When cold calling do you leave voicemails?

Community Mailbox

When you are making your cold calls on the telephone and your prospect isn't available do you leave a voicemail or call back at a later time?

rattus58

I've done both, and my message now is "Hi Mr. Ireallywanttomeetyou, I know you're busy and that is why I'm calling for an appointment. I'll keep trying in hopes of contacting you at a more convenient time, Aloha, Tom Lodge 808-992-9999 that number again 808-992-9999.

Much Aloha...

Ace Coldiron

I see your memory is not as bad as you are aways saying it is. You were able to say the exact same number twice.

__________________
www.acecoldiron.com

rattus58

No.... It's a computer skill I acquired... cut and paste....

Much Aloha...

sfrenkel

I leave voicemails - otherwise, how are they supposed to know I called?

I've heard some recommend to stop leaving voicemails by the third or fourth call back - by that time I've most likely moved on, but if I'm confident about the need and the fit, I might try back without leaving messages.

Stephen

bethravery

This is kind of a loaded question.

For the most part, you should leave a voicemail with a prospect.

However, depending on the size of the company and level of executive, the purpose of leaving the voicemail can be different.

For example, if you're calling an extremely small company, you have a decent chance of the prospect calling you back. Therefore, the purpose would be to reach out and try to get a return call.

If you're calling a c-level executive in the Fortune 500, the chance of a prospect calling you back are slim. However, it doesn't mean a voicemail is useless. It means that when you do leave a voicemail, you're building awareness. You're getting your name out there. This can be helpful, because it may take you many weeks or months to reach this type of executive. When you do, if you've laid the foundation of sending emails and leaving voicemails, he may have a vague idea of who you are, and make your call that much more 'warm.'

Good luck!

Beth

Ace Coldiron

Beth, I have no way of knowing for sure, but I suspect most of the active posters here rarely call on a C-level executive in the Fortune 500. Why do you think that it would take weeks or months to reach one of them? Can you give an example of a particular group in sales that have led you to that statement--and could you rate the level of sales acumen in that group?

Please--I'm not challenging you. It's just that I have people in my circle that have no problem reaching those C-level executives.

SeanPatrick

Leaving a VM or not, its subjective and purely personal. There are other means of reaching people, PA is a route i like because its more important to build huge rapport there, also email is an option i love and i love handling the objections i get via email....its an invitation to call and get through and overcome the objection. I think its 50/50 whether a prospect who is not familiar with you will actually return your call, they may do or they may not!

sfrenkel

Ace,

I do indeed call on C-level Execs (or as high in the company as I possibly can). While success rates are good, I'd be interested in hearing about your colleagues' approach(es) as I'm always interested in learning more, especially from people who are good at high level B2B sales...

Stephen

Ace Coldiron

Stephen, having read your posts over a period of time, I have no doubt that you are successful in that area. Frankly I can tell by the insight you consistently display.

Among the top salespeople I know, one stands out in particular when it comes to the information you want me to share. He said quite recently over lunch, "You don't work your way up into bigger league sales, you place yourself into it."

Stephen, that might not be the form of reply you were hoping for, but the underlying belief in that statement is one that I find consistent with producers who have success in reaching top level people and selling them.

Most people can be reached. Most salespeople do not attempt very hard to reach people that they assume are difficult to reach. It isn't a matter of fancy technique, it's a matter of accepting that it can be done.

My clients over the years have included ambassadors, senators, congressmen, mayors, wealthy newspaper publishers, superstar athletes, prominent attorneys, CEOs of large companies, and one world reknowned physician. I'm sure I've left some categories out. I cannot think of a single instance among them when I was not treated with respect, openness, cordiality, and willingness to hear what I had to say.

Only in the case of the newspaper publisher, did I find an intermediary personal assistant who set appointments on several occasions for me to meet with her boss. When I met with that woman publisher I was always treated as a welcome guest and a source of information and services.

The man I quoted earlier does not just deal with the hoy paloy. He has many clients in small businesses and farming--as do I. He knows the best way to deal with others is human being to human being. I share that belief with him.