Cold Calling

Why Most Cold Calls Suck (And How to Break Through)

Most cold calls are dead on arrival.


The problem? They’re generic, self-serving, and sound like every other pitch out there.


Yesterday, I went head-to-head with a fictional legend, Jim Hardass, the “VP of Sales.” (Nooks AI Roleplay Simulator)


Mission: Book the impossible meeting.

Outcome: Victory. 💥


Here’s how I turned a rejection machine into a “yes” factory:


🚫 STOP Selling. START Solving. Nobody cares about your shiny features or fluffy promises. They care about their problems. Jim didn’t need a product demo. He needed better email reply rates. I showed him how to hit 6% instead of 2%.


💡 Lean Into Objections. When Jim said, “If this messes with my CRM, it’s a no-go,” I didn’t dodge it. I proposed a demo with his security team to address concerns upfront. Objections aren’t roadblocks. They’re doorways.


⏰ Create Urgency. “What’s the cost of staying at 2% replies? Lost deals. Missed quotas. Burnt-out SDRs.” Don’t just pitch ROI; paint a picture of the cost of inaction.


🧠 Play Chess, Not Checkers. Every cold call should have a plan. Mine ended with a Thursday meeting (2 PM sharp) involving Jim, his CRO, and his security team.


Cold calls succeed when sellers shift from simply pitching to truly connecting. Buyers respond to value, not just words.


If you want to excel in sales, focus on understanding your prospect’s challenges and having authentic, problem-solving conversations. That’s where real success begins.


Best Cold Call Opener

Cold Call Framework

Opener:

"Hey, Jim it's Matt from Blank. We've never spoken before, but we're working with Jane Doe at St. Frances Hospital, and I came across your name. You got a sec?"

"Hey, Jim it's Matt from Blank How's it going today?  (small chat) Hey Jim I don't want to be rude. I know you weren't expecting my call. Could I steal a quick second to explain why I'm reaching out?"

Context + open-ended question"

"Okay, I'll be brief."

"After talking with several folks like yourself it seems like call abandonment and no-show rates are a constant battle fighting call volume and staff efficiency."

"I noticed that your location on X street is averaging hold times between 10 - 15 mins and voicemails take up 2 to 4 hours of your staff's day.

"What are your thoughts on transcribed voicemails so your staff has more time to focus on incoming calls?"

**Keep the conversation going by being curious and asking open-ended

Close:

"I know my timing is probably off, and you're not looking to add anything new, but would it be a terrible idea to schedule 15 minutes either tomorrow or Thursday just so you can review what your options are in case you need it in the future?"

Example

Objection handling:

Can you send me an email?

Response: "Yeah that's not a problem what's the best email? Got it. Just to make sure I'm sending you relevant information can you tell me a bit more about xyz?"

I'm not interested.

Response: "Got it. That's not a problem I can let you go but before I do would you mind sharing what it is that makes you feel that way?"

We're using a competitor.

Response: "What do you like best about them?  Is there anything you wish they did better?"

I'm not the decision-maker.

"Who would be the best person to bring this up to?  Would it be horrible to ask if you could possibly introduce me?  Do you mind if I ask you for their email?"

No Budget.

Response: "Okay I get it. Can't get things rolling without a budget but aside from the money if money wasn't an issue... do you feel this is something that could help you solve xyz so you can xyz?"

Voicemail Template


Hey, Tori, the reason for the call is that (insert name of business/college) is using our software to help ease the workload on their staff and clinical team.  


They love how time they’re saving on repetitive tasks and their patients… well they’re seeing more of them as a direct result now. 


Speaking of which, their patients are in love with how easy it is to communicate with their practice now more than ever. 


My name’s Matt from Klara.com -  no need to call back. I'll send you an email with the subject line: xyz. Look forward to your reply.



Example

Never Give up!

**Real-life example of a prospect who was upset with receiving an unwanted cold call and had some choice words :) Listened and empathized with the pressure she was under. After defusing the situation she didn't have time to chat but wanted a follow-up email:

Learn more about the email above... WARNING its scary!