Volunteering: the Cure for Cold Calling

5 Comments

volunteerLast week I met someone at the top of their sales game. Within the past year he’s landed one of the biggest government contracts in our area and also started his own business. But he doesn’t make cold calls.

You see, my friend started his career in sales by picking up the phone and calling people he didn’t know. And they certainly didn’t know him. As you can guess, he wasn’t very productive in closing sales.

He realized he’d quickly need a new strategy or he’d be on the street looking for another job. And that’s exactly when he started volunteering.

As a volunteer, my friend realized he could not only meet some of the heavy hitters, but that he could also become their friends. No sale is ever made unless the buyer knows, likes, and trusts the salesperson.

Now, instead of making a cold call, he’s calling his friends to offer better solutions.

If you dread the cold call, perhaps you should volunteer more.

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Posted on September 8, 2012

  • http://hortonmarketingsolutions.com/james James Horton

    This is a great idea and approach to getting past the cold call – which I absolutely hate!  Thanks for sharing.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Same here, James.

  • Jim Fornelli

    Justin that was such a simple concept that can deliver long term results.  Keep up the good work.

  • http://www.ontargetcoach.com/ Brent Pittman

    Seems so simple, yet the volunteering has to be genuine on some level. People can see through disingenuousness. 

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    For sure, Brent. People will see right through it if it’s not genuine.