Cold Calling vs. Cold SMS in B2B Sales

[suchona.kani.z]

It appears you're weighing the pros and cons of cold calling versus cold SMS for B2B sales. Here's a breakdown to help you decide:

Cold Calling in B2B Sales

Pros:
Personal Interaction: Allows for direct, one-on-one conversations and building rapport.
Immediate Feedback: You can gauge interest and handle objections in real-time.
Higher Response Rates: Some data suggests cold calling can have a higher response rate than cold emailing.
Better Lead Qualification: Conversations can quickly determine a prospect's fit.
Cons:
Time-Consuming: Requires significant time and effort for individual outreach.
Rejection: Can face more direct rejection.
Lower Connection Rates: Getting someone to answer can be challenging.
Can Be Perceived as Intrusive: Some prospects dislike unsolicited calls.
Cold SMS in B2B Sales

Pros:
High Open Rates: SMS messages generally have very high open rates.
Instant Delivery: Messages are delivered quickly.
Concise and Direct: Forces you to be brief and to the point.
Cost-Effective: Can be more budget-friendly than extensive calling.
Cons:
Legality & Consent: Sending unsolicited SMS (cold texting) is often illegal without prior consent. This can lead to fines and damage your reputation.

Limited Message Length: Can be difficult to convey detailed information.
Lack of Personal Touch: Doesn't offer the warmth of a human voice.
Potential to Be Seen as Spam: Unsolicited texts can easily be perceived negatively.
Key Statistics to Consider:

Buyers do accept cold calls: Around 82% of buyers will accept meetings from sellers who cold call.
Persistence pays off in calling: It can take an average of 8 call attempts to reach a prospect.
Cold calling can still convert: While success rates vary, B2B cold calling can yield results. Some data indicates malaysia phone number list an average cold calling success rate of around 2-3%.

SMS open rates are high: Reportedly as high as 98%. However, this doesn't equate to positive engagement in a cold context.
Cold SMS can be illegal: Sending unsolicited texts without consent can lead to serious penalties.
Texting after initial contact can be beneficial: Once a connection is made through another channel, SMS can increase conversion rates.
Which is better?

Many sources suggest a blended approach often yields the best results. You might:

Warm up leads with other methods (like email or LinkedIn) before a call.
Use SMS for follow-ups or appointment reminders after initial contact and with consent.
Given your location (Bogra, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh), you'll need to be particularly mindful of any local regulations regarding unsolicited commercial communications.

In summary, while cold SMS might seem appealing due to high open rates, the legal and ethical implications of contacting individuals without prior consent in a B2B context are significant. Cold calling, while potentially less efficient in terms of initial contact, allows for a more personal interaction and a better opportunity to build rapport (when done well and legally).