Roger Adame

Sales Representative at Infer Digital LLC

Is cold calling SaaS sales even worth it?

I'm working for a start up that's coming from overseas and the existing softwares being offered were extremely niche and not really applicable to the US since we do everything in dollars over here. My problem is that when I pursued this opportunity I was under the impression that there would be some marketing or desire being created. But so far, nothing. I'm expected to prospect every business ever, cold call, and somehow surgically pick their business apart to see if they could use custom software or anything we have.

Help please. Is this worth it? Should I move on? Anybody have any success in something similar that they could provide wisdom on?

🔎 Prospecting

📞 Cold Calling

☁️ Software Tech

22 comments

Sort by:

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Welcome to sales. Where overpromised dreams will fuel your hatred forever.

Yes, calls work. Make them.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

This one and the "why unemployment when we have credit cards and malt liquor."
Your finest work.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

My highlight reel is gold.

Sage

Personal Narrative

Account Executive

That is a suicide mission. Get out. I have been there. If management does not have a clear plan to position its product and create a buzz, you are doomed to fail. They are putting all that responsibility on you.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

You have software. Software does things for businesses. Maybe your software does good things for businesses. How in the name of Jebus H Christ on a cracker does the currency affect the possibility of a sale? Use a currency converter and prove ROI with it

You must research. Find problems and solve them with your existing products. If your software makes eggs Benedict, go knock on a restaurant door who just ran out of Hollandaise sauce.

If you are going to rely on inbound MQL’s you might be better off making Hollandaise sauce for a living.

Yes, I’ve been there before. I’m there now. But my employment was my choice. As yours was your choice. Maybe you’ve learned what to ask next time.

In the meantime, go find out what problem your products solve, find businesses that have those problems and go fix them.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Answer the whys (why your solution, why now…) and you’ll have a reason to be calling these folks. How are they going to know your solution exists and can help them if someone doesn’t tell them?

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

FoodForSales

Politicker

RUN FORREST!!!!

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

Enterprise AE

Don't do it. You're competitors will thank you.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

Everyone knows the dials for dollars is a very low response rate. However, if you can create a meaningful campaign and messaging with a proper targeting, it can be worth it. You just have to put in the upfront legwork.

Maximas

Tycoon

Senior Sales Executive

Cold calling never gets old even in SaaS,so yeah give it a shot!

salesblazer7

Fire Starter

Senior Account Executive

The company presumably has an idea of what their unique business value is, if they don’t. You’re throwing mud at a wall hoping for something to stick. There are less problematic sales roles out there

closersonly49

Executive

Account Executive

I’m seeing truth in both sides here. On the one hand, don’t let the obstacles and rough spots deter you from doing your job. If your job is to call these companies, make the calls. Not for the employer, but for you. It gets easier to quit every time you do so.

On the other hand, it looks like it’s time to find a new company. If their direction and focus is leading them to dark places, you aren’t paid enough to go down with the ship.

So overall, see this opportunity now as a valuable lesson in sales. You may be in shitty situations, but you can still excel in what you can control. Meanwhile, remember this situation the next time you’re interviewing and ask if this will be a new company but a similar experience.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

It won't work if you don't try.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

Account Executive

Well, at the company I work at, AEs do not do cold calls. Or prospecting. Ever. I suppose if I paid for my own Zoominfo or LI SalesNav license they wouldn't fire me for it, but they would discourage me from doing so.

Instead, SDRs prospect and AEs reach out to free trialers and other "warm" marketing leads and meet with folks the SDRs book meetings with. To be honest, I hate it. Most days I make close to 75-80 calls to these supposedly interested folks and I'm lucky if one or two of them agree to a meeting.

In my opinion, cold calls are worth doing. You can mix in other touchpoints like LinkedIn or email. But if you're not calling anyone, you're leaving a lot on the table.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

What are the top reps at the company saying? Get some time on the calendar to develop a plan

Sales Representative

I'm the only one here lol.

closersonly49

Executive

Account Executive

Ask for a raise right now

CPTAmerica

Opinionated

President/CRO

It’s a start up and they’re new to the states. They don’t know what they don’t know so speak up. Let leadership know what you need, what you’re hearing from prospects. But don’t expect them to open up the check book for some massive marketing spend. To answer your question, Yes it’s worth it!

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

lmao yes, why are people so lazy about calling, nobody cares for the 40 odd automated cold emails a day from a dozen different vendors.

Snowey

Politicker

Account Executive

Sounds like the company hasn’t achieved product market fit so far. Has nothing to do with cold calling, everything to do with product, strategy, etc.

Startups don’t give you a lot of what big orgs do- a well defined icp, personas that have documented pain points and talk tracks. Etc.

You can either start trying to find a place that offers those things if that is what you need, nothing wrong with that.

Or you can try to figure those things out yourself. Why would someone buy your product? Who has those problems, how can you communicate that?

Cabbie

Good Citizen

AE (Account Executive)

Anyone who says cold calls don't work doesn't know what they're talking about, and anyone who says only cold calls work also doesn't know what they're talking about.

It's a tool in your arsenal. Use it, use email, use LinkedIn, use whatever else you can think of without being a total creep.

Prospects all have their preferred channel of communication & communication style: cold call is definitely that for some.

Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.

Products

The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U

Company

About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty

Contact

Press Careers

If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.

Roger Adame

Is cold calling SaaS sales even worth it?

22 comments

Related posts

Cold Calling or Cold Emailing...where are we now? What will be the future of sales?

A cool cold calling experience

Cold Calling Advice; New SaaS SDR in college