Cold Calling Campaign… Does This Look Like Your Office?

The cold calling campaign at Sales Inc. was not going to well! I've seen plenty of sales offices that look like this as I am sure you have too. Perhaps you're looking at one now and pulling your hair out! It's amazing the excuses that salespeople can come up with when trying to avoid contacting new and (even) existing customers. If you don't want your sales office to look like this then why not speak to me about organizing an inspirational and motivational sales talk for your next sales conference, AGM or away day. … [Read more...]

What Are The First 15 Words To Say To A Prospect To Get Them Hooked Into A Conversation?

Here's a question that one of my contacts asked recently that I thought I would share with you, "So I have got past the gatekeeper - after the introduction, what are the first 15 words (or so) I say to a prospect that's going to get them hooked into a conversation?" And here's my answer... One of the questions I always ask delegates in sales training seminars is, "How long do you have to make a first impression?" The answer they give me varies but is always no more than a handful of seconds. In today's world, people make decisions very … [Read more...]

“How Do I Avoid My Cold Call Being Viewed As An Interruption By My Prospect?”

I've recently been collating common sales questions for a forthcoming book answering all of the main sales queries and questions that sales and business people have. I thought I'd share the answer to this one with you... "How do I avoid my cold call being viewed as an interruption by my prospect?" Simple answer: You can never stop your cold call being viewed as an “interruption”. Prospects are not wandering around with their phones under their arms hoping that you give them a call and brighten their days up! And, in a way, this is … [Read more...]

How To Mess Up A Cold Call

A cold caller has been trying to get hold of me for a few days with the message, “I would like to invite you to an event?” We finally spoke today and he launched into a series of questions (which weren’t all bad) and then a reasonably well crafted and well presented pitch. This guy should be making a lot of sales but, whether he does or not, I bet that he does a lot of head banging on a daily basis and he could do a lot better... Why? Lack of research, planning and preparation. You might ask how I know he wasn’t prepared properly? … [Read more...]

Join Me At The First Recruitment Juice Live Event

I am pleased to be speaking at the first Recruitment Juice live event. If you're in recruitment and you want to be more successful then grab this rare opportunity to see Roy Ripper and myself in January 2010 in London. Here's the Press Release... ISSUED 12 NOVEMBER 2009 RECRUITMENT JUICE LTD PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE FIRST EVER ‘JUICE LIVE’ EVENT “BOOST YOUR NEW BUINESS DRIVE” SEMINAR. Recruitment Juice Ltd, leading supplier of innovative DVD training programs to the recruitment industry, is building on their success with the … [Read more...]

Sales Training Tips For Handling Cold Calling Objections, Part III

Here is part III of my short sales training article on handling cold calling objections... “I’ve had a bad experience with your company in the past!” As objections go this one is slightly different as it may not be an objection at all, it could potentially be a complaint. For this reason it needs to be dealt with as a complaint to avoid stirring it up into something more. Most salespeople are confrontational when put into this kind of scenario. That’s a shame as it really is the complete opposite of how you need to behave to … [Read more...]

Sales Training Tip For Handling Cold Calling Objections, Part II

Here is part II of my short article on sales training tips for handling cold calling objections... “I use someone else!” This is a very common objection and one which salespeople and business owners can get very upset about. What they often hear in their heads is, “So I have no need for you!” Try replacing that self-talk with, “Yes, and?” Obviously, you’re not going to say that out loud but that’s what you need to think to yourself! Clients change suppliers all of the time. Clients moan about their suppliers all of … [Read more...]

Sales Training Tips For Handling Cold Calling Objections, Part I

One of the biggest challenges facing many salespeople is cold calling for new business meetings and winning new sales on the telephone. In many industries cold calling is the most cost effective way of uncovering new business opportunities. It is also an activity which strikes fear into the hearts of even some of the most proactive and confident of salespeople. Not surprisingly, therefore, it is one of the most commonly sought skills for sales training and sales development sessions. One of the reasons for this is the amount of rejection … [Read more...]

Question: “In A World Of Social Media, Is There Any Room For Cold Calling?”

Short answer, “Yes, there is.” Longer version... Today I mentioned in a status update that I was helping some surveyors to build new business leads through cold calling sales training. I was asked the question, “Cold calling? In an era of social media and connection?” The answer for so many reasons is... “Yes.” A top-class, sales development, plan should assess and consider many routes to market. Sales development is about multiple routes to market. Recent economic times prove that what you do today may well not work … [Read more...]

Finding New Client Information, Video 3 Of 3

If you want to win new business you need to be able to find new client information. In this video, the third in the series, we look at 10 top tips for improving your prospecting and new business generation. Follow these links to check out video 1 of Finding New Client Information and video 2 of Finding New Client Information. Don't forget to join the GavinIngham.com success newsletter free too as we will be launching new videos and sharing more sales boosting articles regularly. … [Read more...]