1. People Don’t Answer Unknown Numbers
Modern consumers screen calls. According to Ofcom, 81% of UK adults now ignore calls from unknown numbers. Even if they answer, they’re likely suspicious.
2. It’s Invasive and Unwelcome
Cold calling interrupts people. It doesn’t respect their time or communication preferences—especially in financial services, where trust is everything.
3. Conversion Rates Are Dismal
For every 100 cold calls, most sales teams report 1–2 conversations and even fewer quality leads. That’s hours of effort for minimal payoff.
4. It Damages Your Brand
Unwanted calls feel pushy. They make your firm seem outdated or aggressive—especially to high-net-worth individuals or time-poor professionals.
What Top Advisors Are Doing Instead
They’re turning to SMS.
Not to spam, but to warm up conversations in a way that respects the prospect’s time and gives them space to respond when it suits them.
Here’s how smart financial sales teams are using SMS instead of cold calling:
1. Start with a Soft Touch
A cold call is loud. A text is subtle.
Example:
“Hi Tom, quick note from OakTree Wealth—there’s a tax-friendly investment window closing next week. Want a short summary? Reply YES.”
This opens the door without pressure, and lets the lead choose how and when to engage.
2. Automate Follow-Ups Without Being Pushy
With tools like WeAreSMS, you can automate a polite follow-up if someone doesn’t reply after 48–72 hours.
Follow-Up Example:
“Just checking in, Tom—still happy to share details if it’s useful. No pressure at all.”
You stay on their radar, without becoming a nuisance.
3. Use CRM Triggers to Send Timely Messages
No more random calls to cold lists. Top teams set up automations that trigger SMS based on real signals:
- Downloaded a guide? → Send a helpful follow-up.
- Attended a webinar? → Ask if they’d like a recap.
- New lead added to the CRM? → Kick off a welcome SMS.
This makes every message relevant and timely, not cold.
4. Use SMS to Qualify Interest First
Instead of chasing down uninterested leads, let them qualify themselves.
Example:
“A new fixed-rate bond (min £100K) just opened. Want the info deck? Reply YES and I’ll send it over.”
Only the interested ones respond. You focus on hot leads—not time wasters.
5. Personalise and Humanise—Even at Scale
With tools like WeAreSMS, you can personalise each message with name, product interest, and timing—without writing them manually.
It feels personal to the prospect, but efficient for your team.
Bonus: SMS Gets Replies (Unlike Cold Calls)
- SMS open rate: 90–98%
- Average response time: <3 minutes
- Cold call answer rate: ~5–10%
- Voicemail engagement: near zero
Text messaging meets people where they are: on their phones, but in control.
Conclusion: SMS Is the New First Contact
Cold calling has had its day. It’s inefficient, intrusive, and increasingly ineffective. Financial sales teams that embrace SMS automation are not only getting more replies—they’re building better relationships from the start.
The shift is already happening. The question is whether you’ll get ahead of it.
With WeAreSMS, you can:
- Replace cold calls with friendly, compliant SMS
- Trigger messages based on real client activity
- Automate follow-ups and segment by interest or region
- Stay compliant with FCA and GDPR
Stop interrupting. Start connecting.
Ready to modernise your outreach? Book a demo or start your first campaign with WeAreSMS today.
