If you’re involved in a sales environment where you need to get appointments so that you can pitch to offer your products or services, you may struggle to get appointments from time to time. A lot of sales people do not like calling for appointments. Don’t be one of them, with these tips and ideas.

1. Dream big. Why not approach the big corporations? They have to get their products and services from somewhere, why can’t it be you?

2. Call the most unlikely / hardest target first. This will get it out of the way, and you may even get a positive outcome. If you don’t get a positive outcome, you still have the rest of the day to make more appointments

3. Write down your goals, and you are more likely to stick to them. They can be attached to your computer at work, fridge at home, as well as in the car. Perhaps there is a company you want to deal with, a sector you want to do business with, or you want to do better than a rival company.

4. When you have made more than enough phone calls for one day, or have had our fill of rejections, just make one more call. This could be the appointment you’ve been waiting for.

5. Why not indulge in some healthy competition with colleagues? This will encourage the whole team to perform better, and get more appointments.

6. Reward yourself with a treat for getting an appointment, through to the decision maker, or some information from the gatekeeper. These rewards can be anything. Perhaps from a snack to a bit of retail therapy.

7. Have a good opening statement, and be prepared for the common responses and questions. By preparing well, and knowing about your product or service, you will appear confident, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. These are all good characteristics to have as a salesperson, and likely to get you to the decision maker.

8. Why not ask for a meeting at a specific time, rather than a vague date? This will put the prospect on the spot, and if they can’t make the time, they are likely to suggest an alternative time. This is a great way of getting an appointment.

9. Don’t forget to be friendly towards gatekeepers. They are only doing their job too. If you are chatty and genuinely interested towards the gatekeeper, they are more likely to provide you with the information you want.

10. As a way of getting a foot in the door, or a reason for calling, why not send a useful promotional item, or a sample of your product to prospects? You’ll be remembered when you call. Whilst not everybody will be thrilled with another pen or notepad, perhaps a clock or mug will attract their attention.

Now you know how to make getting new prospects less daunting, why not use these tips and see if you can get more appointments?