How do you handle "I'm in another meeting" when on a cold call?

I run into it pretty regularly and typically go the route of, "no problem! I'll call you back another time" and they seem agreeable.


Wondering what the rest of you guys do.

📞 Cold Calling
16
BTQ
Politicker
11
Account Manager
It's kind of case by case, it's up to you to figure it out based on their tone.
If they care I like to say: "Ok no worries, I was calling because XYZ. Is that worth giving you a call back at 2pm later today?"
jefe
Arsonist
6
🍁
Solid. Set the expectation and keep it same day.
Wellss
Tycoon
5
Channel sales
Agree with this! The main point being that you set a time for later in the day to give them a ring back
HVACexpert
Politicker
2
sales engineer
Yes, make them commit to a rescheduled call/meeting
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
This was going to be my answer. Get a next step
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
99% of the time this is what you should use
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
3
🐺
Oh what’s it about?
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
2
🐺
You might face a lot of hostility with this one tho. Use with precaution
WeWantThisYesterday
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
"I am a sucker for unnecessary meetings! Give me the juice, what's Katy saying?"
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
0
🐺
“How’d you know Katie was running it?”
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
1
Director, Revenue Enablement
Well the restraining order prevents me from contacting her directly, which is why I’m calling you instead.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
2
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
Set a time. Great, I’ll call you back at x:00 tomorrow, does that work?
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
That excuse has always driven me crazy. If that other "meeting" (assuming its a real meeting and not 2 guys just hanging out) is so important, WTF did you answer my call? I don't get it.


As far as handling it - if I can I tell them "I was asked to give you a call so when can I call back?". Results in 30-40% pick up at the given time.
BTQ
Politicker
0
Account Manager
Sometimes if they're a dick and they're lower level I'll act stupid and say "Oh...but you picked up the phone...and you're in a meeting? Why would you do that?"
J.J.McLure
Politicker
1
Owner at *redacted*
Depends on how rushed they are (they answered the phone so the other meeting must not be too important) but I like to tell them I'll be less than 1 minute, ask if they've heard of our company (they haven't) give them a 10 second value prop/who we are and ask if I can send them some info in an email. They'll almost always say yes and then I tell them I'll follow up with them and get their thoughts, when is a good time. Sometimes they'll give a time, sometimes they won't and I just say I'll keep trying.
pirate
Big Shot
0
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Call back I would say sometimes they answer because they are expecting another call
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
0
Burn Towns, Get Money
First - Keep in mind that they answered anyway... likely that meeting is not critical, or they don't have a significant part to play in it.

Usually I directly ask - Can you talk for 2 minutes? I'm calling you to set up a meeting about X. Would date/time or date/time work?

If they don't have the time to talk right then, then I ask when is best to call them back about it AND ACTUALLY CALL BACK AT THAT TIME. In fact, I usually send a meeting invitation for that time that says Justgonnasentit to call Prospect about X.

Either way, you set the meeting. If they hustle you off the phone, immediately send an email with a subject like "Called during your meeting" and explain quickly that you want to set up a call about X, offering 2 dates, 2 times.
kindagoodae
Executive
0
Account Executive
100% read the room situation but if you are feeling frisky you can say:
"Awesome you mind if you put me on speaker for everyone?"
At worst, get a callback window where they aren't busy.
Lurking
0
Account Executive
It’s a lie, they wouldn’t have picked up.
I typically note their concern, move much more quickly and try to set next steps.
Armageddon
Opinionated
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Its all been said, but agree with asking if a call back at a certain time later that day works for them had yielded the best results. Keep it as a cold call though, no calendar invite

I find anytime I say, no worries ill send an invite for X time later, does that work? They just dont show
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