Let’s be real: cold calls are old-fashioned and awkward, and don’t get results. We don’t like cold calling. Your customers don’t like cold calls. But phone calls are still an important tool. You can make calls more powerful by being strategic about when you use them.
When you combine a well-timed text with a call, you get the double benefit of the quick casualness of text and the warmer connection of a real voice. Think of texts and calls as partners getting the same job done in different ways. So let’s look at how to make that partnership successful.
When a prospect fills out a website form or stops by your booth at a trade show, you can use a text to send that first hello. You can then jump right into the meat of the conversation during your first call instead of wasting time on introductions.
Try this:
Up to 70% of people don’t listen to their voicemails. Stop phone tag cold by sending a text and then calling right away when you get the green light.
For example:
And if it’s not a good time...
Long email chains are old, and we’re over it. Text to quickly set up a call by sending a link to your calendar:
You finally got that coveted call scheduled -- yes! But then the phone rings into infinity. You probably used to send a “sorry I missed you” email which had a 50/50 chance of getting answered. Subvert the whole process by sending a personal reminder before your meeting:
Prep your prospect by texting a quick link to a blog post or video. By loading them up with resources in advance, you’re setting up a more meaningful phone call.