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5 Easy Steps to Better Cold Calling Techniques in 2025

5 Steps to Improving Cold Calls

Cold calling is still one of the best ways for salespeople to find new customers in 2025. Many people think cold calling is dead, but the truth is that it still works when done right. These cold calling techniques can help you talk to more potential customers and make more sales. As sales expert Jeb Blount says: "The telephone is the ultimate sales prospecting tool. The fastest, most efficient way to reach decision-makers." [Source: Fanatical Prospecting, 2015] This guide gives you 5 simple steps with helpful cold calling tips to make your calls more successful. By the end of this article, you'll have a clear plan that will make cold calling less scary and more effective.

5 Step Guide

5 Steps Guide Flow Chart

Step 1: Get Ready Before You Call

Good preparation makes cold calling much easier. Taking time to learn about who you're calling will help you succeed. Mike Weinberg, sales consultant and author, says: "The quality of your preparation directly impacts the quality of your call. Researching your prospect isn't optional—it's essential." [Source: New Sales. Simplified., 2012]

Cold Calling Tips for Getting Ready:

  • Learn about your prospect: Before calling, spend 5-10 minutes looking up the company and person. Check their LinkedIn page, website, and recent news. If you see they just opened a new office, you could mention, "Congratulations on your new Chicago location."
  • Make a good list: Focus on quality, not quantity. Build a list of people who are likely to need what you sell. Good cold calling advice suggests making a "perfect customer profile" and only calling people who match it.
  • Write key points: Good cold calling techniques include having a list of things to say, but don't read from a cold call script. Write bullet points instead of full sentences, so you don't sound like a robot.
  • Know what you want from the call: Is it to set up a meeting? Get a referral? Or just see if they're interested? For most first calls, your goal should just be to get a second call or meeting. Steli Efti, CEO of Close.io, shares: "When I was starting my first sales team, we would spend hours making calls with no clear objective. Once we defined that the only goal of a first call was to get a second call, our success rate tripled." [Source: The Ultimate Startup Guide to Outbound Sales, 2015]
  • Practice answering common objections: Smart cold calling advice is to think about what objections people might have and know how to answer them. Practice out loud how you'll respond when someone says "I'm not interested."

Step 2: Start Your Call the Right Way

The first 10-15 seconds of your call decide if the person keeps listening or hangs up. Your opening needs to grab their attention quickly. Art Sobczak, author of "Smart Calling," notes: "The first 10 seconds of your call will determine the next 10 minutes. Your opening must earn the right to continue." [Source: Smart Calling, 2013]

Cold Calling Techniques for Great Openings:

  • Say something personal: Mention something specific about their company or job to show you did your homework. For example: "I noticed your company just launched a new product line last month."
  • Tell them who you are: Clearly state your name and company. "Hi, this is Jamie from ABC Solutions." Keep it simple and clear.
  • Be different: Great cold calling tips suggest saying something unexpected like, "I know I'm interrupting your day, so I'll be quick." Grant Cardone shares this example: "I once called a CEO who was known for hanging up on salespeople. I opened with, 'I know you're busy and probably thinking about hanging up right now, which is exactly why I'm calling.' He laughed and stayed on the line." [Source: The Closer's Survival Guide, 2011]
  • Discuss their problems: Instead of discussing what you sell, mention a problem they probably have. For example: "I work with marketing directors who are struggling to get enough quality leads from their website."
  • Ask if it's a good time: After your quick intro, ask if they have a moment to talk. This cold calling advice shows you respect their time.
  • Don't ask "How are you?": This sounds like a sales call and might make them want to hang up, according to proven cold calling techniques.

Step 3: Ask Good Questions

Once they're listening, you need to get them talking by asking questions that help you understand their needs. Anthony Iannarino, sales expert, explains: "Good questions create value for your prospect during the call itself. When you ask the right questions, prospects gain new insights about their challenges." [Source: The Only Sales Guide You'll Ever Need, 2016]

Cold Calling Tips for Asking Questions:

  • Use the SPIN method: Ask about their Situation, Problems, what these problems mean for them, and how a solution would help. For example, "What system are you currently using?" (Situation), "What challenges have you had with it?" (Problem).
  • Listen more than you talk: Successful cold calling techniques suggest letting the prospect do 70% of the talking. Take notes on what they say. Jason Bay, founder of Blissful Prospecting, shares: "In analyzing thousands of cold calls, we found that successful calls had the prospect speaking 60-70% of the time. Failed calls had the salesperson talking 70-80% of the time." [Source: Blissful Prospecting Blog, 2023]
  • Ask open questions: These are questions that need more than a yes or no answer and get people to share more information. Instead of "Do you handle your own marketing?", ask "How do you currently handle your marketing?"
  • Show you understand: When they mention problems, say things like "That sounds tough" or "Many companies we help face that same issue."
  • Connect their problems to your solutions: Cold calling advice from top sellers says to help them see how what you offer can fix their problems. But don't jump to this too quickly - understand their problems fully first.
  • Learn what their goals are: Find out what they're trying to achieve, not just what problems they have. "What does success look like for your team this year?"

Step 4: Handle Objections Well

When prospects say no or raise concerns, it's not the end. Take it as a chance to address their worries and build trust. Jeb Blount notes: "Objections are not rejections; they're requests for more information. The way you respond to objections often determines whether you win or lose the sale." [Source: Objections, 2018]

Cold Calling Techniques for Handling Objections:

  • Welcome objections: When someone raises concerns, it shows they're engaged. Thank them for being honest. You might say, "I appreciate you bringing that up. It is a common concern."
  • Use the LAER method: Listen to their objection, Acknowledge it, Explore it with questions, and Respond with a helpful answer. For example: Listen to "We don't have the budget right now." Acknowledge: "I understand budget constraints can be challenging." Explore: "When do you typically review your budget for these kinds of services?" Respond: "Many of our clients started with a smaller package that fit their current budget."
  • Be ready for common objections: Smart cold calling tips include knowing what to say when they tell you "we don't have money," "we're happy with what we have," or "call me later." Steli Efti shares: "One of our sales reps was constantly getting the 'send me some information' brush-off. We created a simple response: 'I'd be happy to, but so I don't waste your time with irrelevant information, could I ask you two quick questions first?' This approach increased our conversion rate by 35%." [Source: Close.io Blog, 2022]
  • Turn "not interested" around: When they reject you right away, try saying, "I understand. Most of our current customers said the same thing before they learned how we helped them [specific benefit]."
  • Suggest a specific time: If they say it's a bad time, offer a specific alternative: "Would Tuesday at 2pm work better?" This is more effective than asking "When should I call back?"
  • Know when to move on: Not everyone is right for what you sell. Good cold calling advice is to respect clear "no" signals and focus on better opportunities.

Step 5: End with Clear Next Steps

Every successful cold call should end with a plan. Without clear next steps, even good phone calls can be forgotten. Mike Weinberg emphasizes: "The number one reason sales opportunities stall is the lack of a clear next step. Never end a call without establishing exactly what happens next and when." [Source: Sales Management. Simplified., 2015]

Cold Calling Tips for Ending Calls:

  • Review what you discussed: Briefly repeat the main points to show you were listening. "So it sounds like your main challenges are the slow reporting system and the difficulty training new staff."
  • Suggest what happens next: Whether it's setting up a demo, sending information, or another call, be clear about what comes next. "Based on what you've shared, I think the next step would be a quick 20-minute demo to show you how we solve these specific problems." • Schedule the next meeting now: Effective cold calling techniques include booking the next step while you have them on the phone. "I have time this Thursday at 10am or Friday at 2pm. Which works better for you?" Grant Cardone shares: "I once closed a $1.2 million deal that started with a cold call. The key moment wasn't the first call—it was when I said, 'Let's put a 15-minute meeting on the calendar right now.' If I had waited to follow up later, the deal would have died." [Source: Sell or Be Sold, 2012]
  • Send a follow-up email: Right after the call, send an email that recaps what you discussed and confirms next steps. Do this in real time.
  • Tell them what to expect: Let them know exactly what will happen before your next contact. "In our demo on Thursday, we'll cover the reporting features you mentioned and show how the training system works."
  • Say thank you: Thank them sincerely for their time, no matter what happened on the call.

Common Cold Calling Mistakes to Avoid

Even with good cold calling tips, there are some mistakes that many salespeople make when they pick up the phone. Anthony Iannarino warns: "The biggest cold calling mistake is believing that your goal is to make a sale. Your goal is to create enough value that you earn the right to move to the next step." [Source: The Lost Art of Closing, 2017]

Cold Calling Advice on What to Avoid:

  • Talking too much: The biggest mistake is doing all the talking. Good cold calling techniques focus on getting the prospect to talk more than you do. You can do this by asking open ended questions.
  • Sounding like a robot: Reading directly from a script makes you sound fake. Use key points instead so you sound natural during your sales pitch.
  • Ignoring research: Calling without knowing anything about the prospect or their company is a recipe for failure. Just as your finding their phone number, you should also look for their pain points.
  • Giving up too soon: Many salespeople stop after the first sales objection. Successful cold calling often requires working through several concerns. Jeb Blount shares: "In our analysis of thousands of sales calls, we found that top performers asked for the next step an average of five times in a single call. Average performers asked only once or twice." [Source: Sales EQ, 2017]
  • Being too pushy: Trying to close a sale on the first call usually doesn't work. Focus on getting to the next step, not closing the deal immediately.

Bonus: Using Technology for Better Cold Calling

In 2025, technology can make your cold calling much better when used the right way. Art Sobczak explains: "Technology should enhance your cold calling, not replace the human connection. The best tools help you be more prepared and efficient, but your voice and message still drive success." [Source: Smart Calling Blog, 2022]

Technology Cold Calling Advice:

  • Use MySimpleLead.com CRM: This user-friendly CRM is perfect for cold calling. It helps you organize prospects, track your calls, and remember important details about each contact. The system is designed specifically for salespeople who make lots of calls or cold emailing.
  • Let MySimpleLead.com remind you: The system can alert you when it's time to follow up with a prospect, so no opportunity falls through the cracks. It can even suggest the best times to call based on when people have answered in the past.
  • Track your success: The tools in MySimpleLead.com help you improve your approach. You can see your conversion rates, best calling times, and most successful leads.
  • Steli Efti notes: "We've seen that sales teams using AI-powered call analysis improve their conversion rates by 27% on average. The technology helps identify patterns that humans might miss." [Source: Close.io Podcast, 2023]
  • Track your calls: MySimpleLead.com helps you track calls so you can review them later and find ways to improve.

Keeping Up the Good Work

Cold calling success needs both consistency and constant improvement. The best salespeople treat cold calling as a skill to practice, not just an unpleasant task. Jason Bay shares: "The salespeople who consistently outperform others aren't necessarily more talented—they're more disciplined. They block sacred time for prospecting that nothing can interrupt." [Source: Blissful Prospecting Podcast, 2024]

Cold Calling Tips for Ongoing Success:

  • Set a regular call schedule: Block time for cold calling when you have the most energy, usually early morning or after lunch. Protect this time and don't let other tasks interrupt it.
  • Track your results: Don't just count calls, but also look at how many convert, what objections you hear, and the quality of conversations. Good cold calling techniques include analyzing what works and what doesn't.
  • Review and improve: Important cold calling advice is to listen to recordings of your calls each week to find patterns and ways to get better. Mike Weinberg shares: "One of my clients increased their team's conversion rate by 40% simply by having reps listen to their own recorded calls once a week and identify one thing to improve." [Source: Sales Management. Simplified., 2015]
  • Practice with coworkers: Role-play tough scenarios with colleagues to build confidence and try new approaches. Ask them for their best cold calling advise.
  • Celebrate small wins: Be proud of progress even when calls don't lead to immediate sales. A good conversation is valuable. Every "yes" to a follow-up meeting is a win worth celebrating.

Conclusion

Cold calling still works in 2025 because business happens between people. Even with all the new technology and digital marketing, talking directly to potential customers is still one of the best ways to make sales. By using these 5 steps with our proven cold calling tips and techniques—preparing well, starting strong, asking good questions, handling objections, and ending with clear next steps—you can make cold calling a powerful tool for growing your business. Grant Cardone summarizes: "Cold calling isn't about making a sale—it's about creating opportunities. Every call is a chance to help someone solve a problem they may not even know they have." [Source: Sell or Be Sold, 2012] Remember that cold calling is part art and part science. The steps give you a plan to follow, but your genuine personality and real desire to help will determine your success. People can tell when you truly want to solve their problems versus just making a sale. With practice and persistence, these cold calling techniques and advice will help you develop a style that feels natural and gets results. Each call gets a little easier, and over time, you'll find patterns that work for you and your specific products or services. Don't get discouraged if your first calls don't go well. Every great salesperson started somewhere and got better over time. The fact that you're reading these cold calling tips puts you ahead of many others who aren't willing to learn and improve. Start using these cold calling tips today, and watch your confidence—and your sales—grow!

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