It is an almost lost art that is coming back. The cold call.
Whether in person or on the phone, calling someone for business purposes “out of the blue” is alive and well.
Sometimes successful, most times greeted with a closed door on your nose opr dial tone, it is the way to reach out.
Fact is, you just have to do it. It is part of the prospecting mix. And networking, too.
But like networking, you don’t go in cold, really. You do your homework on a company, a person, a show, an event. Get to know something about them: where they went to school, who they know (from LinkedIn or Facebook), where else they’ve worked. And the same goes for companies: how long have they been in business, who are their biggest clients, who their strategic partners are, what their main products or offerings are, where their main or key offices are. And, of course, who works for them.
That cold call is starting to be a bit warmer, right?
And, as for teh call itself: be warm. Smile on the phone, have a prepared, but “deviatable” speech prepared, know what you are asking for. Be prepared to talk to voicemail, but be poilite. And persistent.
Any cold-calling experiences out there?
Relentless
You can also find Paul Maynard, The Relentless Networker, at http://therelentlessnetworker.blogspot.com/
