cold-call-script

Use this before a calling block. It produces a talk track that sounds like a person, not a reading, and that gets to a decision (meeting or no) in under three minutes.

Inputs

• Persona and the problem.
• Offer and one strong proof point.
• Trigger or prior touch (an email they may have seen).

The play

1. Opener: honest and short

Name yourself, acknowledge the interruption, give the reason in one sentence, ask for 30 seconds.

"Hi Maya, it's Sam from Acme. This is a cold call, so feel free to hang up, but can I tell you why I called and you decide if it's worth a minute?"

Permission-based openers convert better than pretending the call is expected.

2. Problem statement: the reason

One or two sentences about a problem people in their role usually have, with a peer reference. End with a question.

"I work with finance leads at companies your size. Most tell me close takes 8 to 10 days because approvals sit in inboxes the last week of the month. Is that true for you, or have you solved it?"

3. Discovery: two or three questions

Ask, listen, follow the answer. Good questions are about their current process and its cost: "How long does close take today?", "Where does it get stuck?", "What happens when it runs late?"

4. The ask

If there is a problem: "Contoso was at 9 days and now closes in 4. Worth 20 minutes next week to see if the same thing would work for you? Tuesday or Thursday?" If there is no problem: thank them, ask who else might feel it, and leave.

5. Brush-offs

Read references/call-objections.md for responses to the ten most common brush-offs. The principle: acknowledge, ask one question, then respect the answer.

One-page call card

Opener: <permission line>
Reason: <problem + peer>  →  "Is that true for you?"
Questions: 1. <current process>  2. <where it breaks>  3. <cost of it>
Proof: <one line>
Ask: <20 minutes, two time options>
If no: "Who else on your team deals with <problem>?"

What good looks like

• The rep speaks less than 50% of the call.
• A clear outcome every time: meeting, referral, follow-up date, or a no.
• The common mistake is the pitch dump: 90 seconds of features before the prospect has said a word.

Rules

• MUST say who you are and that it is a sales call when asked.
• MUST respect do-not-call lists and local calling rules and hours.
• NEVER pretend to know the prospect or reference a conversation that did not happen.
• NEVER keep pushing after a clear no.

Example prompts

• "Write a cold call script for IT directors at hospitals. We sell device management."
• "Prep me for 40 calls tomorrow to people who were sent our email last week."
• "Give me responses to 'just send me an email' and 'we're all set'."