Contacting Sales Leads by Phone: Dos and Don’ts
If you use the Leads Finder to find your targeted market for sales leads, you are likely to get a lot of email addresses. The Leads Finder searches classified sites, marketplaces, and more. Due to it being the internet age, most of your sales leads will have an email address listed in their online posting. But what if they don’t? There should be a phone number there; pickup the phone and start converting some sales leads today. But before you do, keep reading on:
DO choose your call times wisely. This is the trickiest part about contacting sales leads by phone; when should you call? No one might be home during the day, but you don’t want to interrupt dinner? But wait! What if your sales leads have young kids who go to bed early? If making long distance calls, keep time zones in mind. Typically, it is best to call sales leads with your pitch before or after dinnertime.
DON’T cold call. This is one of the many reasons why we recommend finding sales leads with the Leads Finder. You search with a relevant keyword and get relevant results. So instead of getting a collection of phone numbers, you see the entire posting that individual made online. You can judge for yourself if they are a viable sales leads or within your targeted market. This prevents cold calling. No one jumps for joy when they get a sales call, but they are more likely to pay attention when you are pitching a product or service they could use.
DO say why you are calling. This can work in your favor if you use the Leads Finder (remember you found viable sales leads; people who want or need what you have to offer). Lets say you are a real estate agent targeting for sale by owner homeowners (you can help them sell their homes). If you start right in with the “this is why you need a real estate agent” speech they are likely to hang up. Take a different approach and mentioned how you saw their listing online, what you think they could do to improve it, and then get into your sales pitch.
DON’T try and convince individuals otherwise. Before you get two words out, some sales leads will play the “I’m not interested” card. Resist the urge to be all “but this is why I think you are making the wrong decision.” This will do nothing but anger and possibly alienate your sales leads. Instead try “I understand; would you like my contact information just in case?”
DO be sure to thank all sales leads for their time, even the rude ones. Your goal when contacting sales leads by phone is to make a sale. If it happens, great. If not, move on. As disappointing as it is to have sales leads not pan out, remember that these individuals might use your services later down the road and they did take a few minutes to listen to your pitch. For that reason, always end on a thank you.
Remember, it is easy to find not just sales leads, but viable sales leads when you use the Leads Finder. Click above to start your free trial.