I used to answer every cold call I got, but then something changed. It was a few years ago, and I was at home when my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number on the caller ID and assumed it was a sales call from someone I had done business with in the past.
The person on the other end of the line seemed nice enough he said he worked for an energy company that offered electricity at a discount for customers who signed up for automatic payments. At first, this sounded like an excellent deal:
We could save money by not having as much cash flow each month? Yes please! So we agreed to sign up for this program, with one caveat that we would not be charged anything until after we had received our first bill from them (which would be sent via email).
Surprise! When our first monthly bill arrived in late June (for services rendered in April), it included a separate charge for $30 that had nothing to do with electricity or any discounts whatsoever; plus there were two other charges totaling another $40 each month.”
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embracing a Shift in Approach |
| Importance of Adapting Strategies |
| Transforming Cold Calling Experience |
| Recognizing the Power of Change |
| Enhanced Prospect Engagement |
| Prioritizing Effective Communication |
| Reevaluating Outreach Techniques |
| Leveraging Valuable Insights |
| Navigating Changing Sales Landscape |
| Focusing on Meaningful Connections |
Set Your Phone To Do Not Disturb
One of my favorite features on my phone is the Do Not Disturb feature. It allows me to set up a list of people who can call me at any time, and a list of people who can only call me during certain hours or days.
The first step is finding out how to turn on this feature on your phone. If you don’t have it, go through the steps to set it up now so you’re ready next time someone calls.
If you do have Do Not Disturb but haven’t used it yet (or if its usage was limited by other settings), there are some important things to know about using this feature:
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Use A Call-Screening App
Call-screening apps are great for blocking the most egregious offenders: telemarketers, debt collectors, and political solicitors. Some apps will even let you block calls from specific numbers.
If someone calls you from a number that isn’t in your contacts, the app will ask them to identify themselves before allowing them to proceed with the conversation.
This is especially useful if they’re going to give you some sort of pitch that makes no sense whatsoever and sounds like it was recorded by an AI with no understanding of human language (which is usually the case).
Turn Off Your Voicemail
If you’re like me and don’t want to talk to salespeople, there’s a simple solution: turn off your voicemail.
You might think that turning your voicemail off would be an inconvenience for people who call and need to leave a message, but the truth is that most people will just text or email instead.
Also, when someone leaves a message on my phone, I usually get so annoyed that I end up calling them back anyway! So here’s what I recommend: if you don’t want to talk to anyone at all (and have no one else who needs access), then just go ahead and disable it by dialing
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Don’t Pick Up If You Don’t Recognize The Number
The first thing you should do is answer your phone. If it’s a number that you don’t recognize, don’t pick it up unless the caller ID tells you who it is. You can also take a look at their website or social media to see if they have any information about their company.
If they do, go ahead and call back and ask for more information about why they called to help them with whatever issue they may be having (more on this later).
If the number is out of area code, look up where the phone number is from before answering just in case there isn’t an explanation online already;
This will prevent wasting time talking with someone from another state or country trying to sell something when all they want is help to find directions somewhere close by!
Finally, if there are letters mixed with numbers (e.g., 408-555-1212 vs 555-1212), then chances are high that this isn’t an actual person calling.
Because no one would do that intentionally! Instead, it’s probably just spam trying to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims who don’t know better than not to answer these types of calls in general.”
Set Aside Time To Return Calls
If you’re like me and have a ton of calls to return, one thing that has helped is setting aside time for returning those calls. I have a calendar alert set for 9 p.m. every night that says “Call Back.”
That’s when I know I’ll be able to sit down and go through my list of missed calls or return new ones and get them off my plate before bedtime.
It also helps if you prioritize your calls by importance: family first, then business contacts (like clients or colleagues), then people who have been waiting on hold for a while, then everyone else in between.
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If You Must Answer, Pretend It’s An Automated Call
I know you don’t want to give out personal information, but it’s okay. Imagine you’re talking to a robot and say “I’m not interested.” Then, keep saying “no” every time they ask if you’d like to hear the recording again.
Tell them that your phone number is on the do-not-call list and they should remove it from their records immediately or else face penalties of up to $16,000 per call! They won’t threaten this; instead, they’ll probably hang up on you (or press 9).
If any questions come up during this interaction you may get asked if it’s OK for them to send information via text or email do not answer them! Just repeat what we said above:
You’re not interested in hearing anything more from them and they should remove your number from their system at once or face serious repercussions.
Now would be a good time for us all just sit back and reflect upon our lives…
When In Doubt, Don’t Answer
If you don’t know who’s calling, don’t answer.
If they’re trying to reach you through a sales call or some other business-related reason, they’ll leave a message and you can call back when it’s convenient for you if at all.
If it’s an emergency, they’ll likely call again and again until they get through and then tell you that’s why no one answers the phone (which isn’t true). Either way, there’s nothing wrong with being unavailable for unknown numbers!
Use An App To Stop Robocalls
The first thing you can do to stop robocalls is to download an app like Truecaller. This app will show you the name, number, and profile of whoever’s calling you before you answer it. If it doesn’t look legit, don’t pick it up!
You can also use this app to create a “blacklist” for certain people or numbers so that if they call again, you won’t even hear their voice message you’ll just be notified that they called and how long ago it happened.
If all else fails (and especially if your phone isn’t compatible with Truecaller), there are other apps available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store that screen calls for spammy companies.
One such example is Mr. Number: it allows users to block unwanted calls by adding them to their blacklist or whitelist (if they want to hear from someone specific).
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If You Do Get A Robocall, Push Buttons To Opt Out Of Future Calls
If you are on the receiving end of a robocall and want to stop receiving more, there are several options. You can push 1 on your phone to make the caller remove your number from their list.
You can also push 2 if you’d like to be placed on the National Do Not Call Registry which prevents most telemarketers from calling you at home or work.
Finally, if you want direct action against an individual company making these calls in violation of federal law (which they almost always are), then call 888-382-1222 (press 2) and report it directly to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
Ignore Robocalls That Claim There’s A Problem With Your Account Or Computer
If you’re on the receiving end of a suspicious call, never give out any personal information. If a caller claims to be from your bank or credit card company and asks for your account number or other sensitive information, hang up immediately.
Be wary of anyone who calls claiming there’s a problem with your computer (or another device). They may ask to remotely access it and their first step is always asking for access codes or an IP address. Never give them these things!
Don’t Take The Bait On Tech-Support Scams
This tip comes courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which reports that scammers are increasingly targeting people with threats of computer viruses that can only be fixed by paying a fee.
The scammer may claim to be from Microsoft or Norton and ask for your personal information, credit card number, or bank account information. They may even demand you pay up via money transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram, rather than directly into their hands.
Don’t give out any of your personal information to unsolicited callers and certainly not over the phone!
You never know who you’re talking to or if they’re collecting data for identity theft purposes; it’s better safe than sorry when it comes to protecting yourself from these types of cybercriminals and scammers in general
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Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Caller ID Information
You’ve probably heard the same advice from your parents: “Don’t answer the phone if you don’t know who’s calling.” That’s great advice, and it makes sense for a lot of reasons.
But there’s one thing about caller ID that could be tricking you into answering calls even ones from scammers and other shady characters.
Many of us are familiar with call spoofing technology, which allows someone to make it look like they’re calling from a number that isn’t their own.
You’ve probably experienced this in some form or another: maybe a friend prank called you pretending to be your boss while they were on vacation; maybe an old acquaintance used a fake number when they texted you out of the blue;
Maybe someone called you at 3 AM pretending to be an emergency room doctor so they could get credit card information off you (this is also known as vishing).
Well-trained scammers have figured out how easy it is to spoof numbers using this technology and even though most consumers know about it now, many still fall for these tricks!
The problem arises because we tend to trust any bit of information we receive over the phone without questioning its accuracy or origin.
We’ll assume that Caller ID is showing us what number is calling us and ignore anything else about what we see on our screen when we answer.
This can lead us astray if scammers are trying hard enough and disguising themselves well enough which means we’ll end up talking with them rather than hanging up immediately!
Be Skeptical Of The Caller Offering Free Money Excessive Discounts Or Deals
If you’re not the type of person who bites on the hook when a phone call comes in, then you’re less likely to be taken advantage of by scammers.
That’s because they rely on people who are gullible and quick to trust strangers. They want you to feel like they’re your friend, or like you owe them something.
What should I do if I get one of these calls? If a caller asks for sensitive information like your social security number or bank account details, hang up immediately. Don’t give out any personal information, especially over the phone!
If it sounds too good to be true (like free money), then it probably is! A legitimate company does not need you to pay for something first before receiving their product or service later on down the line.
If someone offers an introductory deal that seems too good to be true, there’s probably some kind of catch involved such as having high monthly fees after cancellation, being locked into contracts for years at a time without being able to cancel easily when things go south…
Conclusion
So, what can you do to protect yourself? The first step is to recognize that these calls are common and unlikely to go away anytime soon. That doesn’t mean you should give up on your phone or ignore your voicemail. Instead, keep using your phone as normal.
But be more vigilant. Use a call-screening app like Hiya! or Hiya! Lite blocks unwanted calls from known scam numbers and offers feedback on whether each call is legitimate or not.
You can also turn off voicemail so you don’t have to listen through long messages when checking in at work.
If all else fails, just do what we did: set aside time each day when no one will bother us while we return important calls one by one before going back into hibernation until tomorrow morning…
Further Reading
Explore insights into addressing the challenges of phone outreach and improving your cold calling strategy.
Stop Cold Calling: Try These Strategies Instead
Learn alternative strategies that can help you achieve better results and create more meaningful connections with prospects.
Why Cold Calling Is Killing Your Mojo
Discover the negative impact of cold calling on your motivation and explore ways to maintain your enthusiasm in sales outreach.
FAQs
How can I improve my cold calling success rate?
Enhancing your cold calling success involves refining your approach, understanding your target audience, and focusing on personalized communication. Check out relevant guides and techniques to boost your effectiveness.
Are there alternatives to traditional cold calling?
Absolutely! Many businesses are shifting toward modern, relationship-based strategies that involve warm introductions, content marketing, and networking. Explore innovative approaches that align with your goals.
How can I overcome the challenges of rejection in cold calling?
Rejection is common in cold calling, but reframing your perspective and learning from each interaction can help you build resilience. Seek advice on handling rejection and turning it into a growth opportunity.
Is cold calling still relevant in today’s digital age?
While digital communication has expanded, cold calling can still be effective when combined with modern practices. Discover how to integrate cold calling into a comprehensive multichannel strategy.
What role does personalization play in cold calling?
Personalization is crucial in cold calling, as it shows your genuine interest in solving the prospect’s problems. Learn how to tailor your messaging and approach to resonate with individual needs.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.