Affiliate since: 07/05/2024, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Lazar's 69 other Ask SC answers

I wouldn't say that it's good way to attract new PSAs or PRMs.

It's in my opinion more like "old" method of getting new affiliates,from the time before the expansion of internet.In those times companies would have kind of "telemarketing" center,and from there someone would call you (not only you,but the whole telephone directory) and ask you things like "Do you need a job?Do you know someone that needs a job?".And then,if you say yes,appointment (time and date) would be arranged.

Instead of that,"old way",I would advise you to rather use more modern methods.
I mean,hey,let's move on,it's internet era,right?


Go first to the Marketing center:
https://www.sfimg.com/Resources/MarketingCenter

There you can see marketing aids and marketing methods.
Under marketing methods there are few filters.If you're looking for,say,PSAs only,then choose SFI under "program",referrals under "goals" and any under "difficulty" and "cost".

Then start studying them all - or the ones,that seems most acceptable for you.
And after a while,when you choose one or couple of them and improve them through practice,you'll notice that you need "cold calling" no more.
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I wouldn't say that it's good way to attract new PSAs or PRMs.

It's in my opinion more like "old" method of getting new affiliates,from the time before the expansion of internet.In those times companies would have kind of "telemarketing" center,and from there someone would call you (not only you,but the whole telephone directory) and ask you things like "Do you need a job?Do you know someone that needs a job?".And then,if you say yes,appointment (time and
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Affiliate since: 07/07/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Victoria's 42 other Ask SC answers

Hi Adjoua,

I worked on the phone for 22.5 years, 15 of those years were in cold calling. Unless you can be yourself and sell, have a way of working on the phone while sticking to a script, unless you like talking with (or just to) people...unless you can take rejection, name calling and ear abuse, I wouldn't suggest it.

Also, you need a lot of time to explain SFI, etc. and some calls can take ages to end. (You want to be nice and friendly, not brush people off like pet hair off a shirt.)

One day I called a home, asked a young man for ("Mrs. Name".) He said, "Just a minute", there was a pause and a metal whistle was loudly blown into my left ear. My left ear was left numb for almost 4 hours.

I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I had a phone slammed down in my ear, how many times I was called names, even the ways they said them. People you call can be nice, even very nice, but you can not be prepared enough for the mean ones.

I think, if you want to cold call, you might want to create a short but still explanatory script about SFI, PSAs, even TripleClicks. Get the person involved - you ask questions, they answer, you garner their interest so they ask questions. Maybe you can give them your gateways.

Make notes as you call - with whom you spoke, what was said, if you gave gateways or if you must call back. (More time on calls, calling them back.) By making notes, you have something to refer to (believe me, you'll need it) and they might want a refresher, too. (And you will know if they had lied.) You can also use your notes for when (not if, think positively) they sign up.

I don't know if you've heard of buying phone lists for cold calling but there is no guarantee with those. You still get "no", "call me back" and "I have to think about it" responses as you call and fish around for "yes!" I have worked for employers who bought cold call lists and the so-called "leads" were no good. I say, be careful.

The time of day when you will be calling will be when? You might start at 10 a.m., work until lunch, call again from 1 p.m.-3p.m. Until someone will be home at 3:30, someone else will be back from shopping at 4 (give them time to unload everything), someone else yet will be home after 5 then 4 people want to be called after dinner. That's good for 7 p.m. until who-knows-when. You need time to eat, work and oh yeah, have a shower or a bath. Try to find enough time to go for a walk/drive, even to the bank, or to email your friends.

You could try it, see how it goes. I think you could come up with a better way, really. And you'll have your life! (To say the least of your ears.)

I wish you much luck and success.
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Hi Adjoua,

I worked on the phone for 22.5 years, 15 of those years were in cold calling. Unless you can be yourself and sell, have a way of working on the phone while sticking to a script, unless you like talking with (or just to) people...unless you can take rejection, name calling and ear abuse, I wouldn't suggest it.

Also, you need a lot of time to explain SFI, etc. and some calls can take ages to end. (You want to be nice and friendly, not brush people off like pet hair
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Affiliate since: 07/14/2001, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Susan's 20 other Ask SC answers

I tried this years ago, and it was not very successful. I think it would be even less successful now, given that many people are on the Do Not Call list, and will automatically complain about unsolicited political, charity, or ESPECIALLY "make money from home" calls.

I think it is too risky, at least in the United States. A few complaints will show up on the various databases online that monitor telephone "spam" complaints and people will block your number and you will waste your time. If you don't have unlimited minutes on your phone, you could waste money as well.

You might have better luck with this method if you are calling local businesses to encourage them to become ECAs. Otherwise, I would stick to other methods.
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I tried this years ago, and it was not very successful. I think it would be even less successful now, given that many people are on the Do Not Call list, and will automatically complain about unsolicited political, charity, or ESPECIALLY "make money from home" calls.

I think it is too risky, at least in the United States. A few complaints will show up on the various databases online that monitor telephone "spam" complaints and people will block your number and you will
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Affiliate since: 05/02/2013, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Kerrie's 68 other Ask SC answers

I would NOT recommend cold calling to attract new PSAs.

First of all - let's be honest. No one likes those calls.

If you can focus on a specific group of people who might be interested in an opportunity like SFI, it would be worth creating a relationship with them and then giving them information about it.

However, cold calling to random people will probably give you more headaches than PSAs. Your efforts are better spent on other methods.

https://www.sfimg.com/Resources/MarketingCenter?form=MarketingMethods


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Affiliate since: 11/29/2011, Power Rank: 96 | Read Gliceria's 402 other Ask SC answers

No. I think cold calling is dead! In the past before the Internet, cold calling using a local telephone directory was the popular method for attracting new customers.

Nowadays, the only people who use this old method are the telemarketers.

If you want to use this old-fashioned method, you run the risk of your calls being ignored,or being hung up on, especially if you choose to ring late afternoon or early in the evening, when the family is busy preparing dinner, or getting ready to eat, or later in the night when family is getting ready for bed.

Cold calling at the weekends may give you a bit of success, if your timing is right, as the family may be more relax after the stresses of the week, but still a big gamble, but you can try.

Why not try using the modern way of attracting new PSAs- use the social media, advertise online and offline.

Better yet, use the SFI Marketing aids and tools with new attractive banners and cards to give away.

Buy a share of S-Builder Co-op, the proven and successful method for recruiting PSAs not only locally, but globally. A packet of PSAs To Go will give you quick new sign-ups. With the new unlimited number of new PSAs you can purchase at $1.99, it's a much better way of getting, not attracting, PSAs, than cold calling.




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No. I think cold calling is dead! In the past before the Internet, cold calling using a local telephone directory was the popular method for attracting new customers.

Nowadays, the only people who use this old method are the telemarketers.

If you want to use this old-fashioned method, you run the risk of your calls being ignored,or being hung up on, especially if you choose to ring late afternoon or early in the evening, when the family is busy preparing dinner, or getting
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Affiliate since: 10/31/2014, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Samuel's 6 other Ask SC answers

That is a really interesting and debatable question.

I think any affiliate who considers all the possibilities for generating leads would definitely want to explore this avenue for leads. However, it has two sides to it just as any coin would have. It is purely a personal choice that one makes after weighing the pros & cons. I have attempted to answer this with some aspects of both sides of this question.

The positive aspect is that it opens up a huge, readily available data base of potential affiliates especially if the Directory has category wise listing. We are in a fluid & dynamic economic situation in almost all the countries of the world today and hence we can almost be sure that there would be at least one member in a family who is actively looking for earning an income either full time or part-time in nature. We are also more open now than ever before to working from home because we do not want to battle the traffic getting to work on a daily basis, higher time & cost of travel, exposure to pollution, lifestyle & age related health problems, work place stress & politics and many other factors.

The flip side in my opinion tilts against cold calling because of the following reasons especially for affiliates like us:

1. A cold call is treated as an intrusion by most people because there are so many businesses trying to sell them something or the other on a daily basis. The first reaction of the recipient of the call is to say 'No' irrespective of the product or service.

2. An affiliate who is not very thorough in knowledge about the business can end up being completely frustrated if the responses are negative to his/her cold calls. They are not yet used to hearing a "No" from a prospect unlike a seasoned & experienced Sales person. One has to be a high caliber sales person with a really high level of confidence in self & conviction in the product before attempting a cold call.

3. A Cold call could show the caller in poor light as it may give the recipient of the call that the caller is desperate for leads or prospects. This could also reflect on SFI as a company desperately trying to rope in people for their business.

4. The recipients of the calls could put SFI callers into a slot of 'nuisance value callers' without even taking the time to hear out what the caller has to offer.

5. All of us who have been in affiliate marketing for a while know that a personally referred product or service is much better received when compared to a cold call.

I am sure there are more reasons but I will restrict myself to these for now. In my opinion, a cold call should be used only one we have run out of all other methods to connect with people whom we know or can be referred to by someone before we try cold calls. We all know that PSA's are far more easier to work with than CSA's because of the personal touch involved.

Trust this answer helps you in making the right decision about making cold calls.

Cheers & God bless!

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That is a really interesting and debatable question.

I think any affiliate who considers all the possibilities for generating leads would definitely want to explore this avenue for leads. However, it has two sides to it just as any coin would have. It is purely a personal choice that one makes after weighing the pros & cons. I have attempted to answer this with some aspects of both sides of this question.

The positive aspect is that it opens up a huge, readily available
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Hi, Adjoua Kouma Henney!

Cold calling is an excellent sales training method that teaches patience, forbearance, stamina and resilience.

It is most suited for sales of goods and services that are part of the basic consumer needs.

Some commission sales organizations are specialized in cold calling. However more often that not, they work on lists put together based on same assumption of pre-existing interest. Some sales people are good at it, and do well.

However, very rarely would you see a sales organization using solely the local telephone directory as the only source of leads, except in training.

As SFI affiliates, our goals aim at sponsoring genuinely interested home business opportunity seekers. Our preferred lead is the one that already has some exposure with home based entrepreneurship. Random cold calling from the phone book would hardly lead you to find such lead.

In all the prospecting options available to us, cold calling from the telephone directory would be the last I would think of.

There is only one exception: calling small businesses to offer them the opportunity to list their businesses with Tripleclicks as e-Commerce affiliates.

That is good possibility for success.
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Hi, Adjoua Kouma Henney!

Cold calling is an excellent sales training method that teaches patience, forbearance, stamina and resilience.

It is most suited for sales of goods and services that are part of the basic consumer needs.

Some commission sales organizations are specialized in cold calling. However more often that not, they work on lists put together based on same assumption of pre-existing interest. Some sales people are good at it, and do well.

However,
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Thanks for this Question.

Cold calling is soliciting potential customers who were not expecting to speak with you. It's a kind of canvassing with strangers.

It's emotionally demanding. It can bring out, most of the times, the worst of negative reactions from the called people.

It can result in verbal abuse, threats, etc. It requires lot of patience to indulge in cold calling. It can be basically for a sales person who is in a hurry.

The other prospecting methods like E-Mail, Social Media, etc, etc can be quite effective. However, they take too much time to move someone from a lead to a customer.

Another thing to remember is, basically, cold calling is not for making a sale. It is simply a technique to make the prospect agree for a meeting. It is to make your prospect "interested". They are not interested in what you sell. They may feel your "Wasting their time".

When you make a call, your time duration to have an effective conversation is very limited. If you don't make it interesting you will be a failure.

Some of the best tips gathered from Top Notch Gurus in this field, to have an effective cold calling, are:

1. The Goal: To have an appointment with your "Prospective PSA";
2. Try to understand the back ground of the people that you try to call - Try to know
their profession, interest, etc. This will help during the conversation;
3. Organize your thoughts & avoid common mistakes prior to calling; Have the List
of people to be called specifically;
4. Always start your conversation with a greeting and an introduction.
5. Have a detailed Note to answer questions;
6. Fix an appointment at a specific time - Don't give them chances to reject you;
7. Be friendly with the person who picks up the phone when you call;
8. Do not assume that "your prospect alone will answer your call ";
9. Be sure to make calls early in the morning to catch the right person at home,
meaning the decision maker;
10.Finally, if the results are not encouraging, do not feel bad about it. Do remember
they have not rejected you as a person, but they are not prepared to decide on
what you offered.
11. Leave your contact information - They may come back to you in future.

Conclusion:

I have indicated the positive and negative sides of cold calling, using a local
telephone directory.

However, I feel its also another good method to attract new PSAs. It all depends on how efficiently you begin the conversation & keep it interesting for the "called persons"!!


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Thanks for this Question.

Cold calling is soliciting potential customers who were not expecting to speak with you. It's a kind of canvassing with strangers.

It's emotionally demanding. It can bring out, most of the times, the worst of negative reactions from the called people.

It can result in verbal abuse, threats, etc. It requires lot of patience to indulge in cold calling. It can be basically for a sales person who is in a hurry.

The other prospecting
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Affiliate since: 12/31/1969, Power Rank: 99999999

Is cold calling, using a local telephone directory, a good method for attracting new PSAs?

I don't think cold calling using the phone directory would be a good way to attract new PSA's, most people don't like telemarketers, unless your calling a friend or family member.
One of the ways I've got new PSA's is I purchase from TripleClicks a 20 PSA pack, and another way to get new PSA's is to play the auctions, if you bid 50 times then you'll get 1 new PSA, up to 2 PSA's in a day.
Another great way is the Gift Cards, these cards and be also purchased at TripleClicks and you can order them in physical cards or by digital cards that you can get right away and start emailing friends.
30 Gift Cards = 300 action VP.


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Is cold calling, using a local telephone directory, a good method for attracting new PSAs?

I don't think cold calling using the phone directory would be a good way to attract new PSA's, most people don't like telemarketers, unless your calling a friend or family member.
One of the ways I've got new PSA's is I purchase from TripleClicks a 20 PSA pack, and another way to get new PSA's is to play the auctions, if you bid 50 times then you'll get 1 new PSA, up to 2 PSA's in a day.
Another
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Affiliate since: 01/13/2006, Power Rank: 99999999 | Read Michael's 101 other Ask SC answers

Hello Adjoua
Unless you are particularly good at cold calling I would not recommend this route for sponsoring affiliates. Many people are suspicious of offers of additional income over the telephone and telemarketing is not popular in many countries.

If you do decide to use this method there is a very good telephone technique training article at https://www.sfimg.com/Training/SpecialReports/PhoneTechniques

However, you could use this method to introduce new Ecommerce Associates. Business owners are always looking to increase their client base and their sales and are more open to suggestions. Just be sure you know what you are going to say before you call and anticipate their questions by having a list of probable questions they are likely to ask.

I hope this helps you and all SFI friends.
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Hello Adjoua
Unless you are particularly good at cold calling I would not recommend this route for sponsoring affiliates. Many people are suspicious of offers of additional income over the telephone and telemarketing is not popular in many countries.

If you do decide to use this method there is a very good telephone technique training article at https://www.sfimg.com/Training/SpecialReports/PhoneTechniques

However, you could use this method to introduce new Ecommerce Associates.
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