Trust us, we get it—cold-calling can be nerve-wracking for anyone. And if you’re like most people, chances are that your biggest source of anxiety stems from the fear of rejection and not being able to sell yourself or your product as well as possible. A recent YouGov poll revealed that 53% of Americans feel negatively about cold-calling other people. That said, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t reach out to new prospects and customers if you have something unique to offer them. Moreover, cold-calling is one of the best ways to establish relationships with new clients and grow your business over time. Here are some useful tips on how you can get over your fears and successfully cold-call so that you can start growing your business today.
Prepare mentally and emotionally for cold-calling
The first step in overcoming your fear of cold-calling is preparing mentally and emotionally. The more you prepare, the less likely it is that you’ll feel anxious when trying to talk to new potential customers. Start by scheduling time for yourself where you can focus on the call with no distractions. This will help you put your best foot forward when the time comes to make your call. Next, start writing down a list of the questions you want to ask during the call so that you’ll be able to hear them in your head and check them off as you go along without getting flustered or forgetting what you wanted to ask. Finally, research which area of the country would be best for reaching prospects who are most receptive to cold-calling. If possible, try talking with people in that area about their thoughts on cold-calling before making a call about it.
Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself
The biggest mistake people make when cold-calling is setting unrealistic goals and expectations for themselves. For example, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to close the deal on your first call. When you set realistic goals and expectations, you’re more likely to reach them and have a more successful conversation with the person on the other end of the line.
Practice your pitch until you feel confident
First, you need to practice your pitch. This might seem like a no-brainer, but you must practice your pitch until it becomes second nature to you. Push yourself to go as far as possible with your cold call and try to leave the person on the line feeling excited about what you have to offer them. Secondly, make sure that you are using a conversational tone of voice.
Stay positive, even when things don’t go your way
Cold-calling is not always easy. It can have some painful moments and make you wonder if it’s worth it. However, if you’re positive, even when things don’t go your way, you’ll be much more likely to reach your goals. Keep in mind that if the answer you get is “no” it isn’t personal—many times people are simply too busy to talk to you on the phone because they already have a list of other tasks that need their time and attention. If they do have time for you though, they’re more likely to be receptive and listen to what you have to say. So, stay positive about cold-calling even if things don’t go according to plan.
To sum up
Fear of cold-calling is common, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from reaching your goals. With a little preparation and practice, you can overcome your fear and start making sales calls that will help your business grow. Have you tried any of these tips for getting over your fear of cold-calling? What worked best for you? Add your comment and join the conversation. We want to hear from you!
