Do You Dare Throw Away The Script And Start A Conversation!

Stop the sales pitch and start talking and listening to your customer. “It’s an amazing feeling, says Helen Robinson, when you feel the rapport, that mutual trust you’re building with the customer.”

My first experience in sales was in telemarketing. I was so scared that to this day I can’t remember what I was selling. The sales trainer told me to read the script and all would be fine. I found a nice secluded corner desk where no one would hear me and dialed my first lead. ...

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Stop the sales pitch and start talking and listening to your customer. “It’s an amazing feeling, says Helen Robinson, when you feel the rapport, that mutual trust you’re building with the customer.”

My first experience in sales was in telemarketing. I was so scared that to this day I can’t remember what I was selling. The sales trainer told me to read the script and all would be fine. I found a nice secluded corner desk where no one would hear me and dialed my first lead. I introduced myself and started to read the script I was given. I thought I was doing fine until the gentleman asked me a question. “You can’t do this to me; my trainer didn’t say anything about questions; there are no questions in the script!” Of course I didn’t voice this out loud; I just broke out in a sweat, lost my place in the script and felt my throat closing.” Since he had no idea who I was, thank heaven, I just hung up the phone. Silly wasn’t I?

At that moment I decided I needed a new mindset. The person on the other end doesn’t know me. The only reason they will speak to me is because I sound warm, friendly and polite and if I ask a question, even a simple one, I will wait for an answer. Have you experienced the caller who asks how you are today and doesn’t wait for an answer just starts reading some words on a piece of paper?

Wouldn’t it be nice to build up that trust and create a customer for yourself and the company you work for? You don’t need a script. You should learn all you can about your company, the product or service you’re selling before you pick up that phone. Try to be relaxed and get you’re customer in the same mood.

Here’s one of my best examples of listening and I think one of my favorite moments on the phone. A business owner called asking for some information to be sent to him. I tried to get some information about his operation to start a conversation but that’s all I could get was a yes or no answer. From the name of his business I realized he owned many pretzel concessions that were located in movie theaters, etc. I was listening to his tone and it seemed to me that he wasn’t unfriendly, perhaps just shy or had a really bad day. He proceeded to give me his name, address and in the middle of this information, I asked, “Do they come with mustard?” The long silence was deafening. I said, “The pretzels, do they come with mustard?” He started to laugh and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I knew he would become a customer and he did. I looked forward to calling him for reorders and I really think he liked hearing from me. The moral of the story, believe in what you’re selling, know your product and enjoy talking to your prospects. Relax and the orders will come.

Cold Calling:Spectacular Structure for a Script

Get real with your cold calling script, and begin to see real success!

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coldcalling,cold calling,fear of coldcalling,coldcalling techniques

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Copyright 2006 Top Dog Consulting

There are so many wimpy cold calling scripts out there that if your try them all, they’ll make your head spin.

You’ll find some scripts tell you to introduce yourself and bond before you get to the point, as though you’ll build a lasting relationship within a few seconds on the phone.

Other scripts direct you to tell prospect all about the company, as though your company’s history will justify the fact that your call that has interrupted the prospect’s day.

Some scripts even start out with the unconvincing words “This is not a sales call…” Yeah, right. Who do they think they’re kidding!

By the same token, you and I both know that the power of any sales presentation is in the words.

Face-to-face you have all sorts of visual cues that let you know whether or not you and your prospect are strolling down the primrose path, together.

In the blink of an eye you pick up cues such as a prospect’s crossed arms, broken eye contact, and other body language that lets you know when your words have taken the two of you off the profitable path. With these cues, you quickly figure out how to get back on track and can easily adjust your sales presentation accordingly.

On the phone, however, your cues come from background sounds, tone of voice, pacing, and the words themselves.

To stay on course self-control is key.

Say too much and you’ll hear, “If he’s interested he’ll call you” and wonder, “What happened?” Say too little and the gatekeeper will ask questions, to keep you talking, find out what she thinks she needs to know, and then get you off the phone.

Since sales professionals have a gift for gab and thrive on social interaction, we are most comfortable talking with people face-to-face. We prefer to be around people and usually dread cold calling on the telephone. When we do our cold call prospecting, it is easy for us to talk too fast; too spew out way too many words for the prospect to grasp on the phone, and to relinquish self-control altogether. We experience failure, not our favorite lesson, and quickly build an aversion to making cold calls.

Successful sales professionals turn aversion to attraction by using scripts that are, in essence, a sophisticated sales presentation. Scripts that are stripped down to the essential words, not too many and not too few words that “make the sale” in their 90-seconds of time on the phone with an executive or executive assistant.

Yes! A script can be that good and yield results of 6-8 appointments out of every 10 calls.

How do you come up with a script that’s so good? First, you must craft a script so that it contains each of the components of an effective face-to-face sales presentation. Then you must streamline the script for successful transition to the telephone.

A spectacular structure for a cold calling script is this:

1. Use the prospect’s name, in the form of a question, as your opening line. 2. Identify yourself 3. State the purpose of your call 4. Build a benefit statement that tells your prospect precisely what he/she will get out of meeting with you—in terms of bottom line numbers. 5. Maintain self-control by knowing what you want out of the call and asking the questions you need to ask to get there.

Here’s an example of such a script:

“Mary?” “This is Leslie.” “I’m calling from ColdCallingExecutives.com to see whether or not I can double John’s revenues in 90 days or less.” “When’s the best time for him to meet, this week or next?” “I appreciate you. Thank you.”

Even the best cold callers are struck by how much effort it takes to relax during cold calls to executives, how few words actually need to be spoken during a structured sales call, and the power of a carefully crafted sales call.

You’ve heard the phrase “KISS … Keep It Simple, Stupid!” You can modify that a bit to help you with your own spectacular script for successful cold call prospecting. KISS… Keep It Simple and Structured. Then, enjoy your success as your new, simply spectacular cold calling strategy pays off!

Forward this article to friends—they’ll thank you for it!