A panel of experts pulled together by SoftwareAdvice.com recently discussed cold calling during a Google+ Hangout, and the results are of interest to anyone looking to develop more B2B leads. The panel looked in depth at three questions:

There is an awful lot of talk these days about social media and which platforms are best for business. If you scan the blogosphere you'll find plenty of information about the benefits of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and even Google+, Pinterest and others. It seems as if we've become obsessed with "engaging" with others. The irony is that these social media outlets can be incredibly impersonal! 

Salespeople today come under intense pressure to cut their prices in order to make the sale. How many times have you been asked, "Is this your best deal?" Or, "Give me a proposal and I'll need a little time to think about it." 

Many manufacturers have learned that a case study is a valuable B2B selling tool, especially when the sales cycle is long or the investment required is significant. Case studies are most effective when they include a detailed analysis of either cost savings, performance improvement or both.

Every Monday the local newspaper publishes rants from readers with complaints. This one caught my eye because I'd just had a conversation with a friend about the topic in question. Here is what the rant said: