The most wonderful time of the year…can also be the slowest time of the year. Especially for those of us that are prospecting.

And let’s be real – you should be prospecting during the holidays. AJ and Alex tackle some of the reasons why (and how to do it effectively) in an episode of Opt In.

Keep reading for some quick tips & additonal insight!

The Good

The holidays are a great time to reconnect with those prospects that have been lost in translation over the last few months. This time of year finds people to be less busy (at work, not in their personal life) and in better spirits, which is a perfect time to reach out to those less responsive contacts and shatter that awkward first call by asking about their holiday plans. Could there be an easier conversation starter?!

The greatest thing about holiday prospecting is that people are much more likely to open their email and answer the phone, which is possibly the greatest gift to give to an SDR! Maybe they’re just constantly on the lookout for their Amazon delivery confirmation, or maybe they’re the only ones left in the office. Whatever the reason, the spam filters are down and the gatekeepers are off duty — so now’s your chance to connect.

The Bad

On the downside, it can be disheartening to find so many decision–makers and influencers on vacation. I find it particularly depressing when I send out some emails and get a 60% out of office rate! As if the urge to start a snowball fight with the remaining office team isn’t hard enough, now I have potential leads taunting me with their wonderful vacations. One of the great things about demandDrive is the competitive nature we all share. We use call blitz’s and other competitions to keep morale high during these downtimes. It’s easy to sit back in your chair and quickly add something to your holiday wish list, but the best SDRs are able to maintain focus and bring home some extra cash for the new year!

Don’t let the pre-holiday slump get you down! The struggle is real, but it’s also full of opportunity for those who can push through the temptation to slack.

More Insights From Our Team

We ran an internal symposium on prospecting around the holidays, and our panel delivered some great insight and advice.

Check out their thoughts on the right and pay particular attention to the final thoughts from our Sales Training Coordinator, Andrew Smith:

“The holidays are not only stressful at work, but at some too. Be positive. Be kind. Be a human.”

Empathy wins every time.

Check out some more holiday cheer!

Blog originally written by Brett Hovanec

Edited and updated by AJ Alonzo