Cold calling - how to make it easier

[Venusia]

So I am involved in this volunteer committee and have to make cold calls for sponsorship. I cannot help my heart racing 100 km an hour everytime I get ready to pick up the phone, even though if they are not interested, it is not against me personally.

I don't know how call center people do it, I suppose since they are getting paid they are just going through the motions and following the script.

I do a lot of deep breathing before making a call, and it's such a letdown when the person I want to talk to isn't even available!

I suppose it does get easier with time, but this heart racing I think is not very good for my health.

[mustanglover76]

I did that also when doing co-op for college. I worked for a newspaper and they made me cold call to gets advertisers...i was sooo freakin scared too...but after a few calls i didn't care how they reacted....i work in a call centre now also and once you reach a comfort level, it's nothing...i've taken a 100 calls a day and seriously, i'm not nervous but damn, certain customers make me nervous....

[Squiggles]

Used to have to cold-call the media a lot. I just made sure I had a bit of a script in my head and went ahead and did it. You need to have a bit of a thick skin, because they will be unpleasant to you on occasion.

If you believe in the cause you are calling about it should make it easier.

Having said that if you call my house I will probably treat you like crap. I never give money over the phone.

[steve.m]

I think you need to step back and change your perspective. Find out why you are so nervous.Examine you mind.

for example: picture in your mind how the sponsorship will benifit the person you are calling. If you can also picture in your mind that you are helping people by calling them this will make it easier to do.

Also you have a script prepared yes? practice it, cold calling without know what you will say may make you nervous.

[nano]

i want to do some cold calling because i want to get a better job. i keep on putting it off because i am soooo nervous..

[civ@uw]

You have to convince yourself that its just some random dude on the phone, and someone you will probably never have contact with again so its not such a big deal.

[teknoluv]

Yes, cold calling re: sponsorship for non-profit charities is easy, esp. when it's a high profile organization. Cold calling for FOR-profit businesses is another thing.

[MadMonarch]

Work in sales, eventually you don't care what people think or say, you try to convince them otherwise.

Think to yourself that your doing nothing wrong, Even I still get chills and a little bit of the shakes when I deal with Irate customers, it's the adrenaline rush I guess.

I always think of it in an egotistitical type of way.
The customer doesn't know what they want, so I'm there to tell them what they want. (yes yes, it's a bad example, but it's how I see it to calm myself down and perform my daily sales)

[charger]

Please don't tell me you are working for MADD.

They are the worst telemarketer in Canada, including for profit companies. They are so agressive and they phone all the time. I have told them multiple times to stop calling me yet they still persist. Who do I report them to?

[winner2000]

So I am involved in this volunteer committee and have to make cold calls for sponsorship. I cannot help my heart racing 100 km an hour everytime I get ready to pick up the phone, even though if they are not interested, it is not against me personally.

I don't know how call center people do it, I suppose since they are getting paid they are just going through the motions and following the script.

I do a lot of deep breathing before making a call, and it's such a letdown when the person I want to talk to isn't even available!

I suppose it does get easier with time, but this heart racing I think is not very good for my health.

If you think this job is potentially damaging your HEALTH...you might wanna consider finding a new volunteer opportunity.

[Venusia]

If you think this job is potentially damaging your HEALTH...you might wanna consider finding a new volunteer opportunity.

I don't have a choice. I'm organising a design competition with all proceeds going to a food bank. It was my decision and now I have to suck it up and get going. I'm only calling firms in the industry, no residential sollicitation for money, thank goodness!

It's actually not that bad. The worse is staring at the phone dreading to pick it up. It's easier to just pick it up really quickly and just do it.

[Rosico]

Can't wait till there is a national do not call list. I wonder if it'll apply to charities.

[revert]

i want to do some cold calling because i want to get a better job. i keep on putting it off because i am soooo nervous..

i did that alot when i was looking for work, the trick is not to sound like your looking for a job.
Call the company and say something like
"I was browsing (type of business) companies and your company name came up, im wondering if there's someone i can speak to that can tell me more about the company?"
if you get that someone, just ask them questions

[NG]

Yes, cold calling re: sponsorship for non-profit charities is easy, esp. when it's a high profile organization. Cold calling for FOR-profit businesses is another thing.

Try doing it for a political party. You get some *angry* people - and it's not because I called during their supper :lol:

[teknoluv]

Try doing it for a political party. You get some *angry* people - and it's not because I called during their supper :lol:
But then political parties are no non-profit charities ...

[NG]

But then political parties are no non-profit charities ...

They may very well be but most charities are not hated by some people as much as political parties.

Mind you one guy was fun. He just stated laughing and laughing and said "not in this house" before hanging up. I asked my supervisor about it and she said, after looking at the name, that his response didn't suprise her.