The national Do Not Call list has caused no small amount of upheaval among businesses that rely on phone contact to sell their products. There is good news, however, despite the panic over the national Do Not Call list. The national Do Not Call list rules don't apply to cold-calling businesses. If you're marketing a product to another business, you may continue on as before under the National Do Not Call list laws.
However, the national Do Not Call list has sent a message that no telemarketer should ignore. People don't like being called, which is why the national Do Not Call list is so popular. Just because the national Do Not Call list affects only residential numbers, don't assume that the people who dislike sales calls at home welcome them at work. Chances are, the person on the other end would sign up for a national Do Not Call list at work if he could.
Of course, the National Do Not Call list isn't going to stop you from calling businesses. So how can you make sure your sales calls are successful-even welcomed? Take some lessons from unsuccessful telemarketers that inspired the national Do Not Call list legislation. Here's a list of tips that will ensure your B2B calls are more effective, despite the national Do Not Call list.
Don't sound stiff. Think about the last time a telemarketer called you at home. Did he or she sound like a person reading a script? People who sign up for the national Do Not Call list complain about this. Yes, it's vital to have a script. But don't just read it aloud over the phone. Practice it first as though you're rehearsing lines in a play. Try to sound like you're not scripted. Prepare an answer for questions and objections. They'll listen to you instead of wishing for a business national Do Not Call list.
Don't call the wrong person. People who signed up for the national Do Not Call list hate when telemarketers mispronounce their names. Have a specific contact in mind-and know how to say their name.
Offer something they need. People especially dislike calls about things they don't need. This is one of the things that made people flock to the national Do Not Call list. Do some research. Get an idea of how this company might use your service or product. Tailor your sales pitch to their company. The person on the other end is more likely to listen to you-and less likely to wish there was a national Do Not Call list for businesses.
The national Do Not Call list has, without a doubt, changed the way telemarketers do business. Even if you exclusively make calls to businesses, however, you should let the national Do Not Call list send you the same message: make your call valuable. Sound like a real person. Offer them something they need. If you follow these tips, your cold-calling efforts are sure to succeed, regardless of the national Do Not Call list.
Also see:
National Do Not Call Registry FAQ
How to List a Phone Number in the Do Not Call Registry
Do Not Call List Registration: What Are the Rules for Nonprofits?