The majority of salespeople will admit that cold calling can be a challenging task however it can also be a very effective technique to elevate your sales and generate more leads. This is especially true if you are knowledgeable about the best cold call opening lines. In this guide, we will walk you through each of the 10 best cold call opening lines that will help you start conversions with new customers and improve your chances of closing the sale in no time.
Before we jump into the 10 best cold call opening lines, you should know why cold calling is so important. Cold calling is a technique used by salespeople to connect with individuals who may or may not already know about your company, products, or services that you offer. Cold calling is also referred to as solicitation by phone.
Most people in sales will tell you that cold calling can be a daunting task. However, if you go into the call prepared, it can help you gain more leads and elevate your sales. Using the 10 best cold call opening lines will ensure that you do just that.
Benefits of Cold Calling
So you may be wondering, what are the benefits of cold calling anyway? One of the great things about cold calling and using it as a marketing tool is that it allows you to connect with people that may not know about your company but have a need for the service or product you offer. Companies often use cold calling because it can reach large groups of people in a small amount of time. Cold calling is sort of like a leap of faith. You cast out a wide net with the goal of generating a few leads. Furthermore, cold calling is important because it helps the sales representative figure out what works and what doesn’t during the conversion process.
What to Avoid During a Cold Call
There are some things to avoid during a cold call that we feel are important to point out as they are very easy mistakes to make. For starters, you need to know your product or service inside out. Your potential customer will have questions about what you are trying to sell and you are the expert. If they can sense that you aren’t well versed in the subject matter, this will completely flush your credibility down the drain.
It is also important to remember, do not come to your call unprepared. Thanks to the internet, there is no excuse for not doing proper research prior to your cold call. Get to know your prospect a little with a simple google search. Maybe you’ll find that you and your potential customer went to the same college. This can really warm up a cold call in an instant.
In addition to that, if you’re nervous or timid during your cold call, it will show. Especially when delivering one of our 10 best cold calling lines, confidence can take you from good to amazing!
It is often said that the first 7 seconds of a cold call can make or break your attempt at a sales pitch. Lucky for you, Top Lead has curated this short list of openers that’ve been tested and have proven themselves to be some of the best cold call opening lines used by salespeople.
Referral
Mentioning a referral is one of the best cold call opening lines you can use. A referral is from a reliable source who can attest to the quality of your goods or services. This convinces your lead that you are reliable and that you deserve their attention.
Example: “Hi Mr. Garcia. I’m Jenifer from XYZ company. I was referred to you by Mr. Jones who said you might be interested in one of our new products”.
When you mention a referral, it demonstrates that you’ve done the work and you aren’t just aimlessly calling people. It also helps develop a relationship built on trust between you and your customer.
Your Customer is Busy
Another way to start a cold call is by making an acknowledgment that your customer is probably busy.
Here’s an example: “Hi Miss Smith! I hope you’re having a great day. I’m Jessica from XYZ company. I’m sure you are very busy but if I could just take three minutes of your time, I’d like to talk to you about my company and how we can help you”.
This makes one of the best cold call opening lines because it demonstrates to your customer that you understand that they have a busy life. It shows that you are trying to be considerate and that you don’t want to waste their time. This can help you build great rapport right off the bat with your customer.
Asking for Help
One of the best cold call opening lines is by asking for help.
For example, you could say something like, “Hi Ms. Shelton, I’m Mark from XYZ company and I understand you work in the field of ABC. I work with other professionals like yourself and I’d like to ask your opinion on something.
People appreciate it when you make them feel important. By starting a cold call in this way, you are showing that you’re interested in what they have to say. More often than not, they will respond well to that.
Get to the Point
Often when people receive a cold call, they are aware that you are going to try and sell them something. And in many cases, you may be calling them at a bad time. Or they may not want to talk to you until they understand exactly why you are calling. People appreciate it when you get straight to the point. Telling them exactly why you’re calling them can yield a positive result. For example, you can say something like,
“Hello Mr. Spears. We help companies like yours do XYZ. We can help you as well. Can you spare 3 minutes of your time so I can explain?”
Mr. Spears is likely to react well to this direct and honest approach.
How is your Day Going?
The very best cold call opening line is a charming greeting. Showing interest will always be appreciated by your lead. It helps make your prospect feel at ease and they are more willing to listen to your pitch when they feel that you are invested in them.
For example, you could say something along the lines of,
Sales Rep: “Hi Ashley, I am Becky calling from XYZ company. How is your day going so far?”
Prospect: “It’s been good so far! Thank you for asking. May I ask why you’re calling today?”
At that point, you can leap right into it.
Open by Finding a Commonality
Another great way to start a cold call is by finding an interest that you and your lead have in common.
For example:
“Hey Steve, I am from XYZ company. I realized recently that you and I both worked for the same company back in 2014. I remember seeing you at some of our work meetings. How have you been?”
This is one of the best cold calling lines because it builds rapport with your customer and starts off your call on the right foot.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Being honest with your prospect is a great way to start a sales call. It can pleasantly surprise your prospect. For example, you could say something like, “Hi Matt! Yes, this is a sales call. I appreciate you giving me a couple of minutes to tell you about a product that I know will help benefit your business”.
Starting your cold call with this type of line will catch your prospect off guard but in the best way possible! As soon as they realize they are getting a sales call they are quickly speculating what type of tactic you’re going to use to maintain their attention. An honest open cold call opening line like this will earn you some brownie points for sure.
The Problem Solution Approach
A problem solution cold call opening line is a very effective way to create more conversions. And the reason is simple: prospects appreciate it when they know that you’ve done your research. When you call to identify the issues that your lead may be having and you’re able to come up with effective solutions, it completely shifts their focus from, “Ugh! This is a sales call.” to “This person has something that can help me with my business”.
For example, you could say something like,
“Hi Anthony! My name is Thomas from XYZ company. I know you’re a sales team manager for ABC Company. The reason for my call is because of EFG. I help sales team managers such as yourself with these issues”.
Using this cold call opening line establishes that you are the expert.
Mention your Accomplishments
Another great way to start a cold call is by highlighting a recent sales accomplishment. This shows your prospect that you’re good at what you do and they should consider working with you.
For example, you could say something like,
“Hi Sarah! This is Jamie from ABC Company. I just closed my third-quarter numbers $250,000 above my goal. I know you work in the same business, and I know I have something that can help you”.
Closing
These are some of the best tried and true cold call opening lines that a salesperson could use. One thing they all have in common is that they all attempt to show that there is a physical person on the other side of the call. With so many companies using chatbots over the phone, it is more comforting for the customer to know that they are talking to a real person, and not a recording.
Need More Help with Cold Calls?
Need more tips and tricks on how to master a cold call, generate leads and make conversions? At TopLead, we have seasoned sales professionals ready to help you succeed. Send us an email at sales@toplead.io to get started today!