How to Open a Sales Call Like a Pro: 5 Easy Steps

As per a research, 41% of the reps say the phone is their most effective sales tool.

Contrary to a popular belief, 90% of the reps believe cold calling tips to be very effective.

While there’s no doubt that cold calling is still alive (in fact flourishing), it’s equally true that cold call opening defines your success rate.  That’s because when you are on phone, the words you speak make your first impression.

Interestingly, the easiest part of the sales call is the opening.

At this point, you cannot go wrong because nobody has any expectation from you.

This is a no risk zone because no quotes have been made, no commitments have been discussed, the reputation of the company is not on the line, etc.

At the same time, it is the most difficult part of the sales cycle. The way you open a call generally defines the progress of the conversation.

Moreover, it is important to qualify your prospect at the earliest. 

If someone is not interested in your proposition, you need to identify this during the initial few seconds. That helps both you and your prospect save their precious time.

Anyways, if you are new salesman figuring out how to open a sales call like a pro, the following steps will definitely help, but let’s first understand the basics of call opening.

A. How to open a sales calls successfully – 5 easy steps

1. Greet the Person

When you approach someone to sell your product or service, the first thing you should remember is to show respect. 

Do not start with your sales pitch as soon as you begin the conversation.

It does not look good and you will lower your chances of converting that sales pitch into a successful sales pitch.

At the start of your conversation, you should greet the other person in the right way, for example, Good Morning Mr. John.

It is important to do so because sales is all about creating a relationship and every relationship is based upon social niceties.

Start your conversation with utmost respect and professionalism.

Because when you are over the phone, the way you talk is the only way you can impress an individual.

You can also spot the agents that are not making proper salutation, and can deep dive into the calls for coaching and training.

2. Introduce yourself and your business

Now, the next thing for you to do is to introduce yourself and your company, and the purpose for which you are calling.

But when you introduce your company, you should talk more about the benefits that the company provides rather than the features.

In the above example, the prospect is generally interested to know more about Enthu.AI and how it can help them increase QA efficiency.

Instead, consider a scenario where I speak as follows: My name is Tushar Jain, I’m the founder of Enthu.AI We’re a conversation intelligence software that analyzes and transcribe calls and provides business insights.

Now, the most common reply to this will be: Thanks but no thanks.

It’s full of jargon and doesn’t focus on the benefits that the product will bring to the prospect.

In a nutshell, introductions should focus more on the benefits that a customer can extract using your product/service. This gives a direction to the conversation.

3. Asking the right first questions

After greeting the prospect the right way and introducing yourself & your company, you should focus on the sales questions that will qualify the prospecting call .

The purpose of these questions should be to understand the motivation that drives the interest in your product or service.

Your questions need to be specific so that you can get definitive answers that help you understand the perspective of the user.

Also, it will help you steer the course of the call, i.e., you will be in control of the conversation.

Always be informed and ready.

In the same manner, you can create your own custom keyword cloud to identify the calls and the questions that got asked.

4. Giving good first answers 

When the customer asks you questions, you should give a reply in the best possible way.

And you can do that only when you understand the customer and his needs.

The answer that you provide must be brief and to the point and it must talk about the benefits rather than features.

Also, between calls, demos and meetings, you should continue with your research so that you are aware of any new development that might be critical when you speak with the decision maker.

All these activities will help you close the sales faster.

Managers can quickly identify the agents that sell on features vs. those who sell on benefits & USPs.

If an agent is consistently showing the same behaviour, he can be coached for improvement. 

5. Thank them for their time

You must always be grateful when someone agrees to talk to you about your product.

By thanking them, you are showing that you value their time.

And when someone gives you their time, you must always respect that and provide them with the solution that can cover up their investment of time.

See Enthu.AI in action

B. Basics of opening the call in a call center

1. Introduction

• Start the call by introducing yourself, your name, and your role in the company.
• Be polite, friendly, and professional.
• Confirm the name and reason for the call with the customer.

2. Greeting

• Offer a warm and sincere greeting to the customer.
• Show empathy and understanding of the customer’s situation.
• Make the customer feel valued and important.

3. Objectives of the Call

• Clarify the purpose of the call.
• Explain the steps that you will take to resolve the customer’s issue.
• Set expectations for the outcome of the call.

4. Active Listening

• Listen carefully to the customer’s concerns.
• Avoid interrupting the customer.
• Ask clarifying questions to ensure you fully understand the customer’s needs.

5. Problem-Solving

• Offer solutions to the customer’s problem.
• Provide accurate and relevant information.
• Be creative in finding ways to resolve the customer’s issue.

6. Follow-Up

• Provide a clear plan for follow-up action.
• Confirm the customer’s understanding and satisfaction.
• Thank the customer for their business.

7. Closing the Call

• Summarize the key points of the call.
• Confirm that the customer’s issue has been resolved.
• Provide a final opportunity for the customer to ask any additional questions.
• End the call professionally and courteously.

A sales call introduction is the beginning of a conversation between a salesperson and a potential customer. The goal of the opening is to build rapport and establish a connection with the customer, while also laying the foundation for the rest of the call.

Let’s check out 5 easy steps to create a positive and productive environment for your sales call, and increase your chances of making a successful sale.

C. Don’t forget

1. To define clear goals

Be clear with what you want to achieve during a sales call.

Keeping the goals in mind, prepare questions that are relevant to your customer’s business, pain points, needs, etc. Try to ask only relevant questions so that it feels like a conversation and not an interview.

Every question asked should be towards achieving the goals set by you.

2. To structure your sales call

Prepare a structure of your call, i.e, you must define what to ask and when to ask. It helps you maintain the control of the call.

You must plan in advance on how you would start a meeting so that you can point it to the right direction to achieve your goals.

Next, prepare a list of talking points and questions that would help you understand prospects’ concerns and pain points in a better way.

When you prepare well, you tend to get less surprised.

3. To deliver value

Understand that your potential customers are busy in life. They will only entertain you till the time they are receiving some kind of value from the conversation.

So, make prospects realise the value of your product/service right from the start.

Don’t play hide and seek.

4. To go with the right attitude

Approach the call with the right attitude.

Right attitude comes when you are informed, you empathise with your customers and are genuinely interested to help customers solve their problems.

When you display such an attitude, prospects feel motivated to take action.

D. Best practices for opening a sales call

When opening a sales call, the first few moments can set the tone for the entire conversation. Here are some best practices to follow in order to make a strong impression and increase your chances of success:

1. Preparation 

Before the call, make sure to research the potential customer and understand their business, their needs, and their pain points. This information will help you tailor your approach and provide relevant solutions.

2. Positive Introduction 

Start the call by greeting the customer and introducing yourself, your company, and the purpose of the call. Keep your tone friendly and professional.

3. Building Rapport 

Ask questions and actively listen to the customer. Show genuine interest in their needs and concerns. This will help establish a connection and create a more positive and collaborative atmosphere.

4. State the Purpose

Clearly and concisely state the purpose of the call and why it’s relevant to the customer. Be specific and avoid making vague or generic statements.

5. Ask for Permission

Before diving into a sales pitch, it’s important to ask for permission to continue the conversation. This shows respect for the customer’s time and gives them control over the call.

6. Respect 

Be respectful of the customer’s time, budget, and priorities. Prioritize their needs over your own and avoid being pushy or aggressive

7. Focus

Stay focused on the customer’s needs and stay organized with a clear plan for the call. This will help you stay on track and avoid getting sidetracked.

Conclusion

Opening a sales call may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s extremely important.

When you can’t see the person, words are what build your first impression.

You need to ensure you are using the right set of words that stick with the prospect.

What else do you consider while opening a sales call? Do write in the comments below.

FAQs