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30 sales call tips: How to start conversations so prospects don¡¯t hang up on you

Written by: Mark Burdon
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how to start a sales conversation

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A sales call lives or dies based on the call opening. Yet still many sales reps struggle with how to start a sales conversation in a natural, productive way that intrigues prospects and gets them to listen further.

The odds aren¡¯t in a sales rep¡¯s favor in the digital age. According to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s , most prospects (96%) research companies and products before engaging with a sales representative. Only 37% of sales representatives produce the most leads from phone calls with cold outreach.

There are many opinions on how to start a sales call and make the best use of a call¡¯s ¡°moment of truth¡± ¡ª the first 20 seconds. Let¡¯s dive into this comprehensive guide full of industry research, statistics, and first-hand experience from thousands of sales calls.

Table of Contents

What is a sales call?

Sales calls are conversations between a seller and a customer or prospect. Calls can be face-to-face interactions or discussions over digital channels like social media, email, live chat, phone calls, or video meetings.

Rookie sales reps and veteran telesales people often resist video calls, but research shows that phone and video interactions remain very popular and effective. According to a recent ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø survey, 75% of sales professionals say they use phone calls for remote selling, with 40% saying they use video.

Key benefits of video sales calls include:

  • Nonverbal communication. Pick up on body language clues that phone calls don¡¯t convey, like posture or facial expressions.
  • Establish rapport. Build a more personal connection compared to emails or phone calls.
  • Earn trust. A prospect seeing a rep¡¯s face offers assurance, especially in the age of AI when it¡¯s harder to know what¡¯s real and what¡¯s fake.
  • Steer conversations. Better conversation control by picking up clues on when to stay on a topic a prospect seems engaged in or when to pivot to something they care more about.

Video calls don¡¯t have to be synchronous. I¡¯ve recorded video pitches and embedded them in emails as a way to make a personal connection to get buy-in for a video meeting. My favorite application for this is .

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Free Meeting Scheduler

Schedule meetings faster and forget the back-and-forth emails. Your calendar stays full, and you stay productive.

  • Let prospects book a meeting time
  • Book more meetings and appointments
  • Sync with Google and Office 365 Calendar
  • And more!

Understanding Warm vs. Cold Leads

Cold leads or prospects are people who haven¡¯t indicated an interest in a product or service. Most cold calls take place over the phone, email, or social media.

In contrast to cold leads, warm leads have already indicated an interest in a product or service. Warm leads are already receptive to the product, so these conversations often require less persuasion.

These leads often come from different sources:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

As a sales rep, I made my cold call goal simple: to secure discovery meetings on my first call. I also found that if a prospect heard my voice or saw my face on a video call, it took the pressure off the crucial start of the call.

how to start a sales conversation, cold calling vs warm calling

7 Tips to Prepare for Sales Calls

The most successful reps know that a sales process begins before dialing a prospect¡¯s phone number. Whether reps are cold calling or working with a warm lead, the key to success lies in preparation, so that a sales call instills confidence and trust right from the outset.

Today¡¯s sales reps have access to more prospect information than ever, thanks to AI, social media, and CRM applications. Knowing how to prioritize and gather the intel needed to convince a customer and build a business case for your products and services is critical.

Does the idea of making a cold sales call make your blood run cold? Well, you're not alone. I made thousands of cold sales calls throughout my career for technology companies like IBM, TELUS, and Open Text. All of this to say: I know how it feels to call a decision-maker and be rudely hung up on. These tips make a tangible difference.

  1. Research each prospect, company, and industry.
  2. Identify key decision-makers.
  3. Prepare a competitive analysis.
  4. Outline the most likely pain points.
  5. Outline product benefits.
  6. Identify likely objections.
  7. Build custom presentations for each prospect.

1. Research each prospect, company, and industry.

Enter each sales conversation with a high-level understanding of the prospect and company. Researching before a call demonstrates competence and respect for the prospect¡¯s time, while also helping reps clearly define how their company¡¯s offerings can add value to a prospect¡¯s business.

Pre-sales call research covers:

  • Prospect. Their name, role, common ground (mutual connections, personal overlap), and previous interactions* with your company.
  • Company. The product, as well as recent news or announcements.
  • Industry. The problems businesses in the prospect¡¯s industry face.
  • Competitors. How the company is performing relative to their closest competitors.
  • Data. Any meaningful data points that will convince a prospect to take a sales call.

*Search the company CRM for records of previous engagement with each prospect. This may include prior purchases, support interactions, or conversations with other sales reps. Tools like centralize this history so sales teams can start conversations with full context.

a contact record card in hubspot showing contact information, and various actions that can be taken, like calling, emailing, note-taking, viewing property history, and summarizing with ai. also shows that hubspot crm is a g2 award winner as a grid leader for small business in winter 2026.

Publicly traded companies are easiest to research about topics like business growth, productivity, supply chain efficiency, or security breaches. These data points will help sales representatives position their products and services in terms of the real challenges prospects are facing.

2. Identify key decision-makers.

Identifying key decision-makers helps sales teams understand who has purchasing authority and who influences the buying decision. In many sales conversations, the initial contact is not the final decision-maker, but they do play a valuable role in evaluating solutions and shaping internal recommendations.

Connecting with employees who influence a sales decision is an important step in the sales process. They offer:

  • Access. It¡¯s often easier to access an influencer who can then help reps connect with the decision-maker (rather than trying to connect directly).
  • Insight. Explore the challenges they face and how solving them would make them look good to leadership.
  • Relationships. Develop relationships with influencers who have valuable information on how to navigate their business and what¡¯s needed to build a business case for your pitch.

At IBM, we called the process of discovering the needs of different tiers in a corporate hierarchy ¡°addressing the pain chain.¡± For example, a sales director may have challenges with their reps¡¯ forecast accuracy. The VP of Sales will share in that pain, so if a seller¡¯s solution can solve their problem, the sales director can be their champion in getting access to the ultimate decision-maker, and thus move the opportunity forward.

3. Prepare a competitive analysis.

Comparison-based preparation is critical before a sales conversation. In order to stay competitive, reps should know what competitors are doing and how their product or service compares. Sales reps should understand:

  • Who the main competitors are.
  • How offerings differ on features, pricing, or outcomes.
  • Where their solution delivers unique value.

Consider preparing case studies, testimonials from clients who have switched, or even direct comparisons.

A recent ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø study showed that standing out from the competition is one of the biggest challenges sales professionals face. Tools like conversation intelligence within help sales teams track competitive mentions in deal records, review past conversations, and analyze why prospects chose one solution over another. Past conversations are easily searchable within the Sales Hub dashboard:

how to start a sales conversation, hubspots conversation intelligence tool showing team performance feature

4. Outline the most likely pain points.

Outlining likely pain points before a sales conversation helps reps anticipate the prospect¡¯s priorities and guide the discussion more effectively. While surprises may arise, preparing for common challenges in advance reduces the need to change gears mid-call.

The pain funnel from the Sandler Sales System helps reps uncover:

  • Subject. Who in an organization is feeling pain.
  • Pain. The severity of that pain.
  • Consequences. The ramifications if the company addresses the pain versus if they don¡¯t.
  • Relief. How your company¡¯s products and services can address that pain.

I used to work with an Open Text executive named Cheryl McKinnon (now a Forrester analyst) who recommended that salespeople categorize their products or services as candy or aspirin.

  • Aspirin: Solutions that they need to relieve pain.
  • Candy: Products and services they want to buy to increase profitability, growth, etc.

I¡¯ve often thought about this comparison throughout my sales and marketing career.

5. Outline product benefits.

Outlining product benefits (instead of features) helps reps explain how specific features support a prospect¡¯s goals.

See below how to translate features into clear user benefits using ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s Sales Hub as an example:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

Why it matters: It might feel impressive to say that a product has a long list of detailed features, but reps can never assume that prospects understand how those features translate to their work. Connect the dots for them.

6. Identify likely objections.

Overcoming objections is one of the most important skills of any salesperson. Most objections fall into one of four categories:

  1. Budget. There¡¯s too much financial risk, and the reward isn¡¯t clear enough.
  2. Trust. The prospect doesn¡¯t know, like, or trust the company or product.
  3. Need. It¡¯s unclear why the prospect¡¯s company needs this solution.
  4. Urgency. Other priorities are taking precedence over this problem.

However, the specifics depend entirely on the rep¡¯s product or service and the prospect¡¯s business. By creating a list of a prospect¡¯s most likely objections specific to their company and your product, a sales rep can help them understand why buying from them is a good decision.

This preparation translates into confidence when delivering a pitch. Sounding nervous or uncertain in a sales call opening pitch can make the prospect wonder whether the salesperson¡¯s company can, in fact, help their business as described.

7. Build custom presentations for each prospect.

Personalization in sales and marketing improves conversions. In ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s annual State of Marketing survey, 93% of respondents said that personalized/segmented experiences have led to more leads and purchases.

The pitch can be almost identical from client to client, but in only a few minutes, reps can add personal details like:

  • Prospect¡¯s name
  • Company logo
  • Industry-specific examples
  • Relevant use cases

Whether a sales rep is presenting to their prospect on a video call or simply discussing their needs over the phone, it¡¯s crucial to demonstrate a vested interest in helping them solve their pain. Having put thought into the sales process builds trust.

If you¡¯ve put in the work, get recognized for it! This immediately sets you apart from other reps who use a generic sales pitch with every prospect.

Make personalization easier with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s and get structured, on-screen guides that still feel personalized to each lead. On a contact or lead record, a rep can open the relevant playbook and see tailored opening lines, discovery questions, and objection prompts that reference the person¡¯s role, industry, and recent activity in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.

hubspot¡¯s ai-powered sales playbook providing context for lead conversations

The Anatomy of Effective Sales Conversations

Effective sales conversations follow a predictable flow: rapport to alignment to decision-making. While the conversation shifts based on the prospect and product, strong sales calls are structured for balance, flexibility, and adaptability. This flow helps sales reps progress conversations naturally while leaving room to adapt based on prospect input. Here¡¯s how to make a sales call.

Sales Call Structure

The structure of sales conversations varies by a prospect¡¯s industry and the role the person you are talking to plays in the decision-making process. However, most sales calls ¡ª especially the most effective ones ¡ª follow a similar pattern:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

When sales representatives understand this structure, they can more effectively navigate their sales presentations and transition from section to section.

how to start a sales conversation, sales opening and steps of a good sales call

Flow Patterns

Effective sales conversations follow a consistent structure, but they succeed because of how reps guide the flow between stages and adapt their approach based on prospect engagement.

Here are three flow patterns to try:

  1. Mutual connection, industry trend, product relevance. Start by referencing a shared contact, transition into an industry trend discussed in that context, then connect it to how the product addresses a related challenge.
  2. Company news, validation, support. Reference a recent company announcement, ask for confirmation or perspective, then position the conversation around how the product can support the initiative or change.
  3. Competitor insight, confirmation, product relevance. Mention a pattern observed at similar or competing companies, invite the prospect to confirm whether it resonates, then relate the insight back to where your product provides value.

Pro tip: If reps have a contact logged in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s CRM, they can ask Breeze AI to help them develop a flow for their upcoming conversation. All of their previous call data will be analyzed to generate an immediate framework for the upcoming conversation:

screenshot of hubspot¡¯s breeze tool providing custom input for sales calls

How to Start a Sales Conversation

A good opening is critical for successful sales calls. Here¡¯s how to start a conversation with a customer with openers that get (and keep) a prospect¡¯s attention.

1. Greet the customer or prospect warmly.

Beginning a sales call with a warm greeting (like an old friend) helps get a prospect to engage in conversation. This step is critical because many prospects regard sales calls as distractions and tune out any call they weren¡¯t expecting. The goal of a warm greeting is to get a prospect to pause long enough to consider what reps are saying.

Consider opening with: ¡°Hello [Name], how have you been?¡±

Pro tip: ¡°How have you been?¡± is superior to ¡°How are you?¡± because it acts as a pattern-interrupt. The prospect often finds themselves considering if they¡¯ve met the rep before, and this may give them an opening to continue the conversation. It gets the prospect talking.

This greeting also works because humans are hard-wired to respond to the sound of our names; it creates a sense of familiarity and respect. Some prospects view such a warm greeting as misdirection, so it¡¯s best to get to the point after the greeting.

2. Mention company research.

Prospects are more receptive to sales calls when reps personalize their approach and demonstrate due diligence. Try opening up the conversation with something like this: ¡°My research shows that your company is in the process of...¡±

Starting a sales call with company research demonstrates:

  • Sincere interest
  • Time invested
  • A reason for calling

This positions the call as a conversation instead of an immediate sales pitch.

tip for how to start a sales conversation, mention the research you¡¯ve done about their company

3. Drop the name of a mutual connection.

Discussing a mutual connection gives a sales rep instant credibility. If there¡¯s a mutual connection, consider following this script: ¡°One of my clients, [Name] at [Company], mentioned to me you are [looking for, might be a good fit for]...¡±

The prospect will be curious to know why their contact thought they might need your product or service. Just make sure to ask for permission to mention their names in conversation.

4. Reference a company contact.

Even better than having contact with a mutual connection is having contact with a coworker. Consider following this script: ¡°[Prospect], I was speaking to one of your business managers yesterday, and they said that a growing part of your business is through [product, niche, market]. As that¡¯s the case, I can¡­¡±

Bringing up the prospect¡¯s coworker tells them to take the salesperson seriously, while focusing the discussion on an emerging revenue source ensures the conversation is about a company priority.

Pro tip: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø CRM users can use to ask questions about any shared company contacts, when they last spoke, and what was discussed. Breeze AI acts as a personal CRM knowledge base.

breeze studio user interface showing breeze assistant side panel

5. Use information from LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a valuable place for reps to gather information. Referencing both the prospect¡¯s LinkedIn profile and the company page proves a rep is interested in discussing something relevant rather than just pushing products and services. Review information like:

  • Current role and responsibilities
  • Recent posts
  • Company initiatives or announcements
  • Career changes or promotions
  • Mutual connections

How to bring this up on sales calls: ¡°I was looking at your LinkedIn company profile and saw that one of your major projects this year is...¡±

Keep in mind that it¡¯s important to have a plan for how to lead into the sales conversation from there.

how to start a sales conversation, screenshot of hubspot¡¯s recent posts on linkedin

6. Avoid referencing relationships with competitors.

Be cautious when describing the results from competitive relationships ¡ª this is a deterrent on some sales calls. A competitive relationship may backfire for several reasons:

  • Confidentiality risks or conflicts of interest. Can (or will) reps be equally loyal to both companies? Could reps disclose company secrets, even accidentally?
  • Eroding trust. Companies don¡¯t like to reinvent the wheel, but the fact that reps are sharing information about a competitor¡¯s competitive gains may encourage them to check out competitors. Case studies are great selling assets, but they¡¯re usually thoroughly approved by the companies that are featured in them.
  • Perceived pressure and alienation. If reps have an existing relationship with a prospect¡¯s competitor, will loyalties be influenced by the company that spends the most money? Has the prospect¡¯s competitor acted unethically? By extension, does the rep¡¯s business conduct business unethically?

Sometimes, a competitive relationship can end a sales call prematurely. Try following this framework:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

7. Don¡¯t be afraid to engage in small talk.

Small talk can help sales reps build rapport and humanize the conversation at the start of a call, but it only comes across as authentic if reps have done their research. Brief personal references can make an interaction feel relevant rather than scripted.

Casually mention something in common, such as: ¡°I noticed you¡¯re from Tucson. I actually met my wife at the University of Arizona.¡± If they are familiar with the university ¡ª or, even better, if they also attended the university ¡ª the conversation can continue from there.

A word of caution: Remember to respect the prospect¡¯s time. Too much meandering will leave them wondering about the purpose of the call. Read the room and skip small talk when a prospect feels impatient.

how to open a sales call, reference topics brought up in their marketing materials

8. Reference topics brought up on social or marketing channels.

Referencing topics from a company¡¯s social or marketing channels helps sales reps ground conversations in the prospect¡¯s stated priorities. It also implies that a sales rep¡¯s recommendations will be pertinent.

Consider opening with one of these:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

Tools like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s help sales teams identify relevant company context ¡ª such as recent posts, blog content, and public announcements ¡ª before a call. This allows reps to reference timely content without relying on manual research.

Breeze simplified user interface showing prospecting agent Company Research

My most successful sales calls usually occurred when I had discovered a reason for calling the prospect through research in the news, as opposed to using a ¡°spray and pray¡± approach.

9. Ask for help or a favor.

Asking for help at the start of a sales call can lower resistance. Framing the conversation as a request for guidance (like finding the right decision maker) can encourage prospects to engage without feeling pressured.

It¡¯s human nature to be motivated to respond to a request for help if it¡¯s within reason. Hopefully, the prospect will be compelled to do their good deed of the day and help the sales rep access the decision maker ¡ª or help them by investing the time they need for a discovery call.

I often found that being vulnerable and asking for a favor triggered a prospect¡¯s sense of empathy, and they dropped their defenses.

10. Ask for permission to speak now or later.

If a prospect answers the phone, make the goal of the conversation to get permission to discuss their business now, or at a convenient time in the future.

The mindset: Sales is an honorable profession, and salespeople should be proud to be in it. It¡¯s best to be frank and unapologetic about their role, but demonstrate that reps have done their research. Be prepared with beneficial insights that will make the conversation valuable to both parties.

Before a follow-up conversation, review the contact record in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø CRM and let generate an AI-powered summary of past conversations, notes, and engagement history. This allows reps to pick up exactly where the conversation left off.

how to start a sales conversation, Breeze simplified user interface showing Breeze Features

11. Have something of value to offer.

Offering something of value in return for a prospect¡¯s time significantly increases engagement. This could be access to a webinar, an industry report, competitive insights, or a personalized solution that addresses the needs of companies in their industry.

By demonstrating immediate value, reps not only capture prospects¡¯ attention, but they also build trust and set the stage for a more productive conversation.

I once discovered a prospect¡¯s website had offensive content added to it by a disgruntled web designer. The prospect was very grateful that I brought the matter to their attention, and I ended up building a great working relationship with their VP of Sales.

12. Mention common relationships.

Mentioning common relationships helps sales reps establish credibility and context before engaging decision-makers. This allows reps to gather insights and deliver a more personalized solution. It can help even further to be a member of relevant industry associations, user groups, and other communities as a way to warm up cold contacts.

I often found that when I had multiple mini-discovery calls in an organization, it helped to gather perspectives about the challenges a company was facing or the goals they were pursuing. I could then approach the decision-maker with an informed and compelling business case for a discovery call.

When applying this tip, remember to always get permission to reference private conversations when speaking to decision-makers.

13. Differentiate yourself as a strategic advisor, not a transactional sales rep.

A sales rep can strategically position themselves as an advisory salesperson rather than a transactional one. This can open doors to decision-makers by emphasizing the role of a trusted consultant.

By focusing on understanding a prospect¡¯s challenges and having personalized conversations, reps demonstrate a genuine interest in the prospect¡¯s success. It builds credibility and fosters long-term relationships, making decision-makers more likely to engage.

Pro tip: Using tools like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Breeze Prospecting Agent to enrich a company¡¯s market intelligence can give reps a competitive edge over companies using time-worn sales tactics. can accelerate outreach to earn access to decision-makers.

pull quote on sales opening strategies, positioning yourself as an advisory salesperson rather than a transactional rep can open doors to decision-makers

14. Don¡¯t be cringe-worthy.

Sales calls that begin with cringe-worthy, clich¨¦ opening lines make prospects experience a feeling of dread. Open sales calls confidently, making it clear what the prospect stands to gain by investing their time.

Position discovery calls as an opportunity to determine whether the prospect¡¯s business has needs that align with your company¡¯s capabilities. Assure the prospect that after the discovery call, they won¡¯t be locked into a sequence of endless follow-ups if they aren¡¯t convinced there is value in it.

I¡¯ve found that this approach can really differentiate you from other reps and build a solid foundation for a professional relationship.

15. Build reciprocal business relationships.

Existing relationships can open many doors for reps who are willing to invest in and explore them. Name-dropping a common connection in a sales call opening can ease the uncertainty of the call and build trust.

I was a member of a B2B referral-based network for a few years while I was in sales. If I ran across a need for the products or services that other members of the community could address, I would introduce them to the prospect.

I also worked for several years for technology companies that offered complementary products through an independent software vendor channel. I found that when I sent business leads to my ISV partners, they would often return the favor when they discovered needs within their client and prospect interactions.

8 Sales Call Tips

Effective sales calls follow a clear structure that prioritizes engagement, clarity, and value. These eight tips show how sales reps can guide conversations from the opening moments while maintaining a consultative, professional tone that builds trust and momentum.

how to start a sales conversation, 8 sales calling tips

1. Start strong from the very beginning.

Starting a sales call with a warm, prepared, and professional tone helps set expectations and establish early credibility. Try this structure:

  • Question. Engaging the prospect with an intriguing idea or a thought-provoking question.
  • Mindset. Get the prospect into a receptive frame of mind.
  • Engagement. Encourage engagement throughout the call (because engagement reduces the likelihood of them stopping the conversation). Stop occasionally to check whether you¡¯re on the right track.
  • Agreement. Make it easy for them to make a positive decision with questions that are easy to say ¡°yes¡± to.

Learn more strategies for getting prospects to engage in this guide.

2. Don¡¯t overestimate a cold call script.

An effective cold call script can help sales reps come across more professionally when it¡¯s written conversationally ¡ª especially when it¡¯s there for support rather than being read word-for-word.

Many salespeople resist using cold call scripts because they think it feels unnatural. When using a sales script, reps should be sure to tailor it to their style, the conversation at hand, and to be responsive to the prospect on the other end of the line.

I remember one sales training course I took where the coach insisted my team write a sales script that didn¡¯t include my company¡¯s name. We were only allowed to describe the business problems my company could help the prospect solve. I tried using the script a few times. The trainer insisted the method worked, but it felt as unnatural to me as it did to the prospects that I spoke to.

3. Use an effective hook to get an easy ¡°yes¡± early on.

After opening the call, one way to get people in the right frame of mind is to ask a yes/no question related to what the product or service can help them do.

For example, a sales rep for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s free CRM might ask: ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be great if your CRM could help you enrich your customer and prospect intelligence?¡±

Here¡¯s where those answers lead:

  • Yes. When you get buy-in to the value proposition upfront, it puts prospects in a more positive frame of mind, where they¡¯re often more receptive to do business.
  • No. It¡¯s easier to handle objections now and keep the sales process moving forward. Failing to address concerns now can create a problem down the line.

Open-ended questions at this stage can send the conversation off-road, while a clear yes-or-no question helps move the sales conversation forward.

4. Encourage them to engage with you.

Successful sales conversations have engagement from both the sales rep and the prospect. A found that the ¡°golden ratio¡± for sales conversations was 43% talking and 57% listening.

Consider these conversation prompts to encourage balanced participation and keep prospects actively engaged throughout the call:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

5. Try a trial close to gauge interest, engagement, and enthusiasm.

Trial closes help sales reps assess a prospect¡¯s level of interest and decision readiness during a sales conversation. Asking for feedback can help motivate the prospect to state their objections and discuss any obstacles.

There are three types of trial close techniques:

  • The assumptive close. Buying signals are acknowledged, and the rep confirms whether the solution aligns with the prospect¡¯s stated needs before proposing next steps.
  • The alternative close. A small set of options is presented, such as different SaaS subscription tiers, to help the prospect choose a preferred path forward.
  • The summary close. The rep recaps how the product or service addresses the prospect¡¯s needs, then asks whether there is agreement to move forward based on that alignment.

Trial closes are a little like playing chicken, but they can be used at the end of every conversation. It helps sellers to move the sales process forward after every sales call by confirming they are meeting expectations, that objections are addressed, and that they are aligned on what will be addressed during the next sales call.

6. Focus on consultative selling.

Consultative selling is centered around adding value to the customer, not simply making a sale. The best salespeople do this by striving to differentiate themselves as strategic advisors to prospects.

How do reps do this on a sales call?

  1. Practice listening
  2. Confirm they¡¯re paying attention
  3. Clarify any misunderstandings

Try framing it this way on your next call: ¡°What I¡¯m hearing you say is _____, is that right?¡±

A focus on relationship building pays off. Research backs up the value of this approach.

  • New vs existing customers: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s 2024 State of Sales report found that 72% of company revenue comes from existing (not new) customers.
  • Personal recommendations: Lack of personalization is the fifth most common reason that sales fall through, according to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s 2025 Sales Trends report.

I¡¯ve found that this approach helps in competitive sales engagements and can shift sales conversations from features and costs to strategic value and return on investment.

7. Show your expertise.

Showing expertise during a sales conversation means demonstrating an understanding of industry-specific challenges and how similar companies are addressing them.

This can manifest in different ways in sales conversations:

How Warm Leads Reach Out
  • Phone listings
  • Social media
  • Event attendees
  • Other online resources

  • Website contact form
  • Comments or DMs on social media
  • Content downloads or newsletter sign-ups
  • Webinar or virtual event registrations

This shows an understanding of the prospect¡¯s industry and company. And if they didn't have these concerns before, it also demonstrates that the sales rep is looking out for their needs.

Want to level up your sales game with interactive playbooks that provide the best practices for sales plays, scripts, guides, and more? to see how it can help you close more deals.

sales hub playbooks interface showing example discovery call script

8. Stay positive.

Sales reps who believe in themselves are more likely to take the steps needed to close more deals. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s recent data supports this as well, with sales professionals ranking willingness, empathy, and adaptability as the most important traits for effective sales leaders.

While reps certainly want to go into each call with an optimistic mindset, it¡¯s also important to prioritize maintaining that sense of positivity throughout their day ¡ª and career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sales Call Tips

What is the 3-3-3 rule in sales?

The 3-3-3 rule in sales is an outreach approach that encourages sales reps to contact a prospect three times using three different messages across three channels. The goal is to increase visibility without relying on a single cold call or message.

What are the 5 C¡¯s of successful sales?

The 5 C¡¯s of successful sales are context, clarity, curiosity, credibility, and commitment. This framework creates a consultative approach where reps understand the prospect¡¯s situation, explain why they¡¯re reaching out, ask thoughtful questions, establish trust, and end conversations with clear next steps.

  • Context ¨C Demonstrates the sales rep understands the prospect¡¯s situation, industry, or trigger event before pitching anything.
  • Clarity ¨C Clearly communicates who the rep is, why they¡¯re reaching out, and the value of the conversation.
  • Curiosity ¨C Uses thoughtful, open-ended questions to uncover needs, challenges, and priorities.
  • Credibility ¨C Builds trust by showing expertise, sharing relevant proof, and aligning with the prospect¡¯s goals.
  • Commitment ¨C Secures a clear next step so the conversation leads to measurable progress.

How do you handle immediate objections?

For quick, immediate objections on sales calls, try the L.A.E.R. objection framework: listen, acknowledge, explore, and respond.

This framework can be used as a basic script: ¡°Thank you for sharing that. It makes sense that you¡¯d feel that way. Just so I don¡¯t jump to the wrong conclusion, can you tell me a bit more about what¡¯s behind that? Based on what you¡¯ve shared¡­¡±

What¡¯s the ideal length for a sales call opening?

The ideal sales call opening is about 20¨C30 seconds. It should quickly establish rapport, explain the purpose of the call, and recap any prior context. Reps should try to make the call relevant to the prospect and incite engagement while avoiding long explanations.

Make your next sales call a success.

By the time a rep picks up the phone to call a prospect, they¡¯ve done their homework and are thoroughly prepared to impress. Getting through to decision-makers and capturing their attention and interest is becoming increasingly difficult. But the tips shared here will help reps shine and show off their consultative selling skills.

Open sales calls by expressing interest in helping prospects solve business problems. Close sales calls by instilling confidence that you can help them solve those business problems. Use tools like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø¡¯s CRM to make the entire sales process as effective as possible.

With , reps can manage pipelines, automate follow-ups, and keep every interaction organized so nothing falls through the cracks. The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø helps teams identify high-fit leads, research accounts, and personalize outreach faster ¡ª so reps spend less time digging and more time selling. And with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø , sales teams can record, transcribe, and analyze calls to uncover insights, improve messaging, and coach reps more effectively over time.

Together, these tools don¡¯t just support better sales calls ¡ª they help teams continuously refine their approach, scale what works, and turn more conversations into closed deals.

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