Earning response from cold

Jeff Molander

Sales communication coach & Managing Partner, Communications Edge Inc.

Trainer to brands like:

Here is what I’ve learned from our customers regarding what works best for cold outreach: Avoid asking for the appointment.

Instead, use the first message to spark curiosity. Provoke. Just enough to earn a short email discussion.

Then, structure conversation (via email) to create an another urge in the prospect... to ask you for the appointment.

Sound crazy? I'll explain...

LinkedIn connections aren't working

Generally, connections are not effective as a 'first touch' strategy. Plus, they're risky.

If your connection requests are not accepted by prospects often enough LinkedIn will remove your ability to make requests. This is just one of a long, growing list of reasons to not make your first attempt using a connection request.

Here's another: Once connected 97% of sellers I work with aren't getting response ... post-connection.

There are reasons why customers aren't replying.

Mike Andersen

VP, Worldwide Inside Sales
Cambium Networks

"The big push on 'social' selling has turned a lot of SDR teams into 'send a LinkedIn invite then try to sell them 5 minutes after they accept.'"

Decision-makers are accepting fewer connections—because they are immediately spammed after accepting requests.

They've been trained (via their experience on LinkedIn) to expect spam.

LinkedIn's interface encourages the active ignoring of personalized messages. Often sending false positives to sellers. Result: "They accept and then ignore me. Why would they do that?!" (because they never truly accepted based on your message)

Other than InMail, it is best to initiate contact off of LinkedIn first—then connect on LinkedIn to nurture the conversation forward.

This takes full advantage of what connections give you. (and avoids risk of being punished by LinkedIn)

Here's the short version. Being connected with prospects on LinkedIn is:

less effective for earning meetings or starting discussions
more effective at nurturing existing conversations and "early stage" relationships to closure

This is the piece of the puzzle you might be missing with LinkedIn. Success boils down to your ability to give prospects an irresistible reason to talk.

This is what we learn how to do in our next Academy Clinic. Join us. It's fun. We're a small group... so we keep it private, intimate.

Decision-makers are responding less on LinkedIn's platform. Simply because Navigator's popularity is increasing. More sellers are piling on. However, this is resulting in a steady increase in spammy messages on LinkedIn's platform.

Remember: LinkedIn's strength is in its profile database--not its ability to take the work out of starting conversations with customers.

I know snazzy LinkedIn adverts claim otherwise. As do the "LinkedIn experts" who arm you with InMail templates. Templates don't work.

Bottom line: Do you use LinkedIn as your primary communications platform when prospecting? If so, you may be weakening your chances to start conversations on it.

Asking for appointments kills response rate

Take it to the bank. My (and our students' collective) experience proves: You'll get more appointments set by not asking for them in the first email.

Because most buyers don’t (yet) realize they need to speak with you when you email them. PLUS, they're getting inundated with inbound emails from sellers—97% of them asking for meetings.

Your buyers may have a latent, festering pain that is not fully manifested. Or they do have a need (for a solution) but aren’t ready to buy yet... for any number of reasons. Example: they may not have assembled the decision-making team—yet.

Setting an appointment with a seller will happen—but not with you.

Because you asked for it (too early).

Do this first instead

Getting more responses and appointments will start happening for you. Follow my lead. But it will only happen when you help prospects feel curious about how you can help them solve a problem, relieve a pain, avoid a risk or fast-track a goal.

But be careful about playing on "pain points." This can backfire.Don't make prospects feel vulnerable with your words.

Beware of asking questions that make them feel vulnerable. Instead, make yourself vulnerable. (If you'd like to learn how exactly to do this, join us in the Academy)

Here's the best way to make this a habit. Take a sticky-note and hang this on your wall... look at it daily as a reminder.

Write in ways to provoke buyers to inquire: "Can you tell me more about what you just said ... more specifically?"

Using a provocation technique help discover when the prospect will be ready for an appointment. Or you might uncover who is on the decision-making team, or what stage of decision-making they’re in.

Do you have questions about making provocation techniques “come alive” for you ... or your sales team? Let me know!

With your success in mind,

Quick Tips

Start by using your first message to provoke a,
“can you tell me more?” from a buyer.

Use the chance to
surface an unknown fact
the prospect needs to know before they can make an informed decision.

Sales communications coach & Managing partner

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