cold calling

Entries Tagged as 'cold calling'

Cold calling for freelance & consulting work is OK if…

November 16th, 2011 · No Comments · Feature Article, cold calling for freelance and consulting

People tell me they hate being bothered by cold calls and therefore they would never stoop so low as to phone someone themselves for freelance and consulting assignments. However, I’d guess that the vast majority of the calls they receive are quite unlike the calls I make and fall far short of my criteria for justifiable phoning.

Advice from George Clooney

September 26th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Feature Article, cold calling for freelance and consulting

When personally contacting prospects for freelance and consulting services, concentrate on helping them rather than whether they “like” you.

The new telephone party line

August 10th, 2010 · No Comments · Marketing

Cold calling can be emotionally exhausting. It feels like we are all alone facing a conversation that can be perceived as confrontational (though in practice, we are calling to offer assistance, not to engage in combat). I’ve found a successful way to manage this uncomfortable feeling of isolation, and I call it the new “party line.” It’s a state of mind in which we recognize that we are part of a community of callers with whom we can share our stories of rejection and problems.

A different perspective on this whole “rejection” thing

July 30th, 2010 · 8 Comments · Marketing

I felt rejection big time when I was terminated from corporate jobs. I felt rejection when my resume fell into the black hole. So I started cold calling for freelance and consultant assignments to avoid rejection . . . and it’s worked.

Two websites to help you say it right

December 22nd, 2009 · 4 Comments · Feature Article

Two websites teach how to say first and last names from diverse cultures. Either one alone is a tremendous help when phoning prospects from a print directory, but the combination of the two is even better.

What to do when your network is weak

October 12th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Marketing

It is extremely difficult to grow a strong network when you are employed full time. It’s even harder after you start a new job or receive your initial, demanding freelance or consulting assignments.

There are two solutions to this dilemma. The first is to be realistic. The second is to develop current prospecting techniques that do not require extensive past networking to be effective. That’s the great thing about telephoning. Done right–calling the people we can be most helpful to in a professional manner–gets the job done.

What percentage of prospecting phone calls are successful?

July 17th, 2009 · No Comments · Marketing

Since I recommend making large numbers of phone calls (commonly but regrettably called “cold” calls) to generate freelance and consulting assignments, I am often asked how many calls should be made to obtain a certain number of sales conversations or even assignments. The answer: I don’t know. There are problems in working with all the numbers involved. A second issue: phoning is the only marketing campaign that we try to hold to statistical standards of success.

How to know if your phone campaign is working

July 14th, 2009 · No Comments · Feature Article

In evaluating a newly started telephone campaign for freelancing and consulting assignments, you may be asking how you know you’re either working with the wrong list or giving the wrong pitch? You know this answer if you are going after assignments similar to your last good job because you are so familiar with your industry and how hirers perceive their problems. Here are two different questions you should ask: How long in calendar time will it take to get results? What else would you do with your time to get work if you were not making these phone calls?

Linking your voicemail message with an online message

July 13th, 2009 · No Comments · Marketing

When telephoning for freelance and consulting assignments, leave a comprehensive voicemail message if they don’t answer. For greatest effectiveness, combine the phone message with an email message and web link.

Who to phone for freelance and consulting assignments?

June 15th, 2009 · 2 Comments · Feature Article

It’s easiest to phone large numbers of people about possible freelance and consulting assignments if you have a ready-to-go set of names with contact info. The best source of this information is professional and trade association membership directories.

Stand Up 8 Times Blog ~ Diana Schneidman

How to start earning money quickly as a freelancer or consultant