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ICan you still book sales call before the holidays?
Yes, you can.
Despite the holiday chaos, there are many reasons why the end of the year can be a great time to call and close deals.
The holidays can be an effective shortcut if you have a detailed sales strategy.
So, stop paying attention to all the misconceptions that can send your business in the wrong direction.
Let's look at approaches you can use to book sales call before the holidays.
How to Schedule Sales Calls Before the Holiday
For many people, the holiday season is a busy time.
Holiday sales growth is typically about 8.7% during the holiday season. But in the B2B world, sales often decline towards the end of the year.
It can make scheduling sales calls challenging. But this doesn't have to be the case.
It's a great time to strengthen your relationships with your customers. And you can take advantage of that slowdown.
In the run-up to the festive season, here are some tips on how to keep the momentum going.
Make the Meeting Convenient
During the holidays; you shouldn't ask, "What's on your calendar next week?"
Convenient meetings are, "have you got 15 minutes tomorrow?"
Think 15 minutes this afternoon or 20 minutes now.
Ideally, you don't want them to say, "Maybe we could just touch base after my vacation?"
Thus, after the call, send the meeting invite highlighting the meeting's purpose and what you will discuss with the prospect.
However, ensure the appointment is convenient for you as well.
Do Not Fall for the Easy Bait
It is understandable to leave. Your calendar opens during the holidays. But try not to book meetings a day before the Holiday.
No one, even you, would enjoy a call on a Friday.
That's why it's essential to book your appointments in advance.
It ensures that they'll show up. Plus, by booking early, you'll have a buffer if they need to reschedule.
Make Sure That the Stakeholders Are Around
Plan around your stakeholders. Why?
If buying from your company is going to mean a significant change for your prospect, you should involve the people who are going to be managing the transition.
Make The End Of Year Date Early
It is always a good idea to plan the year-end date early and plan around it.
Send Them A Gentle Reminder
We are all always caught up with the holiday spirit. Your customer is no different. Sending them a gentle reminder is crucial.
Avoid using “ Happy Holidays” while trying to book the meetings.
Happy Holiday is an overused phrase.
Try to be different from other sales reps by creating enticing subject lines to draw in your prospect.
Add your personal touch!
Map Out Your Key Dates
Try to access your key dates to avoid calling or emailing a potential customer while they are already in holiday mode.
Combine Phone and Email Outreach
Call your prospects asking for a meeting, then follow up with an email with details to keep them interested.
Everyone is different, you may want a call, and I may wish to email you.
When you think about it, it makes sense.
Calling can interrupt your day, and DMing on social media is too personal to sell.
This makes email the perfect medium for reaching prospects. It is not surprising that 80% of people have an e-mail preference for sales contact.
Thus, trying different sales approaches to get the most out of your leads would be best.
Be Quick To The Point
Regardless of your sales approach, make it short and sweet.
Ensure it's precise and straight to the point.
During holidays, long conversations will work to your disadvantage.
Get Your Timing Right
Some days of the week and times of the day are better for making sure you connect with prospects, especially before the holidays.
Imagine getting a business call as you get to your hotel.
It could be better for you or the leads; getting your timing right will guarantee.
How will these approaches benefit your business? Let us dive into that.
Benefits of Sales Calling Before The Holidays
The last fortnight of the year is always crazy.
Last year, for example, Christmas and New Year always fell on a Sunday. So the holidays will spill over into Monday. It's going to be a lot of busy weeks. Just like Thanksgiving week, it's an excellent time to make calls.
Yes, many people will be out, but there will be people you can reach.
More Decision-Makers are near their Phones
Use this time to create value.
Evaluate your overall prospecting strategy, identify your decision-makers, and use the holidays as a creative opportunity for deeper, more meaningful engagement.
With less to do and possibly working from home, decision-makers are more relaxed this time of year, making them more likely to review your information and listen.
Remember: Human-to-human connection and one on one communication will always win!
Your Competition is Out of the Office
With all these misconceptions, finding the will to keep calling can take time and effort.
Due to this, if you recognize that your competitors are losing focus, you have an opportunity.
Some sales reps and marketing experts say the customers you acquire during the holidays can be even more profitable.
So start planning and get a jump on your competitors. Being available and communicating all year round proves that you and your company offer more value than the rest!
The Holiday Season Makes People More Friendly
A well-crafted sales emotionally impact the prospect. That is by making them feel how they will feel after buying.
It would help if you decided which emotions to focus on, e.g., feeling rewarded for buying your product or supporting someone else.
It creates a conversation, and that creates opportunities. Prospecting is about creating opportunities!
Now let's focus on how you can quickly get your holiday sales calls in the bag.
Tips to Nail Your Holiday Sales Call!
So, while the holidays can be challenging to reach people, don't give up.
You discover a treasure trove of business and personal information when you reach out.
Conversations turn from five minutes of prospecting to 20 minutes of building relationships.
Here are five tips to help you reach prospects and uncover those last-minute sales before the holiday season
Do Your Research
Are you following up on leads?
Gather the information you already have about your potential customer and prepare for your call by reviewing the data. Thus, having a sales strategy plan will help you land those holiday sales.
Shake up Your Script
You may be an expert cold caller and have done it a million times. It could be a great time to add holiday magic with a joke or comment.
Spice up your cold-calling scripts!
Leave a Voicemail.
It's essential to leave a detailed voicemail because we all screen our calls and often ignore numbers we don't know.
Leave a message with a promise to call you back - and then do it!
Include your name, company, and reason for the call and end by repeating your name and phone number.
Build Relationships
Holidays are a great time for conversation and relationship building.
Ask what their holiday plans are.
Be an open listener and follow the conversation wherever it may lead.
Bonus tip: Leave the conversation with one thing about yourself and learn at least two about them.
It s all about the relationship.
Knowing your prospects and customers is essential, but so is knowing you. After all, why else would they choose to work with you rather than someone else?
Follow-up
Once you have made contact, remember to follow up.
With so much going on, it can be easy to forget to follow up with a phone call or an email. And not surprisingly, there is published research that independently verifies the value of quick outreach.
The data suggests that modern business buyers want and expect fast follow-up.
Remember, frequency and consistency are key!
Getting Ready
Good prospecting means never taking a day off.
But working smarter, not harder, should be your goal in this competitive environment.
And holiday prospecting is the more brilliant way.
If you try any of these tips in this article, make careful notes of what worked and what didn't work with customers to increase sales.
You can invite the help of AI vendors in sales, like AI bees, to help you service your customers better today. We'll also provide you with a to-do list to help you achieve your goals next holiday.
Need more tips? Book a Demo Today!
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