cold call
Sales ambush call
A cold call is an unsolicited contact—typically by phone—to someone with no prior relationship, usually to sell something or solicit business.
The adjective cold suggests the absence of any warm introduction or existing connection.
Sales teams make cold calls to potential customers; job seekers cold call companies hoping to find openings.
As a verb: I spent the morning cold calling leads from the directory.
Searching for mineral wealth
- lead generationAcquiring potential customer contacts
- pitchFrequency of sound
- scriptWritten words for performance
- telemarketingPhone-based sales outreach
prospect · pipeline · closing · quota · commission · conversion · appointment · CRM
Break in continuity
- unsolicitedNot asked for
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
disruption · inopportune · stranger · privacy · nuisance · dinner time · inconvenient · unexpected
Persistent emotional obstacle
- brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection
- no thanksPolite declination phrase
- declineDecrease or refuse
- refusalAct of declining
dismissal · gatekeeper · voicemail · screening · not interested · objection · resistance · block
Firmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- thick skinImmunity to criticism
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
stamina · confidence · courage · boldness · motivation · discipline · consistency · endurance
Written words for performance
- openerWhat begins something
- hookCurved catching device
- value propositionPromised benefit to customers
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
tone · timing · rebuttals · personalization · research · preparation · cadence · volume
prospecting
Searching for mineral wealth
- lead generationAcquiring potential customer contacts
- pitchFrequency of sound
- scriptWritten words for performance
telemarketing · prospect · pipeline · closing · quota · commission · conversion · appointment · CRM · dialer
interruption
Break in continuity
- unsolicitedNot asked for
- uninvitedWithout formal welcome
- unwelcomeNot wanted here
surprise · disruption · inopportune · stranger · privacy · nuisance · dinner time · inconvenient · unexpected · unscheduled
hang-up
Persistent emotional obstacle
refusal · dismissal · gatekeeper · voicemail · screening · not interested · objection · resistance · block · ignore
determination
Firmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- thick skinImmunity to criticism
perseverance · stamina · confidence · courage · boldness · motivation · discipline · consistency · endurance · patience
script
Written words for performance
- openerWhat begins something
- hookCurved catching device
- value propositionPromised benefit to customers
rapport · tone · timing · rebuttals · personalization · research · preparation · cadence · volume · persistence
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- phone callsphone number, robocall, cell number, mobile number, spam call
- salessale, sales, selling, salesperson, salesman
- sales tacticsupselling, cross-selling, hard sell, soft sell, high pressure
- callsphone call, call back, callback, missed call, incoming call
- call centersinbound call, outbound, call volume, queue, hold time
cold callwarm call
Contact to familiar prospect
referral · warm lead · hot lead · return call · follow-up call