How To Effectively Cold Call Leads
How To Effectively Cold Call Leads
By: Dave Cole
As network marketers we do a major part of our
business by calling leads. For a person just starting out
this can be rather intimidating and too often a person
doesn't know how to "open" up a call, gets a lot of
rejection, and then decides this isn't for me.
Today I'd like to give you the opening that I have been
using with good success. It's short, to the point, friendly,
yet business like.
I find out in a matter of seconds whether the person on
the other end of the line is worth spending my time with,
and generally I find out quickly if this is a person who
is a serious candidate or not.
Too often we have a tendency to "chase" after our leads,
somehow "hoping" they will sign up. Let's talk a bit about that
first.
To make any kind of call a success, you must first and
foremost have an attitude. You've got have posture.
You've got to have confidence in yourself and in your
product and your presentation.
You get confidence in your product by using it! How simple
is that. If you can't get enthusiastic about what you have
to offer, be it the opportunity or the product, then do yourself
a big favor and find something you can get excited about.
Studies have shown that around 60% of all sales are made
because the presenter was enthusiastic about their product.
Next, you've got have a confidence in yourself. You can't be
scared or un-sure of yourself and expect to get results.
A few people just naturally have confidence in themselves,
for the rest of us, confidence comes with practice and
experience.
I've went through thousands of leads. I've got thousands of
rejections. I've tried lots of different scripts to find out what
works best for me. I practiced every one of them before
I got on the phone.
The thing is, if you're going to call 10 people and get 10
rejections, and you're afraid of losing your dignity, either
you get over it quickly, or find another business to be in.
Every network marketer out there gets far more no's than
they get a yes.
Every call I make, I look at it as a learning experience. I
look at it as a game. I'm a hunter.....a head hunter. I look
for people who are interested in becoming a part of my
opportunity.
I have fun calling people. But there are days when I just
don't have that good feeling about myself, so I don't
call. I wait until I do. I wait until the time is right for me
and I have that confidence in me.
Before I make a single call, I have a list of qualifications
a person must meet. If the person doesn't have those
qualifications, then I'm not going to waste my time. I
certainly do not ever try to"drag any person" into the
business.
If I do that, then chances are that person won't do anything
anyway, so why bother. I don't need a person in my organization
who does nothing but bother me. I'll spend as much time with
anyone who proves to me they are working, but it's best
to pre-qualify your prospects and save you a lot of time
later on.
What do I look for in a prospect? They must be respective
of me and what I'm saying. I'm a professional, my time
is valuable, and I have an incredible life changing opportunity
to offer. A person who interrupts, or is rude, or who
doesn't have the consideration to turn down the TV or
radio behind them, is most likely not who I am looking for.
A person who has a difficult time talking, or who just says
very little is not who I am looking for. I'm looking for
folks who have confidence, who can listen then express
an opinion. A person who isn't afraid to ask questions.
I'm looking for someone who is alive.
I'm also looking for someone who has the vision for their
future and the financial means to meet the start up fees and
then do what it takes to build their business.
So let's give Perry Prospect a call.
Perry is a generic lead I've purchased from a lead company.
They supposedly have answered an ad for a work at home
opportunity.
-------------------------------------------------
Ring, Ring Ring.
"Hi, is Perry home?"
"Great, may I speak with him please?"
"Hi Perry, how are you doing today?" (put some friendliness
in your voice, act genuine and like you care)
"Perry, I'm in a really neat business...I help pets and
help people live longer and healthier lives."
"Perry, I'm calling today to find out if you would like to
learn more about how you can make some good money
from your home helping pets and other folks like yourself
live longer and healtheir lives?"
---------------------------------------------------
At this point I will either get a no or yes. If a person gives
me a no, I've spent about 15 seconds of my time to find
out everything I need to know about this lead.
A no answer means one thing.... I call the next number.
I don't take it personal. It just wasn't the right time in that
person's life.
I get a yes, then I'll do two things: start the relationship
and start the interview. Remember, this person has so far
showed me they are respectful by listening, but they
have not yet proven they are worthwile candidates for
my business.
Next question is: "Perry, is this a good time for you to chat?"
No, then we set a time, yes and we go on.
By asking them that, I've shown that person that I respect
them and their life.
"Perry, do you have any pets?"
This is a great icebreaker. It gets the person to open up to
me by talking about a non-threatening subject and a fun subject.
I do a lot of listening here. The object is to get the person to
trust you. Trust comes when a person feels like you care
about them. And I truly do care about the health of their pets,
so this is not just a ploy or tactic.
And it's the rare bird who will join your opportunity if they
don't trust and have some level of confidence in you.
I'm also finding out how the communication abilities this
person has. If someone says to me "I have a cat." Then shuts
up, the person probably doesn't have the communication
skills needed to be a success.
I'm learning whether this is a person I want to work with
or not. Did you get that! I'm in control, I'm looking for
someone special, not just anybody. You've got to prove to
me you're the right person for me. Thats called posture.
I'm not afraid to let this lead go, I'm not afraid to not
sign them up. I'm not looking for just any old body. If
Perry doesn't sign no biggie, I've got 100 more prospects to
call.
I've always got more leads to call than I've got time.
Finding the right people for your organization is also what's
called money in the bank.
As we continue to chat, I'll ask them how much money
they have to comfortably invest at this time. If it's not enough,
and if the person is interested in the opportunity, then
I'll suggest they purchase the products and get a start that
way.
Remember: even tho a person is not right for your opportunity,
your fallback position is: get them on the products.
If that doesn't work, then your next position is, ask them
if they know anyone who is interested.
Calling generic leads can be fun, it definitely is a learning
experience, and sometimes it can be depressing. But
don't ever give up. You never know, that diamond
may be just a phone call away.
Also remember, your initial call is not to get that person
to join. Your objectives are:
1. Find out if this is a person for you.
2. Start the relationship building process
3. Find out what their "hot buttons" are, what motivates them
4. Get them to look at your web site, or send them info on
your opportunity.
Ask the person when they will look at your information. Then
set up a specific date and time to follow up.
Good luck and have fun.
Dave Cole
Prosperity: The Choice Is Yours
Copyright © 2005
Dave's E-zine provides you with valuable info
on how to market your online business and how
to make money online. Get your Free subscription today.
http://www.choosetoprosper.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article may be freely copied or used under the
express condition it remain intact and un-changed
from the above original content.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please Donate One Dollar to Help Pets
Get Your Free Subscription To
Prosperity: The Choice Is Yours
Copyright © 2004/2008
ChooseToProsper