- February 21, 2018 -
I was a one-call close salesman.
We were taught to...
Think like a closer.
Act like a closer.
Walk like a closer.
Believe you were a closer.
Weeks one and two of every month were spent cold-calling anyone listed in the county directory...one after another, making our pitch.
Typical example back then? Here's one...
So I have John on the phone and he wants to submit an order...but needs to talk it over with his wife first.
My response goes like this: "Hey, John. We're buying stock, not curtains!"
Pretty cringe-worthy, isn't it?
I'm figuring that right about now you're thinking "So you were one of those sleaze buckets, Art!"
Hear me out. Here's why...
As you know, I like to approach things from a very different perspective, looking OUTSIDE of conventional strategies for business and marketing lessons...
Yeah, I love being a contrarian!
So let's bust a myth...
Neither is email marketing. Or...
Direct mail marketing.
Hubspot will tell you cold calling has gone the way of the dinosaur...that's it's time to say "good riddance." Sayonara!
Here's what I say...excellent!
'Cause I do things a big "opposite" of everyone else in the free world.
Here's what cold-calling taught me (and I continue to teach.)
1) How to deal with rejection. Hang-ups are a part of business. It's not personal.
Move on to the next number.
2) How to deal with objections. Business is done with real people with real fears and concerns. Listen and respond in a humanized way.
I contend that technology is way overused and overrated. Automation done correctly is a game-changer...done wrong, it's just another gadget.
3) How to communicate with confidence. I can't tell you how many prospective hires I've interviewed who are afraid of picking up the damn phone.
The skill of communicating outside of social media bites and text messages is what IS going the way of the dinosaur.
The key to smart cold-calling is train your team to deliver a consistent pitch every time...a pitch that speaks to their prospects' most basic pain points.
That includes a systematic use of scripts to ensure the pitch is perfect every time.
So what if your business doesn't use cold-calling?
I agree...it's not relevant for every business. (It's just not dead.)
You have to sell somehow...sales pages, free consults, demo's, webinars. Right?
At some point in the sales cycle, you're going to have to make the pitch and ask for the sale.
Would you consider adding video to your sales process?
If so, we produce a unique type of sales video that includes persuasive copywriting and the latest sales psychology.
We’ll help you incorporate these videos into your sales process at key areas to pre-qualify leads, explain what your company does in a compelling way and help your sales people close more business.
Take a look at PerfectPitch™ Sales Videos.
Always be selling!
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