When is the Best Time to Cold Call?
Cold calling is still an incredibly effective way to reach potential customers and build relationships. So how can we maximize our effectiveness when making these calls? The answer: by calling at times when prospects are more likely to answer!
In this blog post, we will discuss the best times of day for cold calling, as well as some tips for making sure your calls are successful.
The Real Solution to Overcoming Low Connection Rates
Even with the best timing, low connection rates can still be a challenge. This is where services like Phone Oracle come into play. Phone Oracle identifies which of your prospects are more likely to answer the phone - boosting your connection rates from an average of 5% up to 30%.
So now that we’ve found a way to increase the connection rate - when is the best time to cold call?
The Winning Time Slot: 4pm-5pm
According to separate studies by CallHippo, Revenue.io, and InsightSquared, one time of day stood out as the clear winner for cold calling success: 4pm-5pm local time. During this window, prospects are more likely to be available and receptive to your call. This period often marks the end of the workday when people are winding down and might be more inclined to take a few minutes to talk.
The Runner-Up: 10am-12pm
If calling in the late afternoon doesn't fit into your schedule, the next best time is typically right before lunch, in the 10am-12pm range. During these morning hours, prospects are usually settled into their workday but not yet overwhelmed by tasks or meetings. This makes it an ideal time to catch them while they are still fresh and attentive.
It's crucial to remember that these time ranges are measured in the time zone of the prospect. Always adjust your calling schedule to match the local time of your target audience to maximize your chances of connecting with them.
Conclusion
To optimize your cold calling efforts, focus on the best times of day to reach your prospects—4pm-5pm and 10am-12pm local time. By strategically timing your calls and using services like Phone Oracle to enhance your connection rates, you can significantly improve your sales success. Happy calling!
Bonus Tips for Making Your Calls Successful
When it comes time for you to make your cold calls, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Keep track of your own industry data as it may be slightly different than the studies run by other companies. Most sales engagement platforms like Outreach or SalesLoft track this information. Once you collect enough data, schedule call blocks to cold call during those hours.
There’s always a non-zero chance that prospects will answer, so if you find yourself wondering if you should make calls outside of these ‘ideal’ times, the answer is yes!
If you’re looking to increase your overall connect rate, consider looking into a service like Phone Oracle. We like this service so much that we partnered with them to give you a free trial of it.
Follow up: A cold call is only the first step of the sales process. Be sure to continuously follow up and establish clear next steps to guide them through your sales process.
If you're an east coast SDR, schedule a callblock for your east coast prospects in the morning 9am-11am. There's less noise because west coast SDRs haven't started working yet.
If you're a west coast SDR, schedule a callblock for your west coast prospects 2-5pm PST. Again, there's less noise because east coast SDRs likely have stopped working.
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