I have been cold calling in this and other businesses for a few years, and it is not much different than any other prospecting. Even if you are doing seminars/networking at some point you have to ask for an order, especially when you are building your practice.

  I have found that cold calling has gotten easier now that fewer people/companies do it. People are much more likely to hear you out and at least listen to your pitch. I sincerely believe that if you are making it a habit (doing it regularly so it is a part of your routine, like brushing your teeth) and doing it the right way with the right attitude (I wholeheartedly believe that my product and service is as good or better than my competitors, and am doing the prospect a favor by calling them) it is actually sort of interesting and can be fun. It certainly beats digging ditches.   I actually hope that more people think cold calling is dead. It makes my job much easier.

Yes 2. yes 3. No

Bond Guy-

  I know that there is no magic bullet other than doing it.   I would also like to hear what you would say for calling residences to setting an appointment.   Thanks.

[quote=on my own]I was thinking about this…everyone says that cold calling is dead.

  Everyone? not me I've built one hell of a business in two and 1/2 years ALL by cold calling. Those that tell you it's 'dead' don't have the balls to do it. It's as simple as that.   That you build a practice now through referrals and networking.   The people that took the networking tract in my class became cold callers within a month or two or they are gone. Out of 78 to start there are now 14.   I know that there are some people on this forum that cold call have success and many others do not have success.    The ones that don't have success dont make the calls.   I agree that it is harder than it has been years past but financial advisors since the beginning of time have built the practices primarily through cold calling.   Can you guess why? Because it does in fact work.   1. Do you think that more and more people are saying that it is dead because they lack persistent, consistent, intestional fortitude it takes to face the rejection day in day out.   YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES   2. Is it the callers salemanship?   I suck at sales yet I'm fist in my class by a huge margin, I made the calls.   3. Is it really dead?   If you make 40 contacts a day you can't loose. If you don't you are toast.  [/quote]

[quote=Gaddock][quote=on my own]I was thinking about this…everyone says that cold calling is dead.

  Everyone? not me I've built one hell of a business in two and 1/2 years ALL by cold calling. Those that tell you it's 'dead' don't have the balls to do it. It's as simple as that.   That you build a practice now through referrals and networking.   The people that took the networking tract in my class became cold callers within a month or two or they are gone. Out of 78 to start there are now 14.   I know that there are some people on this forum that cold call have success and many others do not have success.    The ones that don't have success dont make the calls.   I agree that it is harder than it has been years past but financial advisors since the beginning of time have built the practices primarily through cold calling.   Can you guess why? Because it does in fact work.   1. Do you think that more and more people are saying that it is dead because they lack persistent, consistent, intestional fortitude it takes to face the rejection day in day out.   YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES   2. Is it the callers salemanship?   I suck at sales yet I'm fist in my class by a huge margin, I made the calls.   3. Is it really dead?   If you make 40 contacts a day you can't loose. If you don't you are toast.  [/quote] [/quote] Gaddock-   I agree with everything you said.   This info you gave can help others.   I forget and I know you have said this other posts...   1. Do you call bus or res?   2. Do you call with product or the appointment?   3. If you set appointments from cold calls how many are you doing weekly?       Thanks.   What aisle is the cream cheese on?