Swapping Cold Calling for Cold Emailing?

[Punch4perks]

So like everyone else, I hate receiving cold calls, I get at least 10 a day on my work phone and about 2-3 on my own personal number and sometimes they can take upto 5-10 minutes talking nonsense before getting to the point and it drives me mad....unfortunately now I am in a position where I need to cold call people

I was thinking that instead of interupting people when they are busy working I would send an email instead just introducing myself and the service very quickly (only 2-3 lines of text) and asking if it was possible to arrange a time that suits to talk on the phone or in person.

Does anyone else do this and as a busy business person would you feel better getting an email and arranging a time to talk rather than being hassled at a bad time?

 

[businessfunding]

So like everyone else, I hate receiving cold calls, I get at least 10 a day on my work phone and about 2-3 on my own personal number and sometimes they can take upto 5-10 minutes talking nonsense before getting to the point and it drives me mad....unfortunately now I am in a position where I need to cold call people

I was thinking that instead of interupting people when they are busy working I would send an email instead just introducing myself and the service very quickly (only 2-3 lines of text) and asking if it was possible to arrange a time that suits to talk on the phone or in person.

Does anyone else do this and as a busy business person would you feel better getting an email and arranging a time to talk rather than being hassled at a bad time?

IMHO the reason people prefer emails to cold calls is because thy are easier to ignore

No harm in warming your cold call with a brief, informative email (but don't expect the prospect to have read it)

 

[Punch4perks]

IMHO the reason people prefer emails to cold calls is because thy are easier to ignore

No harm in warming your cold call with a brief, informative email (but don't expect the prospect to have read it)

Good point.

I just think giving someone the chance to read the email and decide if they want to know more is better than being overly pushy on the phone.

 

[Gecko001]

I think there is nothing wrong with cold-calling, if it is done properly. Introduce yourself and your company, state your business and take it from there.

Most cold-callers do not do this. They use various techniques basically to try to con you into something you do not want to do.

Instead of introducing themselves they will ask questions about you. Like "are you the business owner". Or they will try to start up a conversation with you as they were your friend.

Instead of stating what company they are, they will ask questions about your company, like which telephone provider you are with hoping that you will divulge the name of your supplier. Or they will ask you to "confirm" information. Basically they assume that all the information flows in one direction ie. from you to them, whereas it should be the other way about as it should be seen as an opportunity for the cold-caller to tell the caller about their firm and the services that they provide.

It is so simple that many people have forgotten about it. Introduce yourself and state your business (which is basically informing the person you are calling of your company and the services you provide)

 

[Punch4perks]

I think there is nothing wrong with cold-calling, if it is done properly. Introduce yourself and your company, state your business and take it from there.

Most cold-callers do not do this. They use various techniques basically to try to con you into something you do not want to do.

Instead of introducing themselves they will ask questions about you. Like "are you the business owner". Or they will try to start up a conversation with you as they were your friend.

Instead of stating what company they are they will ask questions about your company, like which telephone provider you are with hoping that you will divulge the name of your supplier. Or they will ask you to "confirm" information. Basically the assume that all the information flows in one direction ie from you to them, whereas it should be the other way about as it should be seen as an opportunity for you to tell the caller about your firm and the services that you provide.

It is so simple that many people have forgotten about it. Introduce yourself and state your business (which is basically informing the person you are calling of your company and the services you provide)

This is what I get everyday, people calling me asking about my business, prices, even the weather etc then after I have spent the last 10 minutes selling the package and preparing to sign them up they say 'would you like to advertise in such and such'... such a waste of my time.

 

[Blood Lust]

So like everyone else, I hate receiving cold calls, I get at least 10 a day on my work phone and about 2-3 on my own personal number and sometimes they can take upto 5-10 minutes talking nonsense before getting to the point and it drives me mad....unfortunately now I am in a position where I need to cold call people

I was thinking that instead of interupting people when they are busy working I would send an email instead just introducing myself and the service very quickly (only 2-3 lines of text) and asking if it was possible to arrange a time that suits to talk on the phone or in person.

Does anyone else do this and as a busy business person would you feel better getting an email and arranging a time to talk rather than being hassled at a bad time?

You need to cold call if you want to sell your product/service because emails dont work.

If you do telesales properly then you wont attract any abuse and the customer will engage with you. The telesales agents that attract abuse are calling the same customer repeatedly, lying to customers, trying to steam-roller them, not listening to the customer, etc. If you violate the rights of a customer then thats when they will give you grief.

Cold calling can be an enjoyable experience and usually results in a success rate from 1 in 10 to 1 in 30 calls depending on the product/service. Sending emails will result in a success rate of about 1 in 1,000,000 so I wouldnt waste your time.

 

[joeptsearle]

Its a better way of doing it I think, but as has been mentioned, many people will ignore it. The best thing you can do is to use an eye catching subject line, if you can get them to click its half the battle, and as long as the message is clear and concise and you have picked someone who may well be interested, you ll stand a much better chance of getting a reply. like cold calling its a numbers game, if you can get enough emails out, you will start making progress.

 

[Punch4perks]

You need to cold call if you want to sell your product/service because emails dont work.

If you do telesales properly then you wont attract any abuse and the customer will engage with you. The telesales agents that attract abuse are calling the same customer repeatedly, lying to customers, trying to steam-roller them, not listening to the customer, etc. If you violate the rights of a customer then thats when they will give you grief.

Cold calling can be an enjoyable experience and usually results in a success rate from 1 in 10 to 1 in 30 calls depending on the product/service. Sending emails will result in a success rate of about 1 in 1,000,000 so I wouldnt waste your time.

Im not using the email to sell the service, just to introduce myself and what I do then if they respond I can arrange a suitable time to call back and if they dont respond I can give them a ring and inform them that I sent them an email a few days ago and ask if its a good time to talk.

 

[Punch4perks]

Its a better way of doing it I think, but as has been mentioned, many people will ignore it. The best thing you can do is to use an eye catching subject line, if you can get them to click its half the battle, and as long as the message is clear and concise and you have picked someone who may well be interested, you ll stand a much better chance of getting a reply. like cold calling its a numbers game, if you can get enough emails out, you will start making progress.

I agree, the subject line will be a big thing here.

I was thinking of putting something like the companies name followed by our service;

Example - Joes Pizza's Mobile App?

something like that.

 

[Blood Lust]

Im not using the email to sell the service, just to introduce myself and what I do then if they respond I can arrange a suitable time to call back and if they dont respond I can give them a ring and inform them that I sent them an email a few days ago and ask if its a good time to talk.

People dont read the junk emails they receive. You're just making extra work for yourself with no benefit. Unless you are going to send out a million of these emails you wont get any customers from it.

 

[Punch4perks]

People dont read the junk emails they receive. You're just making extra work for yourself with no benefit.

This wont be a generic spam email. It will be personalised with correct names of people (where possible) and will include a demo of the businesses self branded app - using their logo and details.

I think by adding these touches it will be viewed more.

 

[End2EndAdmn]

I've recently set up in business myself and sent approx 300 emails to the people/companies my business is aimed at (admin support for small businesses, trades people etc) and have only had 1 response. My guess is that most of the emails I've sent went straight into the 'Junk' folder, never to be seen. So I am trying to brace myself for having to do some cold calling, something I hate doing as I hate being on the receiving end of it myself.

Good luck though.

 

[Punch4perks]

I've recently set up in business myself and sent approx 300 emails to the people/companies my business is aimed at (admin support for small businesses, trades people etc) and have only had 1 response. My guess is that most of the emails I've sent went straight into the 'Junk' folder, never to be seen. So I am trying to brace myself for having to do some cold calling, something I hate doing as I hate being on the receiving end of it myself.

Good luck though.

Thanks and good luck to yourself.

 

[Gecko001]

Im not using the email to sell the service, just to introduce myself and what I do then if they respond I can arrange a suitable time to call back and if they dont respond I can give them a ring and inform them that I sent them an email a few days ago and ask if its a good time to talk.

I would never respond to that type of email for fear of being put on some sort of spam list or list of leads that is sold on.

One very good way of getting my interest is to offer to send a copy of your brochure in the post.

 

[Blood Lust]

This wont be a generic spam email. It will be personalised with correct names of people (where possible) and will include a demo of the businesses self branded app - using their logo and details.

I think by adding these touches it will be viewed more.

Its spam but with your name on it or a catchy title.

I get about 20 of them a day and I dont read any of them.

 

[Punch4perks]

I would never respond to that type of email for fear of being put on some sort of spam list or list of leads that is sold on.

One very good way of getting my interest is to offer to send a copy of your brochure in the post.

I may look at posting out a brochure.

Our service is hard to explain over the phone, you need to see it and use it to fully understand it.

Its not like advertising in a local paper so the sales call would be harder without prior knowledge of the service we offer.

 

[Punch4perks]

Its spam but with your name on it or a catchy title.

I get about 20 of them a day and I dont read any of them.

Sorry Blood Lust I have just read a previous thread started by yourself about being too beautiful for a job. I cant take advice from people who behaves like that.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Deleted member 178167]

Hate tele sales phone calls, no matter how polite or nice they introduce their service

Especially if I'm working on something at the time, it can be so frustrating.

I would open an email subject if it was very specific to me and by business interests, but it would be a long shot.

I'd prob read a flyer/leaflet if it was very interesting to what I needed or offered a good discount. Tell me how it can save time/money/help me as person or business, then you interest me.

 

[Punch4perks]

Hate tele sales phone calls, no matter how polite or nice they introduce their service

Especially if I'm working on something at the time, it can be so frustrating.

I would open an email subject if it was very specific to me and by business interests, but it would be a long shot.

I'd prob read a flyer/leaflet if it was very interesting to what I needed or offered a good discount. Tell me how it can save time/money/help me as person or business, then you interest me.

Do you think my introduction email should include pricing or tell them about an offer we are running or should that wait until later?

 

[Deleted member 178167]

I'd prob want to get my main selling point in there.
What will it do for me? Why is it different to anything else out there?
What will it do to make my life easier?? Will it save me money, time etc?

Prob have a time sensitive offer at the bottom of the email. For example, sign-up before End of August for 20% off.

I would maybe include a testimonial/quote about a customer who has used the service/product and what it did for them. Especially if it's a new product people don't know about.

 

[Punch4perks]

I'd prob want to get my main selling point in there.
What will it do for me? Why is it different to anything else out there?
What will it do to make my life easier?? Will it save me money, time etc?

Prob have a time sensitive offer at the bottom of the email. For example, sign-up before End of August for 20% off.

I would maybe include a testimonial/quote about a customer who has used the service/product and what it did for them. Especially if it's a new product people don't know about.

Im not sure on adding the time sensitive offer and tetimonial - those type of things scream scam too me.

 

[Deleted member 178167]

Well, you have to get a way of getting people to act upon any offer you give.
If they think about it, they'd probably never come back to your site and forget about it.

D'you have any prior contact with these people? You don't want to end up banned as a spammer.

 

[Punch4perks]

Well, you have to get a way of getting people to act upon any offer you give.
If they think about it, they'd probably never come back to your site and forget about it.

D'you have any prior contact with these people? You don't want to end up banned as a spammer.

Is it classed as spam if you are only sending one email - not on a mailing list and have no plans to email them again unless they make contact?

 

[Deleted member 178167]

Yep, if they never asked to be sent an email, and haven't signed up for anything.

Have you any email/newsletter capture on your website or anything?
Have you tried mail shots? Even in a small number, just to test if it's something people are interested in?

 

[Punch4perks]

Yep, if they never asked to be sent an email, and haven't signed up for anything.

Have you any email/newsletter capture on your website or anything?
Have you tried mail shots? Even in a small number, just to test if it's something people are interested in?

I have sent out 30 emails selling our service and get 14 enquiries for more information and sold 9 packages, it was slow sales due to 'email tennis'.

And I gave the service at a very heavily discounted rate.

 

[Blood Lust]

Sorry Blood Lust I have just read a previous thread started by yourself about being too beautiful for a job. I cant take advice from people who behaves like that.

Thanks anyway.

A neurotic response and interesting choice of invalidation.

Tell me, why do you struggle to regulate your emotions properly when someone tells you that you're wrong? Is it because it undermines your ego? Do good looking people also undermine your ego?

You do realise distorting a previous post of mine and my supposed behaviour to act as a psychological justification for you to filter out my comments isnt going to do your business any good?

I'm not the only one telling you emails dont work but I guess you'll make your own mistakes. Remember me when you go bust.

 

[Punch4perks]

A neurotic response and interesting choice of invalidation.

Tell me, why do you struggle to regulate your emotions properly when someone tells you that you're wrong? Is it because it undermines your ego? Do good looking people also undermine your ego?

You do realise distorting a previous post of mine and my supposed behaviour to act as a psychological justification for you to filter out my comments isnt going to do your business any good?

I'm not the only one telling you emails dont work but I guess you'll make your own mistakes. Remember me when you go bust.

I take advice very well actually but I refuse to listen to anyone who thinks they are too beautiful for a job.

So please remove yourself from my thread.

 

[businessfunding]

Do you think my introduction email should include pricing or tell them about an offer we are running or should that wait until later?

You need to work out a sales process - the extent of which will largely depend on the value of the transaction and - more importantly - the value of the client.

If you are looking for single-hit sales of < £100, then a single, professional phone call is about the limit, if you are looking to build valuable client relationships then the process will include a mix of phone, email, mail, exhibitions etc et. Don't make the mistake of spreading too wide instead of digging deeper - every exposure increases trust and awareness.

 

[Blood Lust]

I take advice very well actually but I refuse to listen to anyone who thinks they are too beautiful for a job.

So please remove yourself from my thread.

So you actually believe you've read that?

For others information, in the past I encountered a interviewer who didnt like the fact I was attractive. I never said or indicated I was too beautiful for a job and I had no poor behaviour. (I can link to the topic to prove it too).

Punch4perks is inventing this so he can justify to himself screening out what he doesnt want to hear. In fact I dont know what I'm bothering. I've got better things to spend my time on than him and the success of his business so I'm off.

 

[jimjamuk1]

I too hate receiving call colds, I'm always polite and tell them I'm not interested.

But equally I hate cold emails and I never read them, I delete them as soon as I notice them.

People don't want to receive junk email and if sent in the wrong way could potentially be classed as spam

 

[thelegalstop]

So like everyone else, I hate receiving cold calls, I get at least 10 a day on my work phone and about 2-3 on my own personal number and sometimes they can take upto 5-10 minutes talking nonsense before getting to the point and it drives me mad....unfortunately now I am in a position where I need to cold call people

I was thinking that instead of interupting people when they are busy working I would send an email instead just introducing myself and the service very quickly (only 2-3 lines of text) and asking if it was possible to arrange a time that suits to talk on the phone or in person.

Does anyone else do this and as a busy business person would you feel better getting an email and arranging a time to talk rather than being hassled at a bad time?

Basically some people claim that cold calling has a better conversion than cold e-mailing, however I cannot confirm this. In my opinion they both could work, only if you took the time to make a detailed research on your target market and the people and organisations you are going to contact

 

[quizmaster]

Im not using the email to sell the service, just to introduce myself and what I do then if they respond I can arrange a suitable time to call back and if they dont respond I can give them a ring and inform them that I sent them an email a few days ago and ask if its a good time to talk.

Sorry but I dont see any logic in this idea. You say your thinking of emailing instead of cold calling as so many people hate receiving cold calls but your saying after you send them an email your going to call them anyway. To me it makes you sound desperate when you call up a company and say I sent you an email the other day regarding such a service/product but I have not heard back from you.



If you were to email me there is very little chance of me reading it. I tend to only read emails that I know the person that has sent them.

 

[JandJC]

Today I received 119 Cold Emails in my Spam folder, and at the end of each day they get deleted.

Rather you phone me first with some engaging dialogue; make it insightful - inform me what the Return of Investment is or even obtain my acknowledgement to meet with you...try relationship building rather than selling!