I'm looking for a way to make a couple of extra bucks by selling some products or services via telephone to businesses. Do you know any products or services that can be sold easily by cold calling? Do you have any tips? Any experience? Any suggestions?
As you probably know, a lot of companies use the term "business development" as a synonyms for "sales", so at my role as a VP business development I had to do some called emails and calls as well.
It is never easy, even if you have the best product in the world and event if you are the best sales person in the world.
You need to show a need, and the need must stay in the customers head even after the sale so the product will not be shipped back.
If this is not your day job, and you want some extra money, look for a company that is looking for sales people like you, they will usually give you a list of leads based on landing pages or TV commercials followup calls so the call is a bit "warm" and not so cold. There are a few products like that, like health emergency buttons. Just google it or use Indeed to find the relevant position.
Good luck
The best products to sell are those that you believe in, this will give you credibility and passion. Since you want to sell products that someone else created you also need to make sure the company is reputable. Otherwise you won't get paid and there are a lot of scams out here regarding selling of all types of products and services. If you're good on that, one route to take is to become an affiliate.
Google the product or service you'd like to sell and add "affiliate" then hit enter. Check out the results. You should see more details about how to become an affiliate for the product or service. You may be able to sell over the phone and even online. With the winter holidays approaching there are a lot of places looking to sell stuff. Retailers, technology, fashion, automobiles to name a few. Also see the support system and reputation of the company. Another source to checkout is ClickBank. You'll find a whole host of products you can sell and earn commissions.
Happy Selling!
Here are some products and services that can potentially be sold to businesses via cold calling:
Office supplies: Things like pens, paper, printer ink, etc. that businesses always need. Staples, Office Depot, etc. have been successful with this model.
Print/copy services: Offering printing, copying, mailing, document management, etc. as an outsourced service.
Software/web services: Things like CRM, accounting, payroll, and website design and maintenance that businesses rely on. However, you'll need good product knowledge.
Marketing services: Services like search engine optimization, pay-per-click ads, social media marketing, and email marketing campaigns.
IT services: Offering managed IT support, cybersecurity solutions, hardware and software installation, and maintenance. Requires some technical expertise.
Shipping and Logistics: Offering delivery, freight, and warehouse storage solutions for businesses shipping goods.
Facility/office supplies: janitorial, coffee/vending, breakroom supplies, furniture, etc. Recurring need.
Tips:
Target specific industries or niches where your offering provides clear value.
Have a tight sales script that qualifies and builds trust quickly.
Offer a free trial, assessment, or consultation to get your foot in the door.
Follow up diligently with prospective clients until they say no.
Track your stats to optimize your approach over time.
Starting with a digital offering and building relationships over the phone before proposing an in-person meeting can help close more sales by cold calling. Let me know if you need any other advice!
