Does cold calling still work for B2B sales in Singapore?
Yes, it still works as a way to start a conversation with a business you have not spoken to before. It is a slow, repetitive channel, and whether it pays depends on your list, your offer and how many times each person is tried.
I did not find a Singapore-specific study I could verify, so this article does not quote a success rate. The practical answer is to measure it on your own list. A few hundred calls will tell you more than any industry average.
What decides whether a cold calling campaign works?
Four things matter most, and all four are within your control. They are the list, the reason for the call, the number of attempts and the follow-up after a meeting is booked.
The list comes first. A call to a person who left the company, or to a role that does not buy what you sell, cannot book a meeting however good the caller is. Check that each name has the right job title and a working direct or office number before you start.
The reason for the call comes second. "We are a software company" gives the listener nothing to say yes to. "We help accounting firms with 10 to 50 staff move client filing onto one system, and I would like to book 20 minutes" gives them something to accept or decline in seconds.
Attempts come third. Spreading attempts over different days, within office hours, gives each person more than one chance to be reached than repeating calls on one afternoon.
Follow-up comes last. A meeting that is booked and then forgotten can turn into a no-show. A reminder before the meeting, and a quick attempt to rebook anyone who missed it, protects the work already done.
Do the Do Not Call rules apply to B2B cold calls in Singapore?
This article cannot settle that for your list, so check before you dial. The Do Not Call Registry site says organisations must check the Registry to make sure the Singapore telephone numbers they send telemarketing messages to are not listed.
Checks are made through the DNC Registry Portal at dnc.gov.sg, which the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) points businesses to for all DNC checking. The same site says that if you use a third-party aggregator to check numbers, your organisation, not the aggregator, is liable under the Personal Data Protection Act if a listed number is missed.
This is general information, not legal advice. If your list mixes company lines with individuals' mobile numbers, or you sell to sole proprietors, read the PDPC Advisory Guidelines on the Do Not Call Provisions and ask a lawyer about your specific case.
Should you call yourself, hire someone, or pay a service?
There are three routes, and each costs something different. Calling yourself costs your own selling hours. Hiring a person costs a salary plus the time to train and manage them. A service charges its own fee, so compare what each fee covers.
Calling yourself makes sense for a short, high-value list where you want to hear every objection first-hand. It stops making sense when the list runs to the thousands and the calls keep getting pushed behind client work.
With any paid route, ask what you can check. Can you listen to the calls, including the ones that did not book? Who is named as responsible for your campaign? What is the opening line, and did you approve it? What happens to your list afterwards? Whoever answers these plainly is easier to trust than anyone who leads with promises about results.
How does Greetsby handle cold calls for Singapore businesses?
Greetsby calls the people on your own list and books meetings into your calendar. You approve the opening and the reason for the call before any call is made. Greetsby books meetings only and does not give product advice or offer gifts.
Each person is tried up to 4 times on different days between 9.30am and 6.00pm, from a Singapore number that stays the same on every call. Every call is recorded, including those that did not book, and you can play any call on your list. A named caller is responsible for your campaign and is reachable during working hours. You receive a weekly report of calls made, people reached, meetings booked and meetings held.
Pricing is per batch of numbers: 1,000 numbers cost S$1,800, 2,000 cost S$3,600 and 3,000 cost S$5,400, which is S$1.80 a number covering up to 4 attempts. You pay before calls start, and there is no contract or monthly fee. Greetsby does not guarantee a number of meetings. The first batch shows what your own list produces.
You check your list against the Do Not Call Registry before sending it and confirm that you have when you upload it. Greetsby does not run that check for you. Anyone who asks not to be called again is not called again, and Greetsby passes that on to you. Financial advisory firms can use the service, but individual representatives cannot sign up themselves, because only the firm may appoint an introducer under MAS Notice FAA-N02. To start, pick a batch on the Get started page, or write to hello@greetsby.com.
Questions
Is cold calling legal in Singapore?
Whether the Do Not Call rules cover a call depends on the call, and this article cannot decide that for your list. Read the PDPC Advisory Guidelines on the Do Not Call Provisions and ask a lawyer about your specific case.
Where do I check numbers against the Do Not Call Registry?
Checks are made through the DNC Registry Portal at dnc.gov.sg, which says organisations must check the Registry before sending telemarketing messages to Singapore telephone numbers.
How many times should I call each person?
Greetsby uses up to 4 attempts per person on a new list, on different days between 9.30am and 6.00pm.
How much does Greetsby charge for calling?
Greetsby charges per number: S$1.80 a number, sold in batches of 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000, paid before calls start. Each batch covers up to 4 attempts per number.
Can an individual insurance agent hire Greetsby?
No. Under MAS Notice FAA-N02, only the financial adviser firm may appoint an introducer, so the firm must sign up.
Sources
General information for businesses in Singapore, not legal advice.