Telephones are everywhere!

It's a fact!  Cellphones and business lines connect almost every human being on the planet to each other.  The ability to communicate with almost every human being on the planet is invaluable.  Telecommunications these days are incredibly cheap, even bordering onto the free.  Even anonymous use of the phone networks is possible with services like Skype and other VOIP providers.  This voice based communication is your window to untold millions of bored secretaries, high school students, and businesses that may or may not hand over invaluable resources.

People LOVE unsolicited phone calls!

Boy howdy DO they!  Nothing really gets someone into a good mood quite like receiving a phone call during dinner or their favorite TV show.  This is actually a complete lie.  It's important to do cold calling operations during times that are typically not considered critical such as between 7 and 9pm.  If you are calling businesses it's good to call no later than an hour before close and no earlier than an hour after opening.  If you are hoping for someones' voicemail box be sure to call late in the evening.  Think about your audience and try and pick times that are good for them.  Remember though, nobody schedules themselves 'talk to strangers time' so it's NEVER going to be a 'good time'.

Have a point!

If you get someone on the horn with you it is VITAL that you have a sembelance of a script.  You have to have a clear point for the communication and you have to get TO it.  People do not like feeling as if their time is being wasted.  Are you calling for donations for an operation or maybe you are trying to get survey data from people in a geographic area.  Get to the point and have a clear call flow from start to finish.  Each call should have a goal and you should make sure that each one is acheived as quickly as possible.

Needed supplies:

• Cold Calling List of Phone Numbers to Contact
• Ticketing system to report each call and it's results
• Phone system, either a cell / home / or VOIP, that costs nothing or next to nothing (for EACH participant)
• Script of call flow and introduction and call close goals
• Background sounds, generally a prerecording of a call center background noises