When a prospect goes silent on your primary channels (email, work phone), they may be subconsciously filtering you out. Break this pattern by using a novel channel like WhatsApp or a different phone number. This can bypass their filters and elicit a response.
Using phone, email, and social isn't merely about finding a channel that works; it's about becoming a known person. When a prospect has heard your voice on a voicemail and seen your face on LinkedIn, you are no longer an anonymous bot. This human connection dramatically increases the likelihood of a response, even if it's a polite 'no'.
A study of 300 million cold calls found that asking for permission to speak (e.g., "Got a minute for me to share why I'm calling?") is ten times more effective than standard pleasantries. This approach allows the prospect to consciously opt-in to the conversation.
The common practice of having a fixed daily 'call block' (e.g., 9-10 AM) is fundamentally flawed. If your target prospect has a recurring meeting at that same time, you will never reach them. Effective prospecting requires dynamism; you must vary your outreach times throughout the week to maximize your chances of connecting.
When a prospect doesn't respond, don't default to thinking they're ignoring you. Instead, assume they are extremely busy and your message was lost in the noise. This mindset encourages persistent, multi-channel follow-up rather than premature disqualification.
Reframe voicemails not as a request for a callback, but as a strategic preview for your next action, like an email or text. This guides the prospect to an easier response channel and makes the multi-touch sequence feel more cohesive and intentional.
Prospects rarely return calls from voicemails. The goal is to increase email reply rates. Leave a voicemail referencing your context, state you're sending an email to avoid phone tag, and ask them to reply there. This leverages one channel to boost another.
Stop measuring voicemail success by callbacks. Data suggests leaving a voicemail increases future pickup rates by over 25%. Furthermore, pointing the voicemail to an email you sent can triple the reply rate to that email, making it a powerful tool for multichannel prospecting.
Stop asking for callbacks in voicemails. Instead, use the voicemail as a brief 'bumper' to direct the prospect to a specific email you just sent. This tactic can triple email reply rates in a sequence by creating a multi-channel prompt for a higher-leverage channel.
Instead of a direct "just following up" message, tag your prospect in a relevant industry post on LinkedIn. This provides value, gives them visibility, and serves as a subtle reminder, positioning you as a helpful resource rather than a persistent seller.
AI outbound tools pull from the same databases, hitting the same people with similar messages. To stand out, go fully manual. Research individuals, send unique, short messages, and target people not in common databases. This "back door" approach is more effective for high-value deals.