--- name: cold-call-script description: "Use this skill when you need a B2B cold call script or talk track: \"write a cold call script\", \"what do I say when they pick up\", \"help me prep cold calls for this list\", \"handle objections on the phone\". Builds an opener that earns 30 seconds, a problem statement in the buyer's words, two or three discovery questions, a meeting ask and the responses to the most common brush-offs. Written to be said out loud, with a one-page version for the call and a practice drill." license: MIT metadata: title: Cold call script category: multichannel tags: "SDR, Sales, Founders" author: prosyo version: "1.0.0" keywords: "cold call script b2b, cold calling opener, sdr call script, claude cold call skill, cold call objection handling" inputs: "Persona and problem, Offer and proof, Trigger if any" outputs: "Call script, Objection responses, One-page call card, Practice drill" --- 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](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: Reason: → "Is that true for you?" Questions: 1. 2. 3. Proof: Ask: <20 minutes, two time options> If no: "Who else on your team deals with ?" ``` ## 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'." --- # Cold call brush-offs Pattern: **acknowledge → one question → respect the answer**. | Brush-off | Response | | --- | --- | | "Just send me an email." | "Happy to. So I send something useful rather than a brochure, is actually something you're dealing with?" | | "We're all set." / "We already have something." | "Good to hear. Out of curiosity, how long does take with what you have today?" | | "Not interested." | "Fair enough. Is that because isn't an issue, or just not a priority right now?" | | "I'm busy right now." | "Understood. Is there a better 2 minutes later this week, or should I not call back?" | | "How did you get my number?" | Answer honestly with the source type (a business contact database, the company website), and offer to remove it. | | "What's this about?" (sceptical) | Give the reason in one sentence and ask the problem question. | | "We don't have budget." | "Makes sense. When does planning for next year start? I'd rather be useful then than pushy now." | | "Talk to ." | "Thanks. What should I know about how thinks about this before I call?" | | "Call me next quarter." | "Will do. What changes next quarter that makes it a better time?" Then book the callback date. | | "Is this a sales call?" | "Yes, it is. Can I take 30 seconds to say why, and you decide?" | ## Voicemail after a no-answer Under 20 seconds: name, company, one-line reason tied to the email, "I'll send you a note too", number said twice slowly. Expect few callbacks; the voicemail's job is to make the next email familiar. ## Practice drill (15 minutes) 1. Read the opener aloud five times until it sounds like you. 2. Partner plays the prospect with a random brush-off from the table; respond, then switch. 3. Record one full role-play and listen for: talk ratio, filler words, whether the ask came with two time options.