The short answer
A gatekeeper script is a short set of lines for getting past a receptionist or executive assistant to the person you want to reach. The best ones are honest and brief: ask for the person by name, say plainly what the call is about in one specific sentence, and treat the gatekeeper as someone who can help you, not an obstacle.
On this page
- Know Which Gatekeeper You're Talking To
- Receptionist Gatekeeper Scripts
- Gatekeeper Script for "What Is This Regarding?"
- Gatekeeper Script for "Just Send Me an Email"
- Executive Assistant Scripts
- Routes Around the Front Desk (the Honest Ones)
- Prepping Gatekeeper Lines for Every Account
- Get a gatekeeper line for any account in three steps
- FAQ
Key takeaways
Gatekeepers are filters: Their job is protecting someone's time. Show them your call is worth it, and they'll often help you.
Never lie to get through: Fake familiarity or a made-up callback ruins trust with the gatekeeper and the buyer, and it follows you.
Answer 'regarding' specifically: One concrete sentence about the account's situation beats vague lines like 'a business matter'.
Assistants are stakeholders: Executive assistants shape their boss's calendar and priorities. Ask for their advice, and they can become an ally.
Know Which Gatekeeper You're Talking To
Not every gatekeeper filters the same way, so your script depends on who picked up. Figure that out in the first second, then use the matching approach.
| Gatekeeper | What they protect | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Receptionist or front desk | The whole company's time | Your name, a specific reason and a request for help routing |
| Executive assistant | One executive's calendar and priorities | Treating them as a stakeholder, with a clear reason |
| Phone menu or dial-by-name | Nothing, it's automated | The dial-by-name directory, or the sales line |
| A colleague who answers | Their teammate's focus | Honesty, and asking for the best time or channel |
Gatekeepers are filters, not enemies. They pass through calls that seem relevant and block calls that seem like noise. Your job is to sound relevant, because your call should be.
Receptionist Gatekeeper Scripts
Front desks route a lot of calls. Make yours easy to route: your name, your company, the person, done.
1. When you know the name
Hi, it's [You] from [Company]. Could you put me through to
[First name Last name], please?
Say it like you expect to be connected, without pretending you know them. Calm and direct beats chatty.
2. When you don't know the name
Hi, I'm hoping you can help me. I'm trying to reach whoever
handles [area: freight pricing]. Who would that be?
Asking for help works. People like being useful, and you've told them exactly what you need.
3. When you might have the wrong department
I may have the wrong person. Who on your team would know
the most about [process]?
Gatekeeper Script for "What Is This Regarding?"
This question decides most front-desk calls. A vague answer sounds like a sales call trying to hide, while a specific one sounds worth passing on. Do five minutes of prospect research first so you have something specific to say.
| Vague (gets screened) | Specific (gets passed on) |
|---|---|
| "It's a business matter." | "It's about quote turnaround on your new Denver lanes." |
| "I'm following up." (when you aren't) | "I emailed [Name] on Tuesday about [topic]." (only if true) |
| "It's personal." | Never use this. |
| "We help companies grow revenue." | "It's about the three pricing roles you're hiring for." |
4. The specific-reason answer
It's about [specific: how your team handles spot quotes now that
you've added the Denver lanes]. I have one short question for [Name] on it.
Then stop talking. Let them decide. If [Name] isn't available, move to the email or assistant routes below.
5. When they ask "Is [Name] expecting your call?"
No, they're not. I'm calling because [specific reason], and I'd
rather ask [Name] directly than guess. Is there a good time to try?
Honesty here is disarming. Most callers dodge the question, and the gatekeeper knows it.
When you get put through
Don't waste the transfer by starting from zero. Tell the buyer, truthfully, how you got to them, then give the same reason you gave the front desk.
Hi [Name], [You] at [Company]. [Gatekeeper's name] at the front desk
put me through. I'm calling about [the same specific reason].
Do you have a moment for one question on it?
The reason should match word for word. If the front desk heard "Denver lanes" and the buyer hears a generic pitch, you've lost both of them.
Gatekeeper Script for "Just Send Me an Email"
When the gatekeeper asks for an email, treat it as a route, not a dead end. Ask for the details that make the email land.
6. Turn the email into a warm handoff
Of course. So it goes to the right place, is [Name]'s email
[first.last@company.com], or is there a better address?
And is there anything I should include so it actually gets read?
Send it within the hour and mention the gatekeeper if they helped: "Jordan at your front desk suggested I write." Then call back two or three days later and reference the email.
Executive Assistant Scripts
Executive assistants aren't just filters. They run their executive's calendar and often know their priorities better than anyone, so treat them as a stakeholder and ask for their judgment. For the executive conversation itself, see the executive script in our B2B cold call guide.
7. Ask for their advice
Hi [EA name], I'm [You] at [Company]. I'd like 15 minutes with
[Executive] about [specific topic]. You know their priorities better
than anyone, so I'd value your take: is this worth their time,
and if so, what's the best way to get on their calendar?
8. Book through them
Would it be easier if I sent you two times and a one-paragraph
summary you could pass along?
Remember their name and use it next time. The assistant you were courteous to is the one who decides whether your summary reaches the executive.
Routes Around the Front Desk (the Honest Ones)
Sometimes the respectful move is to avoid the front desk entirely. None of these involve deception.
- Ask for a direct line. Line 9: "Is there a direct number for [Name], or is it best to come through you?"
- Call another department. Sales and customer success teams often pick up and can tell you who owns what. Line 10: "I'm trying to reach whoever owns [area]. I'm not a customer, I just want to call the right person." Be upfront.
- Try early or late. Some decision-makers answer their own phones before the front desk opens or after it closes.
- Warm up another channel. A connection request or a LinkedIn cold message first means your name isn't new when you call.
- Leave a voicemail. If you reach the line, a short sales voicemail script with one reason beats hanging up.
Never pretext. Don't claim to be a customer, a friend or returning a call you never got. It might work once, and then it burns the account for good.
Prepping Gatekeeper Lines for Every Account
The "regarding" answer is where gatekeeper calls are won, and it has to be specific to the account. That takes the same research your cold call script needs.
Write the gatekeeper line with the opener. If you know why you're calling the buyer, you know what to tell the front desk. It's the same reason, said shorter.
The Edithly cold call script generator includes a gatekeeper line in every script it writes, along with the opener, objection replies and voicemail, all built from the prospect's website.
How Edithly does it
Get a gatekeeper line for any account in three steps
Every Edithly cold call script includes a gatekeeper line written for that account, alongside the opener, discovery questions, objection replies and voicemail.
- 1
Click the Cold Call Script tile
Open Home and pick Cold Call Script. Your pitch, proof points and positioning are already in your playbook, pulled from your website when you added your product.
- 2
Paste the prospect's website
Enter the company name and website. Optionally add the contact's name and LinkedIn, a note on the angle you want and a tone.
- 3
Click Generate cold call script
Copy the gatekeeper line for the front desk, then the opener and questions for when you're put through. The voicemail is there if you reach the beep.
Website
Ready
- Opener
- Permission ask
- Discovery questions
- Objections
- Voicemail
- Gatekeeper
- By hand
- 10 to 20 minutes per account to research and write the lines
- With Edithly
- A couple of minutes per account
Frequently asked questions
How do you get past a gatekeeper on a cold call?
Be polite, brief and specific. Ask for the person by name, and if asked what the call is about, give one honest sentence tied to their business. If you're blocked, ask the gatekeeper for advice on the best way to reach the person, or who else owns the topic. Never invent a relationship or a callback.
What do you say when a gatekeeper asks what the call is regarding?
Give a specific, honest answer in one sentence, such as: 'It's about how your team handles spot quotes now that you've opened the Denver lanes.' Vague answers like 'a business matter' sound like a sales call trying to hide. Specific ones sound like a call worth passing on, and they help the gatekeeper route you.
Is it okay to lie to a gatekeeper?
No. Claiming to be a friend, a customer or returning a call you never received might work once, but the buyer finds out and the gatekeeper remembers. It also puts your company's reputation at risk. Honest, specific reasons work better across a whole account, especially when you'll be calling back several times.
What if the gatekeeper says to send an email?
Agree, and ask for help making it useful: 'Happy to. Who should it go to, and is there anything I should include so it gets read?' Send it within the hour, mention the gatekeeper by name if they helped, and follow up by phone a few days later referencing the email.
Does Edithly write gatekeeper scripts?
Yes. Each cold call script Edithly generates includes a gatekeeper line for that account, built from the prospect's website and your playbook, plus the opener, discovery questions, objection replies and a voicemail. It doesn't provide phone numbers or direct dials, so pair it with your contact data tool.