris    | 02 26 2009 06:05:49 +0000
Gud one...:)
  Commented by  Rohit Mittal, Product/Brand Manager, Redington India Limited    | 02 04 2009 08:27:26 +0000
Thought provoking and interesting article
  Commented by  Mohd Asghar Naqvi, Recruitment Manager, Brook Software System Pvt. Ltd.    | 02 03 2009 06:43:20 +0000
excellent Tips for... Dear.....
  Commented by  Hari Prasad K, Head - Custom Solutions and Delivery    | 02 02 2009 08:14:59 +0000
Rating : +1 
Thanks... Tried this to get through to unknown contacts for business and it works!  Thanks once again for sharing...
  Commented by  JAPI, HR Manager, ACME Consultants    | 01 14 2009 04:36:30 +0000
amazing ........
  Commented by  Umesh, Senior Consultant, Key2jobs Consulting Pvt. Ltd    | 01 12 2009 11:55:43 +0000
excellent tips...Thanks
  Commented by  bharath kumar, Sr HR Executive    | 01 12 2009 08:15:57 +0000
Yes its good and it works. Pls keep sharing.
  Commented by  Ashraf, HR Executive, Webecome    | 01 10 2009 10:21:51 +0000
Offcourse this is an excellent Article and guide for freshers in Sales & BD. Neverthless BodyLanguage & Confidence is the base line to make an effective Selling Call and then Closure.GOOD Article Thanks!
  Commented by  Vinod Yadav, Marketing Manager, L & T    | 01 07 2009 12:34:22 +0000
Nice article, but ultimately, there is going to be an "End to Cold Calling" as a means of prospecting.With newer approaches, newer media.

  Commented by  Raju Ramalingam, Business Analyst, Rhytha Web Solutions    | 01 05 2009 11:07:27 +0000
Excellent article...
  Commented by  Viktor Stephen, Recruitment Manager, Get.Next.Job    | 01 05 2009 06:46:04 +0000
useful tips, thanks for sharing. 
  Commented by  varsha ., Technical manger(QMS)    | 12 21 2008 09:05:30 +0000
superb article..
  Commented by  Bellala Gopinatha Rao, Project Manager Promax Management Consultants    | 12 21 2008 02:31:22 +0000
Rating : +1 
Very good tips.
Thanks Nischal
  Commented by  Samir Nigam, Sr. Software Engineer , SRM TECHSOL Pvt. Ltd.    | 07 26 2008 02:45:40 +0000
Rating : +1 
nice
  Commented by  Hari Prasad K, Head - Custom Solutions and Delivery    | 07 24 2008 23:46:40 +0000
Rating : +2 
Good article...clearly indicating steps..Thanks for sharing
  Commented by  Radhakrishnan Nair, Head/VP/GM-Marketing.    | 07 24 2008 07:12:06 +0000
Rating : +3 
hey it was good. More simple and clear. Helpful buddy.

Thanks
  Commented by  piyush mehrotra, Sales Executive/Officer telecom world    | 05 14 2008 07:09:16 +0000
Rating : +2 
this things allways work. i had use some of them.
Rating : +3 
Good Dude. its really helpful. I have attended some online seminars on this prospecting activity by some very good sales thought leaders. They have similar thoughts as well. Can we specefically discuss on 'how to break the voice mail barriers'. See in Gatekeeper(only considering the call handler here or the assistant) you have someone to speak with and you can try different skills to influence or bypass it but in case of voice mail, no-one!! I think at this point some special trick while leaving voice message could help. like soem specefic sentences or words to use, etc...
  Commented by  Atul Chaudhary, Business Development Executive, UG Software Technologies    | 05 05 2008 21:46:31 +0000
Rating : +2 
Simplified steps...excellent
  Commented by  avena suri, External Communications, Management Trainee, HCL Technologies    | 05 03 2008 10:56:38 +0000
Rating : +3 
I really appreciate the way you have simplified the work flow and provided all the coups and capers in bullet points. good job!!
Add your comment on "10 Best ways to Cold Call, bypass gatekeepers and other bottlenecks."

Rate:
Submit
 
Viewers also viewed
Whichever sort of communication it is whether its in organizations or whether its from a product...
 
1360 referals 68 arguments, 764 views
We meet many people and we just keep on meeting eople. So it is important for you to be ready to...
 
2039 referals 7 votes, 1566 views
Retaining sales is more difficult than creating one due to the market competition which arises.
 
0 referals 27 arguments, 612 views
more...  
Recent Knowledge (103)
India is a free nation. People have rights but still women are struggling to come up. There is a...
 
0 referals 6 comments, 73 views
"Ashok, a fresh computer graduate from a world- class University, goes for an interview in a...
 
0 referals 2 comments, 30 views
Know Where a Wine Really Comes From by Jim Gordon The mantra of real estate buyers everywhere --...
 
180 referals 7 comments, 408 views
more...  
More From Author
2011 stands as an year between "Recovery" and "Growth" worldwide. Companies have learnt new tricks of the trade during recession. Growing big is not as important as being profitable. At the same time, competition has become even more challenging...
Thanks Everyone. Nishchal Khetarpal
more...