What does "not interested" mean on a cold call?
It can be a quick reply to a call the person did not expect, or a considered no. Your first job is to tell which one you are hearing.
Notice whether the person has heard why you called. A reply that arrives before you have finished your opening line gives you little to go on, because they have not yet heard your reason. A reply that comes after they have listened, and that names something specific such as "we already have an accountant", is a considered answer.
The two need different responses. The first can be answered with one short sentence of context. The second should be accepted, and you can ask whether it is worth calling again in a few months.
How should you respond the first time you hear it?
Say "understood" first, then ask one short question, and be ready to end the call after the answer. One follow-up is a reasonable limit. A third push moves from persistence to pressure.
A workable pattern has three steps. First, acknowledge: "Understood, I know I called out of the blue." Second, give one sentence on why you called, using the reason you would give anyway, for example "I'm calling firms your size about their corporate secretarial renewals." Third, ask a question that is easy to answer: "Is that handled for you already, or is it something you review each year?"
If the answer is still no, thank them and end the call. Write down the reason they gave. A list of ten "already have a supplier" replies tells you something different from ten "wrong person" replies, and you can fix the second by changing the list.
When should you stop and not call again?
Stop when the person asks not to be called again, and keep a record of that request so nobody on your side calls the number later. A polite "not interested" on its own is a different matter, and a later attempt on another day may reach a better moment.
In Singapore, the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) publishes a guide for businesses on the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry. It links to the DNC Registry Portal, which it describes as the place to manage DNC checking activities.
This is general information. If you are unsure how the rules apply to your calls, check with a lawyer before you start.
Should you handle objections yourself, hire, or pay a service?
It depends on how many calls you need to make and how much of the week you can give to them. Handling "not interested" well takes practice, and the work is repetitive, so the mood of the day can show in the voice.
Doing it yourself costs your own time but teaches you what prospects say. Hiring a caller costs a salary or an hourly rate and needs management. If you pay a service, ask how it charges, because the pricing model decides who carries the risk if the list is weak.
Whichever route you choose, ask to hear recorded calls, including the ones that did not book. That is the quickest way to judge how objections are handled.
How does Greetsby handle this?
Greetsby is an appointment-setting service in Singapore. It calls the people on your own list and books meetings into your calendar. You approve the opening and the reason for the call before calls start, and Greetsby books meetings only. It does not give product advice.
Every call is recorded, including the ones that did not book, and you can play any call on your list. A named Greetsby caller is responsible for your campaign and is reachable during working hours. Each person is called up to 4 times on different days between 9.30am and 6.00pm. Anyone who asks not to be called again is not called again, and Greetsby passes that on to you.
Pricing is one flat price per batch of numbers called: S$1,800 for 1,000 numbers, S$3,600 for 2,000 and S$5,400 for 3,000, which is S$1.80 a number covering up to 4 attempts. It is paid before calls start, with no contract and no monthly fee. Greetsby does not promise 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. Questions go to hello@greetsby.com.
Questions
Should I call someone again after they say "not interested"?
Yes, on a different day, if they only said "not interested" and did not ask to be removed. If they ask not to be called again, do not call that number again.
How many times should I follow up after a no?
One short follow-up question on the same call is enough. After that, accept the answer and end the call politely.
What should I do when someone asks not to be called again?
Thank them, record the request straight away and make sure nobody on your side calls that number again. If a service calls for you, ask that it passes the request on to you.
How do I check my list against the Do Not Call Registry?
Numbers are checked through the DNC Registry Portal, which the PDPC guide for businesses links to. With Greetsby, you run the check before sending your list and confirm that you have when you upload it.
Can an individual insurance agent or financial adviser representative hire Greetsby?
No. MAS Notice FAA-N02 covers the appointment and use of introducers and applies to licensed and exempt financial advisers, so the financial adviser firm must be the one to sign up.
Sources
- PDPC: Do Not Call Registry and Your Business
- MAS: Notice FAA-N02 Appointment and Use of Introducers by Financial Advisers
General information for businesses in Singapore, not legal advice.