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tags: A2, 02, Foundations
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# 1. Opening: Engaging prospects with an effective opening line
Alright, the different elements of the opening section of a cold call should be all clear to you.

We want to deep dive on one specific element: **the opening line**.

 
## Opening lines
The introduction, or first 5-8 seconds of a cold call is the most crucial phase to a successful conversation. This is when the person you are talking to decides if they are willing to enter a conversation with you (yeah!) or if they get rid of you (nay!).

Besides getting your intonation right - positive, smooth and mellow - it is important to get your prospect engaged as fast as possible while getting their permission to tell them the reason for your call.

**You want to make it a conversation, not a monologue.**

Here are our TOPS and FLOPS of the most effective opening statements.

Listen carefully, you will need them 🤓.

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For your future reference, here is the summary of our Hyrise Academy tops and flops of cold calling opening lines.


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## Should I follow these blindly?
Absolutely not!

As we already mentioned, in sales it's important to step outside the box and find your magic :star:.

You must find *your* own style that feels right for *you*. Authenticity is crucial. The opening lines we have shared in the videos are supposed to serve you as inspiration and orientation.

Feel free to experiment with these or come up with a variation or a completely new way of starting.

Keep in mind:
- *How* you say it matters almost as much as *what* you say (tonality)
- It's all about pattern interruption: have a distinct opening that makes you stand out, catches them by surprise and engages the other person fast
- Do not let it sound like "I am a salesperson" 😉

*p.s. effective call openers evolve over time and their effectiveness varies depending on your customer segment and region. We recommend you read [this article from Gong](https://www.gong.io/blog/cold-call-opening-lines/) that analyzes call openers and their conversation rate for the US*

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