subject: What Should Your Cold Calling Script Include? [print this page] What Should Your Cold Calling Script Include?
Is your cold calling script a source of grief and aggravation? If, you answered, yes, to that question do not worry. You are not at all alone. Every single cold-calling script needs a thorough examination.
I know you do not need one more thing on your to-do list. However, this particular task is one that will pay you back in new sales-revenues generated. That kind of payback is well worth the time invested. What follows are the few opening lines of a newbie's cold-calling script.
The cold caller asked - why are my calls forwarded to voice mail before the administrative assistant (AA) knows what I am calling about?
Well, if you want to become perpetually stuck in voice mail jail then be sure to use the same words this caller used. Here it is, the script that faithfully fails to get the appointment and succeeds in getting a transfer to voice mail:
Caller: Mark Johnson, please.
AA: May I ask who is calling.
Caller: Sure this is - your Name - calling from - Name of Your Company.
AA: Just a Moment.
The administrative assistant sends the call to voice mail. The Caller leaves a voice mail messages something to the effect of this, I am calling about marketing. Please, call me back.
The autopsy: The Caller fails to state the purpose of the call. Without a purpose or compelling reason to listen to the caller the administrative assistant simply directs the call to voice mail. True the caller has just spoken a few opening lines. However, a lot more could have been said in those few sentences.
From the caller's perspective being directly transferred to voice mail without further conversation is beyond rude. From the administrative assistant's perspective an immediate transfer to voice mail is kind, avoids a thanks-but-no-thanks confrontation that would have predictably occurred had there been more conversation, and is the best way for the assistant to get rid of a caller who clearly does not know what he/she is doing. The assistant is thinking If the caller is clueless during the prospecting call how badly will they behave with the boss?
To breathe life into your cold call script: As you state your name, also state the purpose of your call and reason for the administrative assistant to connect you to a live person. Such as: I am calling for a 20 minute meeting (purpose) to determine whether or not we can double the results of your marketing efforts (reason).
Autopsy your own cold calling script, tweak it with tips you pick up, and expect an increase sales revenues and commissions as a result of your efforts.
