Cold Calling
Goal: Book a 20-30 min demo with qualified prospects.
Call Structure
Target: Keep the call under 5 minutes. The goal is to book a meeting, not close a deal.
Before You Call
Complete the Pre-Call Research Checklist for every prospect. You need:
- Qualification score (GREEN/YELLOW/RED)
- Hook selection (which personalized observation to use)
- Basic context (active ads, SKU count, creative types)
Never call without completing the research checklist. A personalized opening is 3x more effective than a generic pitch.
Scripts by Industry
- Fashion Brands
- Fashion Marketplaces
- Automotive OEMs
- Car Renting
1. Pattern Interrupt + Permission (20 sec)
Goal: Don't sound like every other sales call. Get permission to continue.
"Hi [Name], this is [Your name] from Dreamshot. I know I'm calling out of the blue - do you have 30 seconds for me to explain why, and you can tell me if it's worth continuing?"
Why this works:
- Acknowledges the cold call (honesty = trust)
- Asks for micro-commitment (30 seconds)
- Gives them control (they can say no)
- Once they say yes to 30 sec, more likely to continue
2. Personalized Observation (30 sec)
Pick the hook based on your pre-call research.
Hook 1: Ad Fatigue Signal
Use when: Few unique creatives, ads running 30+ days
"I was looking at your ads in the Meta library. You have [X] ads running, but I noticed [most/all] of them have been live for over [Y] weeks with similar creative. That's interesting because Meta's own research shows engagement drops 50% after 7 impressions on the same image. I'm curious - are you seeing your ad performance decline?"
Hook 2: Content Volume Gap
Use when: Many SKUs, few ad creatives
"I was looking at your product pages and your ad library. You have [X] SKUs on your website, but only [Y] unique creatives running in ads. That gap usually means the production team can't keep up with what marketing needs. Is that something you're running into?"
Hook 3: Professional Quality, Limited Variety
Use when: Pro photos, same shots repeated across ads
"Your product photography looks really professional - clearly you've invested in quality. But I noticed you're running the same hero shots across most of your ads. Usually that means the photoshoots are expensive and you can't afford to keep refreshing. Am I reading that right?"
Hook 4: No Lifestyle Shots
Use when: Product-only photos, no models or context
"I noticed your ads are mostly product-only shots on white backgrounds. Those work for ecommerce, but for ads you're competing with lifestyle content that tells a story. Is getting more lifestyle imagery something that's been on your radar?"
Quick Reference
| If Research Shows | Use Hook |
|---|---|
| Few unique creatives + old ads | Hook 1 (Ad Fatigue) |
| Many SKUs + few ad creatives | Hook 2 (Volume Gap) |
| Pro photos + same shots repeated | Hook 3 (Quality/Variety) |
| Product-only, no lifestyle/models | Hook 4 (No Lifestyle) |
3. SPIN Questions (2 min)
Once they engage with your observation, dig deeper:
Situation (understand their world)
- "How are you currently handling product photography?"
- "How many new creatives does your team produce per week/month?"
- "Who manages your ad creative production - in-house or agency?"
Problem (uncover pain)
- "What happens when you need fresh creative and the team is at capacity?"
- "How long does it typically take from brief to approved final asset?"
- "Are you seeing any drop in ROAS on campaigns that have been running for a while?"
Implication (make pain bigger)
- "When your ads fatigue and you don't have fresh creative ready, what does that cost you in spend efficiency?"
- "If your production cycle is [X weeks], how many opportunities are you missing to test new angles?"
- "What's the impact on your team when marketing is waiting on assets?"
Need-Payoff (let them imagine solution)
- "If you could refresh creative in hours instead of weeks, what would that mean for your campaigns?"
- "What if you could test 50 variations instead of 5 - how would that change your optimization process?"
- "If production was never the bottleneck, what would you do differently?"
4. Value Bridge (1 min)
Once they've expressed pain, connect it to proof:
Ad Fatigue → Engagement Proof
"That's exactly what D.Franklin was dealing with. They were stuck running the same product shots and seeing diminishing returns. When they started refreshing creative through Dreamshot, they could test dozens of variations instead of 3-4. More data, faster learnings, better ROAS."
Production Speed → Hours Not Weeks
"That timeline is pretty common. Ecoalf was in the same boat - weeks to get new assets ready for a campaign. Now they generate new product visuals in hours. They went from producing maybe 10 variations per campaign to hundreds, all for the same budget."
Cost → 500x Content
"The unit economics are completely different now. Traditional photoshoots cost hundreds per image. We produce at cents. That means you can create 500x more content for the same budget - and actually test what works instead of guessing."
Seasonal Pressure → Speed
"Fashion moves fast - by the time your photoshoot is done, the season's half over. D.Franklin now launches with full creative sets on day one. They brief us, and 48 hours later they have everything they need for the campaign."
Quality Concern → Brand Proof
"I get the quality concern - it's the first thing everyone asks. But Ecoalf and D.Franklin are running live campaigns through us right now. These are brands that care deeply about aesthetic. Happy to show you exactly what that looks like with your products."
No Lifestyle → Variety
"Model shoots are expensive and you get what you shot - one set of poses, one location. With Dreamshot, D.Franklin generates the same product in 20 different contexts - beach, urban, studio - without booking a single model or location. That's the variety Meta's algorithm needs."
5. Book the Meeting (30 sec)
Standard Close
"Based on what you've shared, I think it'd be worth 20 minutes to show you what Dreamshot looks like with your actual products. Would [day] or [day] work better?"
Soft Close (if hesitant)
"Tell you what - I can send a 2-minute video showing how this works, and if it looks relevant, we can find 15 minutes next week. Fair?"
Micro-Commitment Close (if very hesitant)
"Would it be helpful if I pulled together a quick analysis of your current ad creative situation - how many variations you're running, estimated fatigue timeline - and sent that over? No pitch, just data. Then you can decide if it's worth a conversation."
Opening Hook
"Hey [Name], this is [Your name] from Dreamshot. Quick question - how do you currently handle the content that brands send you? Is quality consistency an issue?"
"We help marketplaces like [reference] standardize and enhance product imagery at scale - same look, every listing."
Pain Points to Probe
- "How satisfied are you with the content brands send you?"
- "Do you have to reshoot or edit photos that don't meet your standards?"
- "How many new products do you add to your catalog per month?"
- "What happens when a brand's content doesn't match your website aesthetic?"
Value Props
| Pain Point | Value Prop |
|---|---|
| Inconsistent brand content | "We standardize every listing to your visual guidelines" |
| Manual editing overhead | "Automate background removal, styling, and format adaptation" |
| Slow onboarding of new SKUs | "New products go live in hours, not days" |
| Poor conversion on certain listings | "Optimized visuals can lift conversion by 15-25%" |
Booking the Meeting
"Would it be helpful to see how we can transform inconsistent brand photos into your marketplace standard automatically? Got 20 minutes this week?"
Opening Hook
"Hey [Name], this is [Your name] from Dreamshot. We work with KIA and Toyota on AI-generated vehicle imagery - have you heard about what they're doing?"
"We help automotive brands create configurator images and marketing assets without physical photoshoots. Every color, every trim, every angle."
Pain Points to Probe
- "How do you currently handle vehicle configurator imagery?"
- "How many photoshoots per model launch?"
- "What's the lead time for marketing assets when a new model drops?"
- "Do you create different visuals for different markets?"
Value Props
| Pain Point | Value Prop |
|---|---|
| High photoshoot costs per model | "Generate every color/trim combination without shooting each one" |
| Long asset lead times | "Marketing assets ready weeks before vehicle availability" |
| Limited configurator options | "Complete visual coverage for every configuration" |
| Multi-market adaptation | "Localize backgrounds and settings for each region automatically" |
Booking the Meeting
"KIA saw 3x engagement lift with AI-generated lifestyle imagery. Would 20 minutes be worth it to see what this could look like for [their brand]?"
Opening Hook
"Hey [Name], this is [Your name] from Dreamshot. We work with OK Mobility on their fleet imagery - are you familiar with what they're doing?"
"We help rental companies create consistent, professional fleet images at scale - no more inconsistent dealer photos."
Pain Points to Probe
- "How do you handle photography for new vehicles entering your fleet?"
- "Do you struggle with inconsistent image quality across locations?"
- "How quickly can you get a new vehicle listed with professional photos?"
- "Are you running paid ads for your fleet? What's working?"
Value Props
| Pain Point | Value Prop |
|---|---|
| Inconsistent photos from locations | "One consistent look across your entire fleet" |
| Slow time-to-list new vehicles | "New vehicles listed with pro photos in hours" |
| High per-vehicle photo costs | "Fraction of traditional photography cost" |
| Generic stock imagery | "Your actual fleet, in aspirational settings" |
Booking the Meeting
"OK Mobility standardized their entire fleet presentation with us. Worth 20 minutes to see if there's a fit?"
Objection Handling
Cold Call Objections
These come up before you've built rapport. Handle them quickly:
"Send me an email"
"Happy to. Quick question so I send the right thing - are you more focused on reducing production costs, or speeding up how fast you can test new creative?"
If they answer, they're engaged - continue the conversation
"Not interested"
"Totally fair. Just curious - is that because ad creative isn't a priority right now, or because you're already happy with your production setup?"
If they say they're happy, probe: "Nice - are you using AI already or traditional production?"
"We use [Midjourney/DALL-E/etc]"
"Nice, those tools are great for exploration. Quick question - are you generating sellable product shots with them, or more conceptual stuff? The reason I ask is enterprise brands like Toyota need pixel-perfect product accuracy, which is where general AI tools usually fall short."
"We already have an agency"
"Makes sense. How long does it typically take them to turn around a new set of creatives? Curious because most agencies we talk to are still on 2-3 week cycles, and the brands we work with needed something faster."
"Now's not a good time"
"Understood. When would be better - next month, next quarter? And is there a specific event like a campaign launch or season that drives your creative needs?"
Discovery Objections
These come up once you've started the conversation:
"AI doesn't meet our quality standards"
"That's the most common concern we hear - and honestly, it was valid 18 months ago. Mind if I show you some outputs from this month? I'd be curious if you can spot which are AI vs. traditional photography."
If they're skeptical:
"Here's what we do: we train the model specifically on your brand guidelines, products, and aesthetic. The output isn't generic AI - it's your brand, generated at scale. Would it help to see a proof-of-concept with your actual products?"
"How long will this take? We're already maxed out"
"Totally get it - that's actually why most teams come to us. Quick question: how much time does your team currently spend coordinating photoshoots, briefing agencies, or waiting for assets?"
If they share the pain:
"That's exactly the problem we solve. After a 2-hour onboarding session, you can generate new product visuals in minutes, not weeks. The ROI isn't just cost - it's getting your team's time back. Would a 15-minute demo be worth it to see if this could actually reduce your workload?"
"I need to check with my team / the CEO"
"Of course - these decisions rarely happen alone. Who else would need to weigh in on this?"
Once they share:
"Got it. What usually matters most to [that stakeholder] - cost savings, speed, or brand consistency?"
Offer to help:
"Happy to jump on a quick call with everyone, or I can send you a one-pager that addresses [their priority] specifically. What would be most helpful?"
"What's the difference vs. other tools?"
"Great question. The general tools are impressive for creative exploration, but they're not built for commerce. With Dreamshot, you get three things they can't offer:"
The differentiators:
"One: product accuracy - we train on your actual SKUs so the output is sellable, not just pretty. Two: brand consistency - every image follows your guidelines automatically. Three: enterprise workflow - bulk generation, approval flows, and direct export to your channels. Would it help to see a side-by-side comparison?"
Key Phrases to Practice
- "I know I'm calling out of the blue..."
- "I was looking at your [ads/website] and noticed..."
- "Is that something you're running into?"
- "Am I reading that right?"
- "What happens when..."
- "Based on what you've shared..."
- "Would [day] or [day] work better?"
What NOT to Say
- Don't trash competitors by name
- Don't promise specific results without data
- Don't offer free work (proofs-of-concept, free images) on cold calls
- Don't keep pushing after 2 clear rejections - thank them and move on
- Don't say "I'm just following up" - always have a reason
Post-Call Checklist
- Log call notes in HubSpot immediately
- Update research tracker with outcome
- If meeting booked → Send calendar invite with brief agenda
- If "send email" → Send personalized email with relevant case study
- If callback agreed → Create follow-up task for specific date
- If disqualified → Mark reason in HubSpot for future analysis
Example Scripts
Example 1: Fashion Brand - Ad Fatigue
Context: Marketing Director at mid-size fashion brand. Research shows 12 ads running, same creatives for 6+ weeks.
BDR: Hi María, this is Javi from Dreamshot. I know I'm calling out of the blue - do you have 30 seconds for me to explain why, and you can tell me if it's worth continuing?
Prospect: Okay, go ahead.
BDR: I was looking at your ads in the Meta library. You have 12 ads running, but I noticed all of them have been live for over 6 weeks with the same creative. Meta's own research shows engagement drops 50% after 7 impressions on the same image. Are you seeing your ad performance decline?
Prospect: Yeah, actually. Our ROAS has been dropping and we've been trying to figure out why.
BDR: How many new creatives does your team produce per month?
Prospect: Maybe 5-10? Our designer is stretched thin.
BDR: What happens when you need fresh creative and the team is at capacity?
Prospect: Honestly, we just keep running what we have. Or we wait.
BDR: That's exactly what D.Franklin was dealing with. They were stuck running the same product shots and seeing diminishing returns. When they started refreshing creative through Dreamshot, they could test dozens of variations instead of 3-4. More data, faster learnings, better ROAS.
Prospect: How does that work exactly?
BDR: Based on what you've shared, I think it'd be worth 20 minutes to show you what Dreamshot looks like with your actual products. Would Thursday or Friday work better?
Prospect: Thursday afternoon works.
BDR: Perfect, I'll send the invite now. Talk soon.
Example 2: Fashion Brand - Volume Gap + Objection
Context: Ecommerce Manager at growing fashion brand. 200+ SKUs, only 15 unique ad creatives.
BDR: Hi Carlos, this is Javi from Dreamshot. I know I'm calling out of the blue - do you have 30 seconds for me to explain why?
Prospect: I'm actually pretty busy right now.
BDR: Totally fair. Just curious - is ad creative something that's a priority for you right now, or are you focused on other things?
Prospect: Creative is always a bottleneck, but I don't have time for another tool demo.
BDR: I get it. Quick question - I was looking at your product pages and ad library. You have over 200 SKUs but only about 15 unique creatives running. Is the production team struggling to keep up?
Prospect: Yeah, that's putting it mildly. We can't shoot fast enough.
BDR: How long does it typically take from brief to approved final asset?
Prospect: Weeks. Sometimes a month if we need a full shoot.
BDR: Ecoalf was in the same boat - weeks to get new assets ready. Now they generate new product visuals in hours. They went from producing 10 variations per campaign to hundreds.
Prospect: Sounds interesting but I need to check with our Creative Director.
BDR: Of course. What usually matters most to them - cost savings, speed, or brand consistency?
Prospect: Speed, definitely. We're always waiting on assets.
BDR: Happy to jump on a quick call with both of you, or I can send a one-pager focused on speed specifically. What would be most helpful?
Prospect: Send the one-pager first. If it looks good, I'll loop in Ana.
BDR: Perfect. What's the best email?
Example 3: Fashion Brand - "Send me an email" Recovery
Context: Head of Digital at fashion brand. Research shows professional photos but limited variety.
BDR: Hi Laura, this is Javi from Dreamshot. I know I'm calling out of the blue - do you have 30 seconds?
Prospect: Can you just send me an email?
BDR: Happy to. Quick question so I send the right thing - are you more focused on reducing production costs, or speeding up how fast you can test new creative?
Prospect: Speed. We're always behind on content.
BDR: Got it. I noticed your product photography looks really professional - clearly you've invested in quality. But you're running the same hero shots across most ads. Are the photoshoots too expensive to refresh often?
Prospect: Yeah, each shoot costs us a fortune. We can't afford to do them more than twice a year.
BDR: That's what I figured. D.Franklin was in the same situation - great quality, but limited variety. Now they generate the same product in 20 different contexts without booking a single model or location. That's the variety Meta's algorithm needs.
Prospect: How does the quality compare to real photography?
BDR: That's the first thing everyone asks. Ecoalf and D.Franklin are running live campaigns through us right now - brands that care deeply about aesthetic. Happy to show you exactly what that looks like with your products. Would 20 minutes next week work?
Prospect: Fine, Tuesday morning.
BDR: Done. I'll send the invite. Thanks Laura.
Signature meaning
The signatures for the approval process of this document can be found in the verified commits at the repository for the QMS. As a reference, the team members who are expected to participate in this document and their roles in the approval process, as defined in Annex I Responsibility Matrix of the GP-001, are:
- Author: Team members involved
- Reviewer: JD-003, JD-004
- Approver: JD-001