When a prospect objects with "not interested," they are not analyzing your product. They are reacting emotionally to being interrupted and want to return to their work. Handling the objection requires defusing this emotion, not logically arguing the merits of your solution.
Striving for perfection on a cold call can make you sound robotic. Occasionally stumbling over a word and acknowledging it with humor can break the script, lower the prospect's guard, and result in a better reaction than a flawless delivery.
Voicemails shouldn't be a pitch; they are a tool to increase email engagement. Start with compelling context ("50+ of your reps consumed our content..."), then introduce yourself and state you're sending an email. This creates curiosity and makes the prospect look for your email.
Instead of fighting an objection, agree with it ("Equinox is a great gym..."). This removes pressure and disarms the prospect, making them more open to a follow-up question. This "Mr. Miyagi" method absorbs the objection's momentum, allowing you to redirect the conversation and uncover the real issue.
Standard permission openers ("Can I get 30 seconds?") are overused. A superior method is to first state specific research ("I just read the JD for your AEs..."). Then, ask for permission to explain why that research prompted your call. This signals a high-value interaction, not a generic call.
This opener works by leading with context (e.g., "We work with other partners in your firm") and projecting confidence. It doesn't matter if they've heard of you; the assumptive tone breaks the pattern of typical sales calls and invites a more genuine conversation.
Your delivery and confidence on a cold call are more critical than the exact words. A confident, familiar tone breaks the telemarketer stigma. If you can't deliver a "better" script with conviction, you're better off using a simpler one that you can say with confidence and authenticity.
Most pitches fail by leading with the solution. Instead, spend the majority of your time vividly describing a triggering problem the prospect likely faces. If you nail the problem, the solution becomes self-evident and requires minimal explanation, making the prospect feel understood and more receptive.
When a prospect has a legitimate reason to end a call (e.g., in a subway heading to the airport), don't force a pitch. Acknowledge their situation and exit gracefully. This preserves goodwill, making them far more likely to accept a future call, as exemplified by the prospect suggesting a callback in January.
Don't try to convince a prospect to buy on the initial call. Your only objective is to pique their interest enough to agree to a "test drive"—a meeting. Frame the call-to-action as a low-commitment opportunity to explore, just as Tesla gets people into cars they didn't plan to buy by offering a test drive.
Common openers like "How's your day going?" are used by countless low-value callers. Using them immediately puts you in the "telemarketer camp," causing high-value prospects to dismiss you. The key is to sound different from every other call they receive to maintain high status.