Is the cold call really dead?
The short answer is no, it’s not. But a lot has changed within the cold calling space. Social and mobile technologies bring a new level of interaction to customer relationship management (CRM), transforming the way consumers buy.
The Rise of Social Selling
If you aren’t optimizing social selling, you’re 
missing out. Research shows sales people who use social media to connect with customers are outselling those who don’t nearly 80 percent of the time.
“Customers want to be treated like individuals, not psychographic profiles,” reads the Microsoft social selling ebook titled Social is for Closers. “The more connected you are to today’s social and mobile customer, the better chance you have of establishing trust and having an honest dialogue.”
Why You Need a Social Strategy for CRM
By taking advantage of social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you can find new prospects, help them solve problems, and build long-lasting relationships. It’s also important to add social listening to the mix, seeking opportunities to hear what customers are saying about your product or service, and offering ways to address their questions or concerns.
“Social enables you to extend what makes great sales people – connecting with customers, listening, and building relationships,” reads Microsoft’s Social is for Closers. “It doesn’t replace anything, but rather scales your ability to connect authentically with your prospects.”
Implement Social Selling with Microsoft Dynamics
We know today’s customers make their purchasing decisions widely independently, meaning they’re researching online before walking into a store and speaking to a sales representative. According to CEB analysts, customers are 57 percent through the typical decision-making process before they ever engage with a sales rep. Here’s how to influence their decisions through social selling:
- Use social insights. Microsoft’s social listening software can help you monitor keywords customers are using in their online research. You can then take these key phrases and adapt them within your own search strategy, so customers land on your webpage and connect with your salespeople.
- Monitor competition. You should not only be listening to what people are saying about your brand, but also what they say about the competition. How can you use these insights to improve your product or service and set it apart from competitor offerings?
- Offer personalized messaging. Engage in conversations with prospects on social networks. Show them you are there to help fulfill their needs. Make your sales pitch subtle, focusing on the relationship first and foremost. This will build trust, which will lead to more sales.
Learn more about how Microsoft Social Listening can help your business. Contact us for more information:
Email: sales@VoxISM.com
Phone: 1-905-840-7477