
Do you struggle to sound confident and natural during sales calls in English? For non-native speakers, mastering the right phrases and techniques can make all the difference in building rapport, handling objections, and closing deals.
In this article, discover practical sales call scripts, proven English phrases, and tips to help you communicate like a native speaker and boost your conversion rates. Whether you’re pitching to clients or overcoming objections, these strategies will elevate your sales communication skills.
Opening a Sales Call Like a Native Speaker
ESTABLISHING FIRST CONTACT
When making a sales call, your opening sets the tone for the entire conversation. Here’s how to start professionally:
- “Good morning, my name is [Sam Toomey] from [Toomey Business English]. I’m calling about improving your team’s sales communication skills.”
- “Hello, this is [Sam] calling from [Toomey Business English]. Have I caught you at a good time to discuss English training for your sales team?”
- “Hi [John], [Sam Toomey] here from [Toomey Business English]. I hope you’re well today. Do you have a few minutes to talk about boosting your international sales performance?”
- “Hello [Sarah], [Sam] speaking from [Toomey Business English]. I appreciate you taking my call. I’d like to discuss how we can help your sales team sound more natural in English.”
Pro Tip: Speak at a moderate pace and enunciate clearly, especially when stating your name and company. This creates a professional first impression and helps non-native English speakers understand you better.
How to Build Rapport in Sales Calls in English
Building a connection before diving into your sales pitch increases your chances of success:
- “I noticed from your LinkedIn profile that you’ve been with [company name] for [time period] – that’s impressive! How has your experience been so far?”
- “I saw your recent post about [topic] and found it really insightful. What prompted you to share that perspective?”
- “How are things going at [prospect’s company]? I read about your recent [achievement/news] and wanted to congratulate you personally.”
- “Before we get started, how has your week been so far? I imagine leading an international sales team keeps you quite busy.”
Pro Tip: Research your prospect before calling. Mentioning something specific about them or their company shows genuine interest and helps break the ice naturally.
English Phrases for Starting a Sales Call
Be clear and concise about why you’re calling:
- “I’m calling to follow up on the email I sent last week about our sales English coaching. Did you have a chance to review the information?”
- “I’m calling because our research shows your company might benefit from our language training solutions, especially for your international sales team.”
- “The reason for my call today is to discuss how our Business English training could help your sales representatives close more deals with English-speaking clients.”
- “I wanted to reach out personally to introduce our new sales communication programme designed specifically for non-native English speakers in sales roles.”
What to Say in a Sales Call as a Non-Native Speaker
Effective questioning helps you understand your prospect’s needs:
- “Could you tell me a bit about the challenges your team faces when making sales calls in English to international clients?”
- “What’s your biggest frustration when communicating with English-speaking prospects?”
- “How are you currently helping your sales team improve their English communication skills for better conversion rates?”
- “On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with your team’s current performance on international sales calls in English?”
Pro Tip: Listen actively to responses and take notes. This shows respect and ensures you address their specific needs when presenting your solution.
Sales Call Phrases for Non-Native Speakers
Connect your offering directly to the prospect’s needs:
- “The approach we take is different because we customise all training materials to your specific products and sales processes, ensuring your team learns the exact phrases they need.”
- “Based on what you’ve shared, I think our [Sales English Mastery Programme] would be perfect for your team because it specifically addresses the challenges you mentioned with handling objections in English.”
- “What many of our clients find particularly valuable is our focus on real-life sales scenarios in their industry, using the exact vocabulary and phrases needed for effective communication.”
- “This solution has helped companies like yours increase their international sales conversion rates by 25% by improving how confidently their teams communicate in English.”
Scripts for Handling Objections in Sales Calls
Respond to concerns professionally without sounding defensive:
- “I understand your concern about the investment. Many of our clients initially felt the same way, but they found that the ROI exceeded their expectations within just three months as their teams closed more international deals.”
- “That’s a fair point about the time commitment. What we’ve done to address this is create flexible, modular training that fits around your team’s schedule, with focused 30-minute sessions that deliver immediate results.”
- “You’re right to ask about results. Would it be helpful if I shared some specific case studies showing how we’ve helped similar sales teams improve their English communication and increase their closing rates?”
- “I appreciate you bringing up that concern. Let me explain how we typically handle that situation for busy sales professionals who need to improve their English quickly…”
Pro Tip: Always validate the prospect’s concerns before offering solutions. This shows you’re listening and builds trust.
How to Handle Objections in English Sales Calls
Present your pricing confidently while emphasising value:
- “While there is an investment of [£X], our clients tell us the value they receive far exceeds the cost because their sales representatives can now communicate confidently with native English speakers, leading to better relationships and more closed deals.”
- “Our investment for this programme is [£X], which includes personalised assessment, targeted training on sales call scripts, and ongoing support to ensure your team continues to improve.”
- “Companies typically see a return on this investment within [timeframe] through higher close rates, larger deal sizes, and more efficient calls with English-speaking clients.”
- “We offer several options to suit different budgets. The most popular with businesses your size is our [specific package], which focuses specifically on improving how your team handles objections and closes deals in English.”
English Phrases for Closing Sales Deals
Guide the conversation towards the next steps:
- “Given what we’ve discussed about your international sales goals, do you see our Business English training as a solution to the challenges your team is facing?”
- “Based on our discussion, it sounds like our sales English training would be a good fit for addressing your team’s communication challenges. What do you think?”
- “Would it make sense to schedule a more detailed demonstration for you and your sales managers to see exactly how we improve English for sales calls?”
- “The next step would typically be a needs assessment call with your sales team leaders to identify the specific English phrases and scripts they need most. How does that sound?”
How to Close a Deal in English as a Non-Native Speaker
Secure commitment clearly and confidently:
- “What would be the best way to proceed from here to ensure your team gets the English training they need for better sales results?”
- “Shall we go ahead and schedule the needs assessment for next week to get your team started on improving their sales English?”
- “Are you ready to move forward with this solution to help your sales representatives sound more like native English speakers?”
- “Would you like to start with the basic package focused on essential sales call scripts, or the comprehensive programme that covers the entire sales process in English?”
Sales Call Closing Techniques
Always end on a positive note:
- “Thank you for considering Toomey Business English. I’m excited about the possibility of helping your sales team communicate more effectively with English-speaking clients.”
- “Thank you for your time today. I’m looking forward to helping your team improve their English for sales calls.”
- “It’s been great speaking with you. I’ll send an email summarising what we’ve discussed about enhancing your team’s sales communication in English.”
- “I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about your business. I’ll be in touch [specific timeframe] with the sales call scripts we discussed that can help your team sound more natural in English.”
Real-Life Application: Sales Call Scripts That Convert
Scenario: Imagine you’re a Business English consultant calling a potential client who has downloaded your free guide on “Improving Sales Communication in English.”
How the conversation might flow:
You: “Good morning, this is Sam Toomey from Toomey Business English. Have I caught you at a good time to discuss how your sales team can sound more natural in English?”
Prospect: “Yes, I have a few minutes.”
You: “Great! I noticed you downloaded our guide on improving sales communication in English. I wanted to reach out personally to see if you found it helpful for your team.”
Prospect: “Yes, it was interesting. We definitely have some challenges with our international sales calls.”
You: “Could you tell me a bit about the specific challenges your team faces when making sales calls in English to international clients?”
Prospect: [explains their challenges]
You: “Thank you for sharing that. Based on what you’ve described, many of our clients have faced similar issues. Our Sales English Mastery Programme has been particularly effective for teams like yours because it focuses specifically on natural-sounding phrases and cultural nuances that improve conversion rates. Would it be helpful if I explained how this might work for your sales representatives?”
Prospect: “Sure, but I’m concerned about the time commitment.”
You: “That’s a fair point about the time commitment. What we’ve done to address this is create flexible, modular training that fits around your team’s schedule. Most sessions are just 90 minutes per week, and we’ve found this actually saves time in the long run as calls become more efficient and effective.”
Prospect: “That sounds more manageable. What kind of investment are we looking at?”
You: “Our investment for this programme is £X, which includes personalised assessment, 12 weeks of training on sales call scripts, all materials, and ongoing support. Companies typically see a return on this investment within 3-4 months through higher close rates and more efficient calls with English-speaking clients.”
Prospect: “I’d need to discuss this with my team.”
You: “Of course. Would it make sense to schedule a more detailed demonstration for you and your key sales managers next week? That way, everyone can ask questions and see exactly how the programme helps your team sound more like native English speakers.”
Prospect: “Yes, that would be helpful.”
You: “Excellent! I’ll send you some available times by email today. Thank you for your time – I’m looking forward to showing you and your team how we can help improve your sales communication in English.”
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Sales Call Communication in English
Question 1:
What is the best way to open a sales call professionally as a non-native English speaker?
A. “Hi, this is Sam. What do you need from me today?”
B. “Good morning, my name is Sam Toomey from Toomey Business English. I’m calling about improving your team’s sales communication skills.”
C. “Hello, I’m Sam. Do you have time to talk?”
D. “Hi, this is Sam. I’m calling to sell you something.”
Question 2:
Which of the following phrases helps build rapport during a sales call?
A. “I noticed from your LinkedIn profile that you’ve been with [company name] for [time period] – that’s impressive! How has your experience been so far?”
B. “I’m calling to sell you our Business English training programme.”
C. “What do you want to talk about today?”
D. “I don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to the point.”
Question 3:
How should you respond to a prospect’s concern about pricing?
A. “That’s the price, take it or leave it.”
B. “I understand your concern about the investment. Many of our clients initially felt the same way, but they found that the ROI (Return on Investment) exceeded their expectations within just three months as their teams closed more international deals.”
C. “I don’t think pricing should be a concern for you.”
D. “If you can’t afford it, maybe this isn’t the right programme for you.”
Question 4:
What is an effective way to close a sales call and guide the prospect towards the next steps?
A. “Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll call back later.”
B. “I’ll wait for you to get back to me when you’re ready.”
C. “Would it make sense to schedule a more detailed demonstration for you and your sales managers to see exactly how we improve English for sales calls?”
D. “I don’t have any next steps in mind right now.”
Check your answers at the bottom of this page!
How to Improve Spoken English for Work
Mastering these phrases is just the beginning of effective sales communication. To truly excel:
- Stay confident – Maintain professionalism even when facing objections
- Practice active listening – Focus completely on understanding the prospect’s needs
- Use positive language – Replace negative phrases with positive alternatives
- Develop empathy – Put yourself in the prospect’s position
FREE Resources to Support Your Learning
Grab our Ultimate 300 Business English Phrases for Communication in the Office ebook below. Visit our FREE Business English lessons page.
How to Sound Confident in English During Sales Calls
Making sales calls in English can be challenging, especially for non-native speakers. Here are a couple of questions to reflect on:
- What’s the most difficult part of sales calls in English for you?
- Which phrases or situations do you find most challenging to handle when trying to sound like a native English speaker?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share your experiences by connecting with us on LinkedIn or Facebook.
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Quiz Answers:
1-B, 2-A, 3-B, 4-C
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