Forget the appointment links — ask for the number

Why making appointments often fails

Many have had the experience that despite apparent interest in a service or product, the contact on LinkedIn does not lead to the desired date. The disappointment is huge when contacts don't sign up via a Calendly link or similar appointment tools.

The meaning of the phone number

One solution to this problem could be to ask for the contact's phone number directly. Especially in the high-price sector, it is important to establish personal contact with the customer, whether through a strategy discussion or a qualifying call. Experience shows that contacts are more willing to reveal their telephone number (which is usually a business number) than to sign up for a conversation via an impersonal and lengthy link.

Another problem, especially on LinkedIn, is that LinkedIn doesn't like redirects to other websites and first asks the contact whether they really want to leave the secure LinkedIn page and switch to the possibly unsafe page XXX. Very few contacts do that.

Strategies for making appointments

Once you've received the contact's phone number, ask when they're available. Fridays are often good days for such conversations, as many people then have more time. If someone is not ready to give out their telephone number but is interested in a conversation, try to make an appointment directly in the chat instead of just sending an appointment link.

The art of rewriting

It's also important to stick with it. If someone shows interest but then doesn't answer anymore, don't be afraid to follow up. CompleadLy's Chrome Extension can also help you with this, which allows you to efficiently track contact history and send follow-ups until the contact actually answers.

Live

Sometimes your business requires that you require a live broadcast or something similar. Flexibility is required in such cases. Then try to make an appointment directly in the chat instead of just sending an appointment link.

It often makes sense in these cases too

Conclusion

Making an appointment is often the first step in a successful business relationship and should not be left to chance. By directly asking for the telephone number, strategic follow-up and a flexible approach, the probability of successful appointments can be significantly increased.

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