Most cold calls fail in the first sentence.
Not because the product is wrong!
But because the prospect is “not interested”.
This edition is about one single sentence, the one you say when your prospect picks up the phone, and why its job is not to sell, but to create interest.
Why the Opener Matters More Than You Think
The opener is the first signal your prospect receives.
Within seconds, their brain decides:
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Is this safe?
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Is this relevant?
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Do I need to protect myself?
A strong opener does one thing exceptionally well:
It moves your prospect from defence to attention.
That’s it.
What a Good Opener Actually Does
The goal of a cold call opener is not to convince.
Its job is to:
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Create psychological safety
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Lower immediate resistance
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Win attention
There are many valid openers.
What matters is not creativity, but effect.
Three Openers That Actually Work
The following openers are shared by Danny Wörns inside his upcoming Quick Win Challenge at Sales in DACH.
They are simple | They are calm | And they have been tested on 100k cold calls so far!
Opener 1
Permission-Based Opener
“Hello Mr Müller, glad I reached you. We don’t know each other yet.
May I briefly explain why I’m calling, and then you can decide if this is relevant for you?”
In around 9 out of 10 cases, the response is:
“Sure, go ahead.”
If the prospect says no:
“That’s a shame. I’m calling you because of the following reason…”
You stay in the conversation without pressure.
Opener 2
Non-Permission-Based Opener
“Hello Mr Müller, glad I reached you.
I know your time is valuable, so I’ll keep this short.
I’m calling you for the following reason…”
Why it works:
It’s direct, clear, and respectful of time.
Opener 3
Pattern-Interrupt Opener
“Hello Mr Müller, Danny Wörns speaking.
I’m calling because I’d like to convince you to book a meeting with me.
How do you think I should do that?”
Most prospects respond with:
“What is this about?”
And just like that, the conversation starts.
What These Openers Have in Common
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They don’t pitch
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They don’t pressure
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They create space
And that space is what allows a real conversation to happen.
Your Practice Challenge
Don’t just read this. Apply it!
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Rewrite all three openers in your own words
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Choose one opener per call session
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Practice out loud until it sounds natural
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Test each opener in 30 calls before judging it
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Track reactions like “Go ahead” or “What is this about?”
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Decide on one strong standard opener you’ll use consistently
Cold calling improves through repetition, not perfection.
Coming Soon
Quick Win Challenges with Danny Wörns and many more!
This Cold Call Opener is just one of the frameworks Danny Wörns shares inside his Quick Win Challenge, launching soon at Sales in DACH.
Short, focused challenges designed to help you apply one specific sales skill quickly, without overwhelm.
More on this very soon! 😍
Want to See How Sales in DACH coudl support You?
If you’re curious how we work at Sales in DACH and whether our programmes make sense for your role or team, you’re welcome to
In the meantime, we wish you all the best with hitting target in DACH and will be in touch next week again with the next Sales Hacks!
Yours,
Helena and the SiD Team ✨
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