Why is everyone afraid of cold calling?
- Thread starter macdonjo3
- Start date
- Jan 30, 2013
- 1,412
- 797
It's one of the main symptoms of social anxiety. But there could be another reason too as everyone explained here.
Its use to happen with me when I was in the higher level of social anxiety, but now it's started to fade away.
Its use to happen with me when I was in the higher level of social anxiety, but now it's started to fade away.
Sunshne722
BANNED
- Jul 3, 2016
- 2
- 0
For people who might not have a lot of experience with cold calling, it can be quite nerve-racking. I tried cold calling before and the first time I was very nervous, but the person I was talking to was down to earth and very friendly so I felt more at ease. Cold calling is just like riding a bike, the more you do it the better you'll get at it.
chrisyoungsd
Junior Member
- Mar 6, 2014
- 187
- 25
No way man! You just gotta get after it. Practice makes perfect and once you convert calls into sales things get easier. Confidence is key and knowing what you are talking about. The most important thing to remember is you never really know who you are talking to so don't BS them and if you don't know an answer don't make it up, saying "I'll get back to you with that" is always ok.
CHeers
StSignal
Junior Member
- Jun 15, 2016
- 136
- 12
You're righ it's easier if nothing else.
sakari
BANNED
- Oct 1, 2012
- 128
- 25
Girls are afraid to call and order pizza? Really? I'm assuming that's more crippling than say, going on Tinder to get guys buying them pizzas. Hahaha
Elena Babka
Registered Member
- Jul 21, 2016
- 69
- 9
I'm not afraid.When I worked as a manager in the cosmetics company, I had to communicate with dozens of people a day ... After the first five calls all fear goes...
- Apr 25, 2011
- 19,848
- 28,296
I was afraid of it - I think the thing for me it is the un-predictability of it and the fact that you need to be quick and responsive when trying to sell on the phone - that's probably my worst quality.
I got over it a while back when doing some cold calling for my biz.
I called around 100 companies but unfortunately did not get any leads :-/
Just now I have revised my entire process and script and will be having another go of it in the next few weeks, so I may post the results
I got over it a while back when doing some cold calling for my biz.
I called around 100 companies but unfortunately did not get any leads :-/
Just now I have revised my entire process and script and will be having another go of it in the next few weeks, so I may post the results
forethan
Regular Member
- Oct 5, 2012
- 402
- 114
And what's your results now???I was afraid of it - I think the thing for me it is the un-predictability of it and the fact that you need to be quick and responsive when trying to sell on the phone - that's probably my worst quality.
I got over it a while back when doing some cold calling for my biz.
I called around 100 companies but unfortunately did not get any leads :-/
Just now I have revised my entire process and script and will be having another go of it in the next few weeks, so I may post the results
How do you call? Have you got a software to call/manage/track your call.
Because i've decided to cold calling me too and i need a good softare to manage my call.
- Apr 25, 2011
- 19,848
- 28,296
I have stopped doing it now. I didn't have any success with it. But I know that of course it can be successful - when I have the budget I am going to hire someone to do it for me, someone who has sales skills. I know a few other companies that built most of their business from cold calls.
My advise to you if you want to do it is to look up Jordan Belfort and the straight line persuasion system - great guide to selling. And yea, I was just tracking it in a spreadsheet but I guess you could do something much more efficient than that if you were doing it on a larger scale.
This is so true mate. I am a 30 year old single guy, never had a girlfriend. That's the main reason probably, that I am afraid to talk to girls.
forethan
Regular Member
- Oct 5, 2012
- 402
- 114
Ok i've just found it on bhw! Now let's study that!!!
SpreadOption
Newbie
- Feb 17, 2014
- 13
- 1
My first ever job (when I was 17) required some cold calling, and I absolutely hated it. I don't have social anxiety in general, but there's something about the combination of these elements: (1) phone; (2) somebody you've never talked to before; (3) you're trying to sell/offer/pitch them something, which the vast majority of people don't like; (4) fear of rejection; and (5) doing this over and over again several times a day.
I have some friends who are pretty successful "real world" (i.e., not online) salespeople, and cold calling doesn't bother them. Invariably, what they've told me is that they essentially think of it as a game or a challenge and approach it with an "attack" mentality. Like, "I'm going to make 50 calls after lunch, and I'm going to give a kick-ass pitch on all of them. If I only get one bite, that's just how the game goes." It's an admirable attitude, though not I'm not sure it's one I could adopt.
I have some friends who are pretty successful "real world" (i.e., not online) salespeople, and cold calling doesn't bother them. Invariably, what they've told me is that they essentially think of it as a game or a challenge and approach it with an "attack" mentality. Like, "I'm going to make 50 calls after lunch, and I'm going to give a kick-ass pitch on all of them. If I only get one bite, that's just how the game goes." It's an admirable attitude, though not I'm not sure it's one I could adopt.
Eternal1912
Power Member
- Dec 6, 2014
- 687
- 288
To all six people who liked my post - My brother got rejected from the Chinese food delivery guy twice yesterday. It's scaring now.
Conor
Elite Member
- Nov 7, 2012
- 3,621
- 6,217
I'll take advantage of the bump. I stay away from cold calling for a couple of reasons:
1. I used to work in a "call center" of sorts. I did customer support for a local company. I hated it. People never phoned to say nice things. It's not fun talking to angry people on the phone 8 hours a day. Sure, you might have some success cold calling, but the majority of people will make you feel like crap.
2. I hate it when telemarketers phone me. I wouldn't wish such a conversation on my worst enemy. Who wants to be talked at for 10 minutes in an attempt to be sold a product?
1. I used to work in a "call center" of sorts. I did customer support for a local company. I hated it. People never phoned to say nice things. It's not fun talking to angry people on the phone 8 hours a day. Sure, you might have some success cold calling, but the majority of people will make you feel like crap.
2. I hate it when telemarketers phone me. I wouldn't wish such a conversation on my worst enemy. Who wants to be talked at for 10 minutes in an attempt to be sold a product?
- Nov 14, 2011
- 1,471
- 1,627
It really comes down to two things;
1. Your ability
2. Your product
I love sales, as business has grown I don't get to do it anywhere near as much as I used to; but I still mentor a few VA's and the game like approach is the perfect way to go. Every single call that you get through to a decision maker, a sale is made. End of story. You sell to them, or they sell to you, it's that simple. Learn to handle rejection, if you don't call... it's a no, if you do and they don't go for it, it's a no. Same outcome.
That said, you can be the best salesman in the world but if you're pushing a shitty product or you're pushing it to a burnt out list or a non targeted audience then you're going to A) not be working at maximum productivity levels and B) you're going to fucking hate it, so are you're staff, and so are 99% of the people you call.
Targeted cold calls, or even slightly warmed calls (think targeted email, Lead Kahuna etc) is the way to go.
If you have a good product, and you have the right audience (by qualifying (via automation) them prior to first contact, even to very minimal levels) then 'cold' calling is still one of the best and most profitable ways of drumming up new business. People who say it isn't typically don't understand how to do it, or have never tried through fear.
1. Your ability
2. Your product
I love sales, as business has grown I don't get to do it anywhere near as much as I used to; but I still mentor a few VA's and the game like approach is the perfect way to go. Every single call that you get through to a decision maker, a sale is made. End of story. You sell to them, or they sell to you, it's that simple. Learn to handle rejection, if you don't call... it's a no, if you do and they don't go for it, it's a no. Same outcome.
That said, you can be the best salesman in the world but if you're pushing a shitty product or you're pushing it to a burnt out list or a non targeted audience then you're going to A) not be working at maximum productivity levels and B) you're going to fucking hate it, so are you're staff, and so are 99% of the people you call.
Targeted cold calls, or even slightly warmed calls (think targeted email, Lead Kahuna etc) is the way to go.
If you have a good product, and you have the right audience (by qualifying (via automation) them prior to first contact, even to very minimal levels) then 'cold' calling is still one of the best and most profitable ways of drumming up new business. People who say it isn't typically don't understand how to do it, or have never tried through fear.
annarichart
Newbie
- Feb 17, 2017
- 17
- 0
I'd like to share some cold-calling tips:
- Personalise your call by preparing mentally.
- Perfect your phone style alone before making any calls. Gather a voice recorder, a mirror, a sales journal of incoming and outgoing phone scripts, a pen, and a legal-sized pad. Either write or select a favorite phone dialogue, then talk to yourself in the mirror. Do you look relaxed, or are your facial expressions rigid? Our exteriors reflect our inner selves. If you look like you’re in knots, your voice will sound strained as well. Press the “record” button on your recorder, and pretend you’re talking to a new prospect. Play back the recording, and listen to your conversation. Ask yourself how you could improve your delivery. If your voice seems unnatural and the dialogue contrived, don't despair. As you practice and participate in real phone experiences, you'll improve. Mastering the art of cold-calling is no different than improving your golf swing or skiing technique.
- Personalise your call by preparing mentally.
- Perfect your phone style alone before making any calls. Gather a voice recorder, a mirror, a sales journal of incoming and outgoing phone scripts, a pen, and a legal-sized pad. Either write or select a favorite phone dialogue, then talk to yourself in the mirror. Do you look relaxed, or are your facial expressions rigid? Our exteriors reflect our inner selves. If you look like you’re in knots, your voice will sound strained as well. Press the “record” button on your recorder, and pretend you’re talking to a new prospect. Play back the recording, and listen to your conversation. Ask yourself how you could improve your delivery. If your voice seems unnatural and the dialogue contrived, don't despair. As you practice and participate in real phone experiences, you'll improve. Mastering the art of cold-calling is no different than improving your golf swing or skiing technique.
BloodyNinja
Power Member
- Oct 28, 2013
- 663
- 749
The truth is: most people don't like talking to strangers.
Thus, when you as a stranger call them, they mostly freak out and give you negative emotions.
This is why the efficiency of cold calling is low.
Low efficiency is why telemarketers are being paid low.
Frankly saying, I've never seen uberprofessionals selling exclusively through cold calling except in movies. There are some situations, which demand cold calling. Usually, they are temporary. Cold calling can be very effective when combined with some lead screening method. For example, when you are calling leads collected from your web page. In this case, they authorized the call and won't perceive it as an intrusion in their lives.
Thus, when you as a stranger call them, they mostly freak out and give you negative emotions.
This is why the efficiency of cold calling is low.
Low efficiency is why telemarketers are being paid low.
Frankly saying, I've never seen uberprofessionals selling exclusively through cold calling except in movies
. There are some situations, which demand cold calling. Usually, they are temporary. Cold calling can be very effective when combined with some lead screening method. For example, when you are calling leads collected from your web page. In this case, they authorized the call and won't perceive it as an intrusion in their lives.