Cold calling can one of the most blood chilling advertising technique [for me atleast ]. How many of you have tried it in one form or another?

Do share your experiences in here!

Back when I was a ****ager I went for a job that I thought involved selling products over the phone. What we weren't told was that the cold calling wasn't via telephone, but in fact was face to face on peoples doors.

About five people turned up on the day. We were all told at the same time. Three of them walked out the door as soon as they heard. Myself and one other guy figured we'd give it a shot. By early afternoon we both decided that was enough and told the person that was running it that we'd had enough and were going home.

I was the worst job I ever tried. There is no way in hell I will ever do it again. The replies we got from people were horrible. Slammed doors, profanity, angry stares. Never again.... never again :shudders:

Btw, I voted No on the poll before remembering this

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I looked into one of those door-knocking jobs a few years back. After a long talk to them on the phone, I decided it wasn't for me.

You certainly made the right decision. I wouldn't advise it as a job to anyone

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During my stint as a telemarketer I have. It wasn't pretty. We had lists to go off of but it sure as hell didnt help us any. Most of the people I talked to were rather nice since I wasn't calling people in the NYC area but I made 0 sales. Not a damn one.

I think everyone in the office took a stab at that and only one or two people ever did well at it and even for them it was only 1 or 2 sales a day.

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Cold calling is an art form.

it requires long periods of training (Constant hangups/abuse), and specific conversion methods (now how to sweet talk your way into their interest).

Telemarketing pays the way it does because of the lack of real interest in the call centre staff community due to the high stress that accompanies it.

Why so stressfull?

Well, lets say your shift consist of a list/Database of 5,000 numbers.
Your KPI states you need to at least call 50% of those numbers, talk to 25% (even if they hangup/abuse you, and convert at least 1-2%. (50-100 for those of you playing at home).

As an incentive, the call centre will usually offer bonuses for top performers, highest conversion rates etc.

But what happens if you dont make that minimum 1% on a regular basis?

Well, its that 'little talk' you've been dreading.. the 'suggestion' that perhaps telemarketing isnt the job for you..

That doesnt help feed your wife + 2 kids does it?


In short, Telemarketing is a good paying job if you know what your doing, and can 'switch off' to all the abuse you will receive (and you will receive it!), but at the end of the day.. it really doesnt offer any job security.


Been there. Done That. Never Again..


[small](Just my little insight.. )[/small]

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One thing I found with telemarketing is that quality leads lead to increased sales. When we had new leads to work off of, things were great, but sometimes we had leads that we simply beat to death and were full of those folks that either never answered or you could never get in touch with.

Telemarketing wasn't entirely bad though. I've worked on a few projects where we were introducing new products to customers that there really was a market for like deregulated energy. It worked out great and everyone involved was satisfied.

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I got a job as vacuum salesman, but couldn't find the place for the training, I think it was a blessing.

I don't like the word "cold" calling. I think of it as Dialing for Dollars. In my business when I first started me and my partner called every business in the phone book - EVERY ONE. And we kept cards on each one and when their renewal dates were for their insurance.

Either we got nothing, a renewal date, a census, or an appointment. Or a combination of a few.

I think it's more of a gathering tactic than anything.

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