How To 10X Your Cold Calling Success Rate - An Interview with David Schoonover

Foundation of Success: The Power of People and Process

When asked what makes Strategic Connection's campaigns stand out, David doesn't hesitate:

"A hardworking team, time-tested processes, and a never-say-no approach to everyday life is what has always fueled our success."

At the core of every successful campaign is a team aligned around a shared mission. It's not about gimmicks-it's about consistent effort supported by well-defined operational systems.

These systems have been fine-tuned over years of real-world execution. From custom training protocols to proven scripts and contact strategies, nothing is left to chance. A cold calling success rate doesn't increase overnight-it improves through structure, leadership, and teamwork.

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Rally the Right Team

Before a campaign even begins, David says it all starts with people.

"My team is where I look first for guidance, inspiration, and support."

From sales development reps to campaign coordinators, success hinges on internal alignment. Our teams go through rigorous pre-launch meetings, persona workshops, and scenario-based training to ensure everyone is crystal clear on the objectives.

Studies show that organizations with aligned internal teams outperform competitors by over 20% in campaign ROI (Forbes, 2023). Without that alignment, even the best strategy can falter in execution.

Transparency = Trust

One of the hallmarks of Strategic Connection's success is full transparency with clients throughout the campaign lifecycle.

"Clients get a daily unload of the dialing data as well as a cumulative report for their project," says David. "They don't need to take our word for it. The data speaks volumes!"

This commitment to real-time reporting not only keeps clients in the loop-it fosters trust. Clients can make informed decisions on adjustments and feel confident their investment is being optimized day by day.

According to HubSpot, B2B companies that integrate real-time data feedback into their campaigns see an average of 33% higher conversion rates.

What Clients Don't See-But Should Know

Behind every high-performing call campaign is a lot of unseen work. Research. Custom training. Deep understanding of both the product and the audience.

David emphasizes that understanding the prospect is non-negotiable:

"Not only do we need to understand the product or message we are trying to relay, but we also need to fully understand our targeted prospects-know their needs, fears, dreams... best we can anyway!"

Empathy, curiosity, and personalization aren't just buzzwords-they're strategic advantages. A Salesforce study found that 84% of business buyers are more likely to engage with a rep who understands their challenges and offers tailored solutions.

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Building the Campaign: Processes That Deliver

So how do you build a campaign that can

David emphasizes that understanding the prospect is non-negotiable:

1. Discovery and Onboarding

Every campaign begins with a deep-dive discovery session to learn the client's vision, audience, and goals.

2. Message Alignment

We develop custom scripts and talk tracks-not robotic scripts, but guided conversations tailored to the target audience.

3. Agent Training

Our callers are trained to understand the why behind every call. We focus on tone, pacing, objections, and the client's unique value proposition.

4. Daily Reporting and Optimization

Campaigns are't "set it and forget it." We tweak scripts, audience filters, and cadence based on daily data.

Transparent Communication

Regular check-ins, cumulative reports, and client access to insights drive collaboration and continuous improvement.

By sticking to this five-step process, Strategic Connection consistently improves our clients' cold calling success rate, often turning skeptical first-timers into long-term partners.

One Key Message for New Clients

If you're considering a phone campaign but don't know where to start, David offers this simple advice:

"Bring us your vision to fit your needs, and we will make it a reality."

That collaborative approach is what has set Strategic Connection apart from other agencies. We don't try to mold your goals to fit our service-we mold our service to fit your goals.

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Want to 10X Your Cold Calling Success Rate? Start Here:

From dialers to CRMs, the right tech supports efficiency and insight. For a streamlined telemarketing campaign, use tools that offer:

1. Hire and train the right team

- Alignment and skill-building are everything

2. Establish time-tested processes

- Scripts, reporting, and feedback loops create consistency

3. Understand your audience deeply

- Empathy drives connection

4. Be transparent with performance

- Reporting builds trust

5. Stay agile and adaptable

- Use data to refine and improve

Cold calling isn't dead. It's just being done wrong by too many businesses that still treat it like a numbers game instead of a relationship-building opportunity.

With the right structure and a people-first approach, your outbound calls can generate leads, set qualified appointments, and open doors for real sales conversations.

Where To Go From Here

At the end of the day, cold calling remains one of the most direct and effective ways to connect with your target audience-when it's done with intention. As David shared, success doesn't come from dialing faster-it comes from dialing smarter: with the right team, proven processes, and a deep understanding of who you're calling and why. If you're tired of chasing leads that go nowhere, it's time to work with a partner who knows how to deliver. At Strategic Connection, we don't just run call campaigns-we build revenue engines. Ready to 10X your cold calling success rate? Let's talk. Book your strategy call today and see what a results-driven outreach campaign really looks like.