Cold Calling Sales

This cluster centers on debates about cold calling and sales outreach in startups, particularly B2B software, covering its necessity for acquiring first customers, customer annoyances, and tactical advice.

➡️ Stable 0.5x Startups & Business
2,791
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#8289
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Keywords

B2B ASIC HN MBA LinkedIn CEO posthog.com YOU MVP sales cold calling product customers pitch use product contacting talk offer

Sample Comments

SrslyJosh Nov 19, 2020 View on HN

"Give us all of your contacts" is not the way I'd start a conversation with a customer.

missedthecue Aug 6, 2024 View on HN

It surprises me too. When my current company was getting off the ground last year I was cold calling to find our first customers for our MVP. This is in the B2B software space. I would make about 70 calls a day and it would shock me how many people not only pick up, but stay on the phone to hear me out. I landed a number of accounts this way to get the momentum rolling.And it was awkward for me too, I don't even have a background in sales. I'm sure a talented salesperson could have

donkeyd Jun 3, 2014 View on HN

Try changing the message or try a cold-call, give you the chance to get instant feedback on why people don't use the product.

swombat Mar 17, 2009 View on HN

Why would a start-up make the effort of contacting you if you don't make the effort of contacting them?

hesdeadjim Nov 22, 2015 View on HN

At this point I don't answer a call that isn't in my contacts. I sign up for a trial of some cloud service and it is like clockwork, 2-3 days afterwards I get a cold call from someone in sales. It's like they are all following the same playbook at this point and it's ruined the effectiveness of the strategy, at least on me...

Major_Grooves Jun 4, 2014 View on HN

It's an HN thing. You just have to ignore it - it's based on ignorance not malice.I'm an "MBA type" running a very early-stage startup and I am only too painfully aware that cold-calling is the way forward to get our first few hundred sales. Somehow we spend so much time reading about digital marketing, and optimising this sign-up flow, and A:B testing this and that, that we forget that a significant number of users can be persuaded to use your product just by being c

badpun Feb 15, 2023 View on HN

The whole point of "Contact sales" is for the sales team to figure out how much you're willing to spend on their service, and to extract that amount from you. It is frustrating for you, but that's how their business is making majority of their money, so they won't give it up.

beat Sep 25, 2013 View on HN

Cold calling, then. Offer them a story and see if they bite.

sueders101 Jul 6, 2018 View on HN

"These are not cold calls"When you hover over the solutions options they literally say"Prospecting: We cold call businesses and generate new leads for you."

brudgers May 22, 2022 View on HN

You just talk to them."Them" are only potential customers until they pay you money.Since "them" are not giving you money, you've got nothing to lose from rejection.Good luck.