Don't use a generic opener. Lead with a specific trigger or context about the prospect, acknowledge it's a cold call, and then ask for 30 seconds of their time. This personalized approach makes every opener unique and more engaging, increasing the chances they'll listen.

Standard cold outreach is ignored. To stand out, use a humorous or cheeky opening line that grabs attention and starts a relationship, not just a sales process. A line like, 'Hey, Chris, you know, I was thinking about you last night,' can be far more effective than a generic value proposition.

Go beyond persuasion during a sales call. Use "pre-suasion" to shape the conversation's context beforehand. By strategically sending relevant content, links, and discussion topics, you can prime the prospect to focus on your strengths, making the eventual sales meeting far more effective.

Using AI to generate a pre-call hypothesis about a prospect's priorities is valuable even when it's wrong. Presenting a thoughtful, albeit incorrect, idea demonstrates research. This prompts the prospect to correct you, immediately opening the door to a deeper conversation about their actual priorities.

Before discovery, state the meeting's Purpose (to determine fit), Plan (topics and timing), and desired Outcome (a decision on next steps). This structured agenda aligns expectations, prevents prospects from becoming impatient for a demo, and gives you control of the interaction.

Prospects are conditioned to reject sales calls. By acting as if you're an expected caller with a specific reason (e.g., "holding the 2025 realtors report"), you interrupt their pattern, create curiosity, and establish yourself as a peer, not a stranger asking for their time.

To build instant rapport, frame a prospect's problems using the exact informal language they would use when complaining to a colleague at the coffee machine. This shows a deep understanding of their world, moving beyond generic corporate jargon.

Most reps prepare for calls, but this effort is often invisible to the prospect. By explicitly showing your work—like presenting a hypothesis slide based on your research—you demonstrate conscientiousness and earn respect, especially when selling to more senior executives.

Avoid generic small talk about weather. Instead, start the call by demonstrating you've researched their business and respect their time. This builds immediate credibility and prevents prospects from multitasking before the real conversation begins.