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Cold calling-ad space sales

by Dustin Lyle
10 replies
I know the topic has been beat to death... But I'm looking for current info and a great dialogue...

What's your money rate calling cold prospects? Close rate.. Success rate, Whatever you want to call it. Whats YOUR percentage of sales made compared to calls made?


What experiences have you had in selling online and/or offline ad space?


What do you think is an attainable target for a prospective cold caller to aim for?


Currently I'm spending about 5 hours a week calling B&M businesses, between 100-150 "hellos".. I usually close between 5 and 10 businesses for 19.99.
I've never thought to do more than that, because thats all I really needed/aimed for... Supplemental income.

So whats your experience?
#callingad #cold #sales #space
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    All that for $19.99?

    Raise your prices and what you deliver.

    Your numbers are OK but man I wouldn't put in the effort for a few $20 sales.

    Prospecting & qualifying for a

    $20

    or $1000

    or $10000 sale

    takes pretty much the same amount of time.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dustin Lyle
      Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

      All that for $19.99?

      Raise your prices and what you deliver.

      Your numbers are OK but man I wouldn't put in the effort for a few $20 sales.

      Prospecting & qualifying for a

      $20

      or $1000

      or $10000 sale

      takes pretty much the same amount of time.

      Well personally, I think my issue is that I've never personally witnessed a cold call successfully close for any greater sum than a few tens of dollars..
      No doubt about it I'd like to scale it up, possibly a $99.00 item. But alot of my confidence at 19.99 comes from knowing that my product can and will sell at that price point...

      If I'm upping the product and price to say... 99.99, well I don't have any kind of assurance that it will sell, and thus, my ability to close it will be less because I'm not as confident as I should be without the assurance? Man I hope that makes sense! lol
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by Dustin Lyle View Post

        Well personally, I think my issue is that I've never personally witnessed a cold call successfully close for any greater sum than a few tens of dollars..
        No doubt about it I'd like to scale it up, possibly a $99.00 item. But alot of my confidence at 19.99 comes from knowing that my product can and will sell at that price point...

        If I'm upping the product and price to say... 99.99, well I don't have any kind of assurance that it will sell, and thus, my ability to close it will be less because I'm not as confident as I should be without the assurance? Man I hope that makes sense! lol

        $20 is an impulse sale. So is $99. You may sell half as many, but you'll still make 2.5 times more.

        $1,000? maybe now, you'll need some training.

        Look down.
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        • Profile picture of the author Huskerdarren
          Claude, just picked up the Kindle title. It's fantastic so far and a no brainer at 99c. I'll leave you a review on Amazon when I'm done. Thanks for bringing so much quality info to the forum. (Wow, sorry if that sounded too much like a cheesy WSO review)
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Huskerdarren View Post

            Claude, just picked up the Kindle title. It's fantastic so far and a no brainer at 99c. I'll leave you a review on Amazon when I'm done. Thanks for bringing so much quality info to the forum. (Wow, sorry if that sounded too much like a cheesy WSO review)

            I appreciate that very much, but I think that's the last of my "pointing to the signature'. It's kind of tacky, and not in the spirit of this forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Miller
    Originally Posted by Dustin Lyle View Post

    I know the topic has been beat to death... But I'm looking for current info and a great dialogue...

    What's your money rate calling cold prospects? Close rate.. Success rate, Whatever you want to call it. Whats YOUR percentage of sales made compared to calls made?


    What experiences have you had in selling online and/or offline ad space?


    What do you think is an attainable target for a prospective cold caller to aim for?


    Currently I'm spending about 5 hours a week calling B&M businesses, between 100-150 "hellos".. I usually close between 5 and 10 businesses for 19.99.
    I've never thought to do more than that, because thats all I really needed/aimed for... Supplemental income.

    So whats your experience?
    Dustin I read this post a few times because because something was bothering me and it didn't hit me right off. But now that it has, I have to say that according to your numbers, you're working about ONE hour a day! Imagine what you could accomplish if you worked TWO!
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    • Profile picture of the author Dustin Lyle
      Originally Posted by David Miller View Post

      Dustin I read this post a few times because because something was bothering me and it didn't hit me right off. But now that it has, I have to say that according to your numbers, you're working about ONE hour a day! Imagine what you could accomplish if you worked TWO!

      Yeah, I'm not doing it full time.. Just every Friday from around 9 to 2. I even leave the house for starbucks/lunch! lol

      My intention with it was, like I had said, just a supplement income to add to my other endeavors. BUT, seeing as I'm getting pretty consistent sales numbers, it'd be nice to scale it. And I also wanted to know where I'm at in relation to others as far as percentages go. Industry averages etc..

      Imagine if I put ALL of my work hours in it! lol I typically work 70-80 hours a week in my different online businesses..
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Wooops Dustin,

    I guess you added more info to the OP, or I didnt read it all the way down. I see you are making some sales. Forgive my irrelevant post. The amount of closing you are doing is pretty good actually, even by my own standards. I use to make 400 "dials" to close 5-6 of these, and I was number one in my room. My record was nine in 6 hours of dialing ...so your 10% ratio is really good.

    You should scale this, and get some others involved in helping since you have a proven system working.

    Have you read the Bower report?

    If not I'd like to give you a copy. It would amaze you what can be accomplished with this model. Really.

    -John
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    • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
      @Claude,

      Is this the book you were giving away:

      Do you sell online marketing or advertising to offline business owners? For a very limited time, you can read a copy of my new book Selling Local Advertising... for just 99 cents on Amazon. You can also just buy the book in print if you wish. Here is the link;
      http://www.amazon.com/Selling-Local-...laude+whitacre

      If it is, here is an unsolicited testimonial to anyone reading this thread:

      BUY IT!

      To the OP, if you didn't read Claude's book, you should. With your current success rate, his info will doulbe or even triple your results. That means instead of working 5 hours a week you will be down to only one and a half. I don't know what you will do with the rest of your week but that would be a nice problem to have.

      Good luck.

      Tom
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by sandalwood View Post

        To the OP, if you didn't read Claude's book, you should. With your current success rate, his info will doulbe or even triple your results. That means instead of working 5 hours a week you will be down to only one and a half. I don't know what you will do with the rest of your week but that would be a nice problem to have.

        Good luck.

        Tom
        Tom; That's it. I found out that I was only giving away a temporary access before. So I lowered the price to a buck. And thanks for the endorsement.

        And I've learned never to argue with a man who does pushups with weights on his back.

        He should also get all of John's material too. I have John Durham's reports and they are a perfect match for this topic.
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