Using "How are you?" in cold calling - good or bad?

[jennymoore]

"Hi James it's Jenny from ABC, how are you?"

When you hear this in a cold call does it make you angry or is it being polite?

Would love to hear your views. It's really annoying for me as it's just lip service but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Go for it!

Jenny

 

[KidsBeeHappy]

Its one of those questions that is pointless because the enquirer doesn't care at all about the answer.

 

[jennymoore]

....and it's even worse when they ask you in that over enthusiastic, cheesy tonality too!

Jenny

 

[G. Lasagne]

As soon as somebody asks me "how are you?" and i dont know them, i ask "is this a marketing call" and then say no thanks goodbye.

I think straight to the point is the best approach.

Im sick of hearing " do you want to generate more business" etc its patronising and i always swiftly hang up.

I have never done telesales so this might be totally wrong but i think the best approach would be

" hello Mr smith we have a fantastic offer at the moment on repalcement windows is that something you would be interested in" if they say no then say goodbye and move on.

 

[emmylou74]

it instantly gets my back up and they have lost me as a potential customer!

 

[Walmsleyv]

I agree. I can't stand it when people ask me how I am. It's so fake - they don't care how I am because they don't know me.

If someone does ask me that on a cold call, I normally go into great detail about exactly how I am which always puts them off a bit!

So no, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[mattbetts]

...So how are you guys today!

 

[telemax]

"Hi James it's Jenny from ABC, how are you?"

When you hear this in a cold call does it make you angry or is it being polite?

Would love to hear your views. It's really annoying for me as it's just lip service but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Go for it!

Jenny

Bloody awful

 

[mattbetts]

ha ha! i know what you mean. Bring on the weekend!

 

just stop cold calling i hate it big style

 

[Famous4FifteenSeconds]

It winds me up something rotten. I do B2B cold calls, never use it and very rarely get told to buzz off or similar.

 

[KM-Tiger]

It's in the same league as:

"Can I speak to the business owner"

"Can I speak to the person responsible for ... "

A useful cue to say "No thank you" and terminate the call.

 

[AnnetteT]

Never say if until I've established a relationship, just sounds hollow otherwise

 

[papverpoppies]

I hate cold calling - and always put the phone down.

Whatever the person says, it is false and so cheesy it makes the company they are calling on behalf of seem tacky!

So, please stop doing it.

Poppy

 

[cotc2001]

I usually start off polite until I get to the point of where I say no and they start to question my reason for saying no. Then im just rude to the point of being creepy ( i have been known to do cow impressions down the phone).

Usually it's magazine's wanting us to advertise and goes something like this

Cold Caller: Hi, can I speak to someone who deals with your advertising
Me: Online or Print media?
Cold Caller: Errrrr print
Me: Sorry we don't do any print advertising
Cold Caller: Can I ask why?
Me: As we are solely an online business all our budget goes into online advertising
Cold Caller: Yes but we are the #1 magazine in our sector with XXXXX readership, we could really bring a lot of people to your site
ME: MOoooooooooooooooooooooo, Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Usually works. I've currently got an ongoing thing with one magazine which has been me totally winding them up for the past 48 hours but hey they waste my time, im going to waste theirs.

 

[maxine]

I agree not to use "How are you?". It's awful and generally gets the call off to a bad start.

Having said that, I have trained telemarketers who insist on using it, saying it works for them so I suppose each to their own! Some people can get away with it and others can't.

It can also vary in success by the industry being called. For example to Tradespeople, some telemarketers will use but be subtle the word "mate" (I have different views on that too)

HTH

 

[telemax]

I get a very good response when cold calling simply by saying " This is a speculative call, I've never spoken to you before is that ok"? I find this completely breaks the ice on 99% of occasions and even if the person has no interest in what you do they will give you a fair hearing.

Be blunt, direct and to the point and it will get you everywhere. All this fake How are you stuff will get you nowhere.

 

[Ralph Myerz]

Re cold calling ( or any sales pitch ) anyone heard of impulse factors? Very effective.

 

[golddiggerguy]

"How are you today sir , good?"

Instant reaction from me smoke and mirrors!

Face to Face is always best in any form or situation.

I have done it myself (cold call) and hated every second of it, because people just don't want to talk to you.

 

[MarketingMan72]

", because people just don't want to talk to you.

If you believe that then you are just wasting your time and phone bill, aren't you?
Cold calling is onw of the most immediate and effective technique to make appointments. NOT MAKE SALES. give them a compellingreason to see you.
Don't be insincere [ how are you?]
Smile [ thats what we are told.]

 

[cjd]

I think it's slightly better than "what are you wearing?"

 

[RBS]

"Hi James it's Jenny from ABC, how are you?"

When you hear this in a cold call does it make you angry or is it being polite?

Would love to hear your views. It's really annoying for me as it's just lip service but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Go for it!

Jenny

It makes me angry because I know this phrase is fake and caller doesnt give a **** how do you do

 

[Alicatt]

It's so false in a cold call and I usually reply "extremely busy" which gets them nicely on the back foot and straight to the point.

 

[jennymoore]

Hi

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread. I must admit I was naughty today when someone called the salon to try and flog us some new lines of product.

Indeed she said "how are you?" and I couldn't help but say "I just my husband and my salon business is going into receivership, how do you think I feel?"

And the bugger hung up on me! LOL

Jenny

 

[MartCactus]

I get a very good response when cold calling simply by saying " This is a speculative call, I've never spoken to you before is that ok"? I find this completely breaks the ice on 99% of occasions and even if the person has no interest in what you do they will give you a fair hearing.

Be blunt, direct and to the point and it will get you everywhere. All this fake How are you stuff will get you nowhere.

This is excellent advice. Most people appreciate honestly, and are busy so like people to get to the point.

Ultimate sales people who beat around the bush are wasting their time as well as mine. The absolute worst are the ones who initially pretend to be potential customers.

 

[MartCactus]

Hi

Indeed she said "how are you?" and I couldn't help but say "I just my husband and my salon business is going into receivership, how do you think I feel?"

I have a friend who swears that he tells them his piles are hurting. A little bit too much honesty can be useful at times.

 

[K2012]

I have read this post and wonder is there a difference in say,

1) cold call offering you a networking website, with guranteed contacts for just £200.
2) cold call to offer there services of recruitment?

Some companies have to make this cold call, in recruitment you do and we have to or else we don't get much new business.

But I have to say the cold call is running out, as networking is a better way to generate sales rather than the ice call.

But those people on here, when and if you have had a recruitment call tell me - your reaction is?

Kev

 

[bdw]

I cannot believe that "expert" marketing people are still teaching people to say this. So many of them seem to think that people will fall for it and the responses here clearly suggest otherwise.

This is a speculative call, I've never spoken to you before is that ok

I would agree that this is more likely to get my attention - in other words honesty!

 

[ORDERED WEB]

"Hi James it's Jenny from ABC, how are you?"

When you hear this in a cold call does it make you angry or is it being polite?

Would love to hear your views. It's really annoying for me as it's just lip service but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Go for it!

Jenny

I hate hearing a script of anysort. Turns me off

 

[james Minion]

I agree that honesty is the only policy when telemarketing and agree, as ever, with telemax.

A word of warning for people who are rude to telemarketers. Remember they are consumers too and possibly run businesses that may actually need your services for their own use. If you are rude to them they will not use you and will tell others! it has happened to me and someone lost a potentially large piece of business.

Obviously if their approach is intrusive and dishonest then this advice goes out of the window and you should treat them with the appropriate level of contempt lol.

I have a vested interest in defending telemarketing of course but to my mind it is the single most effective route to market for many companies. The style you need to employ is constantly evolving and the old ways will not work. It is all about respect, honesty, questioning, benefit matching and education. Quick wins from telemarketing still happen but treat it as a short, medium and long term exercise.

 

[bdw]

Telemarketers need to read the dictionary definition of no thanks. Those that call me don't seem to understand this. That's just plain rude.

 

[casado]

I think it's slightly better than "what are you wearing?"

I don't know, you may be wrong, this other sentence may be better at catching their attention, but, of course, this needs to be tested.

 

[patientlady]

I don't know, you may be wrong, this other sentence may be better at catching their attention, but, of course, this needs to be tested.

You looking lovely tonight!
Seriously who trains these people? Why waste money, time & energy on telesales calls that go no where!

 

[re8976]

you should come up with 3 or 4 scripts, that you use

I personally use different ones for men / women depending who answers

tone, and a good introduction of who you are opens the door

 

[SmilePrint]

In Michael Gerbers "The E-Myth" series he recommends repeatedly that you test what you do.

A regular example he uses is from a shop environment where the assistant asks" Can I help you?" to which the client invariably answers "No thanks just looking" Conversation over.
However he states that when tested when the sales assistant asks"Have you been in here before?" and the client answers either "Yes" or "No" the assistant can then continue with" Great! we have a program for people exactly like you..........."
Sales go up by 16%, by this one change.

So, with your telesales opening, I'd suggest you record and test. Try "How are you?" for 3 weeks, and measure the results then try something else for the next, and record the results.

Brian Tracy's Pyschology of Selling makes reference to 55 000 sales calls being recorded and analysed; there's got to be some merit in those findings.

Best of luck

 

[bdw]

I think perhaps we should be recognising the cultural differences between here and the USA. What works over there may not necessarily work over here. The problem is that so may of the sales gurus who srite the books come from the US and write for a US audience.

How are you today indeed.

 

[telemax]

I think perhaps we should be recognising the cultural differences between here and the USA. What works over there may not necessarily work over here. The problem is that so may of the sales gurus who srite the books come from the US and write for a US audience.

How are you today indeed.

As someone who has lived on both sides of the pond what you say is true but equally I do agree with the previous reply. I do believe that a shop assistant asking if they had been in before, would potentially open a dialogue which would be more likely to lead to a sale.

If it's done in the right way without any pressure this sort of thing can be very effective. The value of verbal communication is underestimated. Another example is the number of trade shows I've been to where all I get is a rubbish follow up letter 3 weeks after the event. The salespeople can't even be bothered to call back. Why are people too scared make a follow up call after investing 000's in an exhibition stand?

 

[mr magoo]

I think perhaps we should be recognising the cultural differences between here and the USA. What works over there may not necessarily work over here. The problem is that so may of the sales gurus who srite the books come from the US and write for a US audience.

How are you today indeed.

You are mad mad mad!, if you think were not part of the USA and have been for years.
Take a look around you read the papers its all usa corporations.

I have seen a lot of sales stars etc but attitude overcomes everything.
attitude attitude attitude! here, over there and everywhere!
mr magoo

 

[patientlady]

Hi my name is .... ........... and I am calling from The ............ We supply................. Would it be possible to speak to Mr/Mrs or/ the person who deals with this.
First and foremost make sure the call is effective. Not there? Get a name/position and when they are usually in the office for call back. Be polite to the receptionist as she/he will need to put you through on the second call. Be in a good mood, try it at your best time of day. Make the call!

 

[BusinessIdeas]

Its not a question I would ever ask if I was cold calling. I would open with a request for their help in some way, as in: "I'm hoping to speak to someone to see if they would like to buy some widgets and to find out if they already have a supplier of these? Its just a quick call to see if you could help me with that"