Is your sales floor feeling a bit [Adjective] today? We all know the grind of B2B cold calling. Between the gatekeepers, the “send me an email” brushes, and the occasional [Noun], it can get repetitive.
“It’s time to inject some humor into our outreach! “
Whether you are looking for a creative way to break the ice or just need a laugh during your afternoon slump, these Cold Call Mad Libs are designed for you and your team to collaborate, create ridiculous scenarios, and maybe—just maybe—find a “pivot” that actually works.
How-To Guide & Grammar Key
How to Play:
- Print this article.
- Partner up: One person is the SDR (Sales Development Rep) and the other is the Prospect.
- Fill in the blanks: Ask for the word types (Noun, Verb, Jargon) without looking at the story.
- Roleplay: Read the “Approach” and the “Response” aloud in your most dramatic professional voices.
Grammar Key:
- Noun: A person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., Boss, Warehouse, Spreadsheet).
- Plural Noun: More than one person, place, or thing (e.g., Staplers, Pipelines, Prospects).
- Adjective: A word that describes a noun (e.g., Aggressive, Shiny, Exhausted).
- Adverb: A word that describes an action, usually ending in “-ly” (e.g., Frantically, Smoothly).
- Verb: An action word (e.g., Pivot, Close, Delete).
- Verb (-ing): An action happening right now (e.g., Networking, Scaling, Crying).
- Jargon: Corporate buzzwords (e.g., Synergy, Bandwidth, Deep-dive).
The 15 Sales Approach & Customer Response Pairs
1. The “Disruptive” Opening
- Approach: “Hi [Name], I know I’m a total [Noun] for calling out of the blue, but I saw that your company is currently [Verb ending in -ing] your [Plural Noun]. We help businesses achieve [Percentage] more [Jargon].”
- Response: “Honestly, we usually prefer to [Verb] our problems away. Can you prove that your [Noun] won’t cause a/an [Disaster] in our IT department?”
2. The Gatekeeper Gambit
- Approach: “Hello! I’m trying to reach the [Job Title]. I have a very urgent [Noun] regarding their [Adjective] account. Is there a way you could [Verb] me through?”
- Response: “The Boss is currently in a/an [Type of Meeting] with a/an [Animal]. Can I take a message, or would you like to be transferred to our [Room in the Office]?”
3. The “I’m Just Following Up”
- Approach: “Hey [Name], just circling back like a/an [Bird] on my previous email. I wanted to see if you’ve had a chance to [Verb] the proposal.”
- Response: “I saw it, but it got buried under a pile of [Plural Noun]. I’ll get to it right after I finish [Verb ending in -ing] my [Body Part].”
4. The Tech Jargon Overload
- Approach: “We specialize in leveraging [Jargon] to optimize your [Business Process]. By utilizing a holistic [Noun], we ensure your ROI is [Adjective].”
- Response: “That sounds very [Adjective], but we already have a/an [Noun] that does that. Does your system integrate with [Type of Toy]?”
5. The “Mutual Connection”
- Approach: “I was speaking with [Famous Person] the other day, and they mentioned you were the go-to person for [Niche Hobby]. They suggested I reach out.”
- Response: “That’s strange, because [Famous Person] actually owes me a/an [Noun]. If you’re friends with them, tell them to [Verb] me immediately!”
6. The Over-the-Top Value Prop
- Approach: “What if I told you that for the price of a/an [Food Item], you could increase your efficiency by [Large Number] percent using our [Noun]?”
- Response: “For that price, I’d rather buy a/an [Luxury Item]. Besides, our current process is already [Adjective] enough.”
7. The “Budget Is Tight” Objection
- Approach: “I understand price is a concern, but our [Product Name] actually pays for itself by reducing [Plural Noun].”
- Response: “Look, our budget for this year was accidentally spent on [Type of Party]. We don’t have a single [Currency] left for [Noun].”
8. The “Wrong Person” Pivot
- Approach: “It sounds like you’re not the one who handles [Plural Noun]. Who is the most [Adjective] person in your office to talk to about that?”
- Response: “You’ll want to talk to [Name of Co-worker]. They are the head of [Made-up Department] and they love talking about [Plural Noun].”
9. The “Ghosted” Voicemail
- Approach: “Hi, this is [Your Name]. I’ve left [Number] messages. I’m starting to think you’ve been kidnapped by [Plural Noun]. Give me a call!”
- Response (via Email): “Not kidnapped! Just trapped in a/an [Adjective] cycle of [Plural Noun]. Stop calling or I will [Verb] your [Noun].”
10. The Industry Expert Play
- Approach: “We’ve been working with other [Industry] companies like [Company Name], and they found that [Verb ending in -ing] their [Noun] was a game changer.”
- Response: “We aren’t like [Company Name]. They are too [Adjective]. We prefer to keep our business [Adverb] [Adjective].”
11. The “We Already Have a Vendor”
- Approach: “I totally respect that you use [Competitor]. Most of our clients did, too, until they realized our [Noun] was more [Adjective].”
- Response: “Our current vendor sends us a/an [Noun] every Christmas. What can you give us that’s more [Adjective] than that?”
12. The “Perfect Fit” Close
- Approach: “It sounds like we can really help. Can we book a/an [Number] minute meeting on [Day of the Week] to [Verb] the details?”
- Response: “Only if you promise to bring [Plural Noun] to the meeting. My schedule is a/an [Noun] right now, but I can do [Time].”
13. The Referral Ask
- Approach: “Even if this isn’t for you, do you know any other [Plural Noun] who are looking to [Verb] their productivity?”
- Response: “I wouldn’t wish this [Noun] on my worst [Enemy]. But try calling [Competitor Name], they really need help with their [Body Part].”
14. The “Last Day of the Quarter” Special
- Approach: “My [Job Title] is letting me offer a/an [Adjective] discount if we sign this by [Time]. It’s a/an [Noun] of a deal!”
- Response: “I don’t sign anything unless it’s written in [Color] ink and delivered by a/an [Professional Athlete].”
15. The “Victory” Celebration
- Approach: “I just closed the deal! The client was so impressed by my [Noun], they signed the [Noun] immediately!”
- Response: “I only signed because I wanted you to stop [Verb ending in -ing] my [Noun]. Now, where is my [Free Gift]?”
Conclusion
Sales is a numbers game, but it’s also a human game. If we can’t laugh at the [Adjective] nature of cold calling, we’ll never make it to the [Noun]. Use these Mad Libs to lighten the mood at your next team meeting or during your next “Power Hour.”
“What’s the most [Adjective] thing a prospect has ever said to you?”
#SalesHumor #B2B #ColdCalling #SalesTraining #WorkLifeBalance #SalesTeam #MadLibs #BusinessDevelopment #SDRLife
