Cold calling can definitely be a useful tool for attracting new PSAs; when used judiciously. Meaning, expect rejections and be prepared to respond rejections respectfully. Some persons will welcome the opportunity afforded by cold calling if your opening sentence is one that grasp their attention. Others, because of prior bad experiences with telemarketers, will shut you down instantly. Be sure to be polite to all contacts that you initiate, regardless of the response.
I think cold calling is a plus (+) approach because it affords you the opportunity to set up personalized teaching encounters with prospective affiliates and pace the interactions in a way that meets the need of the prospect. It also gives you the advantage of knowing from the onset who is interested and who is not. And it affords you the opportunity to establish strategies for long-term personalized support to those who proceed with signing on to SFI.
Compared to the other methods of recruitment, you have the opportunity for immediately establishing local support groups, and if you are a knowledgeable SFI leader you can be creative in expanding the local presence of SFI in your community through a number of ways including Co-ops and ECAs.
Cold calling can definitely be a useful tool for attracting new PSAs; when used judiciously. Meaning, expect rejections and be prepared to respond rejections respectfully. Some persons will welcome the opportunity afforded by cold calling if your opening sentence is one that grasp their attention. Others, because of prior bad experiences with telemarketers, will shut you down instantly. Be sure to be polite to all contacts that you initiate, regardless of the response.