What’s the best time for cold calling?
Here are 11 answers to the question, “What’s the best time for cold calling?”
- Late Afternoons
- Time Zones Are Key
- Around 7 Pm
- When the business day slows down
- 4 to 5 PM
- 8AM to 9AM
- When Not to Cold Call
- Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m
- Pre and Post-lunchtime
- The Best Time is Always Now
- During the “shoulders” of the Day
Late Afternoons Are the Best Time for Cold Calling
While the best time for cold calling highly depends on the industry you’re in, late afternoons (around 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.) is one of the best time frames to conduct your cold calling campaigns. There are several reasons why people might be more willing to engage with your calls and offers during the afternoon.
One reason is that during this time, most people are more relaxed as they have just made it through the bulk of the workday. Hence, they are more likely to be receptive to your call and engage in conversations with you. Another reason is that most key decision-makers, the people within organizations and companies that have the power to implement decisions, are easily reached at this time. However, this only applies in a B2B context.
Paw Vej, Chief Operating Officer, Financer.com
Time Zones Are Key
The best time for cold calling can vary depending on the industry and target audience, but generally, it’s considered best to call during the workweek and avoid calling on weekends or holidays. The best time within the workweek can also vary, but some research suggests that calling early in the week (Mondays and Tuesdays) and in the early afternoon (around 2-5 PM) may be more effective.
It’s also important to consider the time zone of the person you’re calling, and adjust the timing accordingly. The best time to call may change over time, so it can be helpful to track the results of your calls and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Trey Ferro, CEO, Spot Pet Insurance
Around 7 Pm
Cold calling is an effective but delicate process for networking or finding potential clients, so the best time for cold calling will depend on the industry and purpose. Generally speaking, studies have shown 7 p.m. to be the most effective time to initiate a cold call. 7 p.m. is generally considered after hours because it is dinnertime in most of America, making it more likely that prospects will have a moment to take the call without much distraction.
What’s more, 7 p.m. is off-peak and not stocked with the competition like traditional business hours can be. Executing successful cold calls at 7 p.m. could place a business in a prime position with great momentum going into the following day.
Jim Campbell, Owner, Camp Media
When the business day slows down
I rarely receive cold calls now, but this sales pitch is still somewhat relevant. Cold calling was one of the toughest tasks to get sales reps to follow through on because, as the sales reps get younger, they become more uncomfortable talking on the phone. Younger reps also don’t handle rejection as well, and it can ruin their confidence. That being said, I’ve witnessed some very successful cold calls that have led to great business deals.
In my experience, I would always have our sales reps call in the afternoon when the business day had slowed down. People are far less likely to blow you off when they don’t have a pile of work in front of them. Mornings seem to be the busiest time for people, so I had the reps call in the afternoon Tuesday through Thursday. Monday, everyone is playing catch-up, and Friday, everyone is checked out. Your best bet is to hit the phones in the afternoon midweek.
Seth Newman, Director, SportingSmiles
8am to 9am Or 4pm to 6pm
What’s the best time for cold calling? The best time for cold calling is typically between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., as well as between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. During these times, prospects are more likely to be available to take your call. However, it’s important to consider the industry of your target prospect when determining the best time for cold calling.
For example, if you are targeting businesses in the hospitality industry, you may want to call during their slower times (in the afternoon). Additionally, it’s important to be respectful of any holidays or special events that may be occurring. With a little research, you should be able to find the best time for cold calling your prospects.
Joe Giranda, Director of Sales and Marketing, CFR Classic
When Not to Cold Call
The best time for cold calling can vary depending on the industry and the target audience. However, generally speaking, it’s best to avoid calling during weekends and holidays, and early mornings and late evenings when people are likely to be busy or not at their desks.
The best time for cold calling is usually during business hours, such as 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s also worth considering the time zone of the target audience, and calling during their business hours.
Brad Cummins, Founder, Insurance Geek
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m
When most prospects are at work, the optimum times to cold call are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and the greatest response times are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is based on data gathered and analyzed by PhoneBurner. Purchasers will be more willing to take calls during the day to rest and unwind in the evening. Cold calling is more effective in the mornings before lunch and at the end of the workday. That’s 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Looking at the average workplace day structure, late mornings are when decision-makers are more likely to be closing up duties before taking a lunch break. In the late afternoon, people will be winding down and less inclined to begin new tasks. As a result, now is the best time to make cold calls since prospects are more willing to chat.
David reid, Sales Director, VEM-Tooling Co. Ltd.
Target Pre and Post-lunchtime Window for Best Results
The best window for cold calling is between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. You’ll achieve better results if you target this window because many of your prospects fall into one of two categories: (1) they are done with their morning responsibilities and are typically waiting for lunchtime to arrive, or (2) they are just coming back from their lunch and still settling in for their afternoon activities.
Ultimately, picking the right time to cold call is essential to your sales success. Any time before the aforementioned window, you’re most likely to be redirected to an answering machine. Any time after that, you’ll risk yourself being the person preventing the prospect from returning home on time. Lastly, don’t be that person who cold calls a prospect during lunchtime.
Preston Powell, CEO, Webserv
The Best Time is Always Now
If a business operates on strict business hours (usually the larger businesses), call within those business hours. That said, it may not always be the case, which is why the best time to start cold-calling is now. Many of the smaller business owners use their cell phones to run their businesses. If there is one thing I know about society, it is that people are constantly glued to their phones. If you’re awake and questioning whether or not to call a business in your time zone, it is worth a shot. The worst thing that can happen is getting sent to voicemail. I hope this helps! Best,
Nick Varga nick@eridejournal.com
Nick Varga, Chief Riding Officer, ERide Journal
Call During the “shoulders” of the Day
In my experience as a BDR prospecting into the world’s largest banks and credit unions, the best time to cold call is during the “shoulders” of the workday, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. The reason for this is that many people don’t start meetings until at least 10 a.m. and don’t schedule meetings after 4 p.m., to give people more flexibility when starting and ending their workday.
People can’t pick up their phone during meetings, so calling during the shoulders of the day maximizes the chance you’ll catch your prospect at a time when they can pick up the phone, such as when they’re working at their desk, or commuting. Of course, there’s never a bad time to call; you should always make the effort to pick up the phone if you have free time during the day. But starting and ending your day with a cold call block will ensure that you’re consistently making time to prospect, and you’ll get the added benefit of having a higher connect rate. And more connects = more meetings booked!
Adam Purvis, Founder, AdamJohnPurvis.com
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