If you are frustrated by being rejected over and over again because of cold calling, you’re not alone. Many sales reps and sales teams experience the same challenge.
In fact, studies show that cold calling only has a 2.3% success rate in 2025, compared to 4.8% in 2024.
This shows that prospects are probably becoming more phone phobic.
If you are looking for new strategies that actually work, keep reading.
In this article, we will share how to generate leads without having to cold call a single prospect.
(If you’re looking to work with a lead generation agency where you can expect 1 lead per day, hop on a free 15–minute strategy session with the CEO of SalesBread, Jack Reamer.)
Why is cold calling less effective?
Cold calling isn’t dead per se. But times have changed, technology has caught up, and there are many other ways in which prospects prefer to be contacted.
Yes, cold calling still works, especially in specific industries such as construction.
So, think about how your ideal clients would like to be contacted? Cold calling will work for phone-heavy industries like construction, but it might not work for Doctors who don’t want to be disturbed via a phone call because they are busy with patients most of the day.
Besides this, you might need to call 100 people to just get one person to agree to an appointment.
Other stats show that 9 out of 10 decision makers won’t even answer a phone call if they know it’s a cold call.
This is why marketers and sales teams have had to switch gears and look for more effective ways to reach out to potential customers.
1. LinkedIn outreach
If you have been reading our content, you will know that at SalesBread, we specialize in LinkedIn outreach.
We have been in the business of lead generation for over a decade and have found that LinkedIn has the best success rate, compared to other forms of outreach.
We are seeing the following LinkedIn stats at SalesBread:
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45 % Connection request acceptance rate
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48.14% Positive Reply Ratio (These replies were either meeting requests or qualified sales inquiries on their product or service.)
(Compare this to cold email, where ~ 50% of cold email campaigns have a reply rate of under 10%.)
Our clients also know that when they work with us, they can expect 1 lead per day.
So, if you haven’t tried LinkedIn as a cold calling alternative, it’s time to try it out.
(If you would like some more info on how to do this, you could read our blogs, check out our YouTube channel, or hop on a free 15-minute strategy session.)
Our LinkedIn lead generation strategy
Step 1: Optimize your LinkedIn profile
Imagine your LinkedIn profile as your first point of contact with your prospects. If you send them a message, they will most probably check out your LinkedIn profile.
If your profile is unprofessional, or doesn’t explain your offer, or how to reach out to you easily, prospects might not reply to your messages.
This is why it’s important to make sure your LinkedIn profile is professional before you begin with your outreach campaigns.
Some tips:
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Make sure your profile picture is a recent photo and takes up 60% of the frame. (Don’t use random selfies.)
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Wear what you would wear to work in the photo.
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Make sure that your LinkedIn banner doesn’t distract from your face.
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Let your about page read like a sales page and not a resume.
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Ensure that you describe your offer plainly, so that it’s easy for prospects to know exactly what you do.
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Make it easy for prospects to contact you.
Step 2: Build an ultra-refined list of prospects
Next, you want to build a super refined list of prospects based on your current buyers’ data. In order to do this, look for patterns between your buyers.
For example:
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Are your buyers in the same industry?
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Do they use the same CRM tools?
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Are they all using social media for marketing?
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How big are these companies? (100 + employees or less than 10?)
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If they are in health and wellness, which specific division are they in? Fitness? Hospitals? Physiotherapy?
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Have they recently been funded?
When you start seeing patterns, it’s easier to build look-alike lists of your ideal target audience.
For more details on how to build ultra-refined lists, read this article: B2B List Building – How to Build an Ultra Refined List
Step 3: Write personalized outreach messages
If you want a high reply rate, you’re going to have to personalize your messages. This doesn’t mean just adding a first name and company name, or spitting out some AI-generated copy.
You’re going to have to research each prospect on your list and find something specific to mention about them in your copy.
For example, if you noticed they have been promoted, you could congratulate them on it. Or if you know that they might have a specific pain point, you could ask them how they are dealing with it.
We call this approach CCQ.
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Compliment
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Commonality
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Questions
Step 4: follow up
You then need to follow up with your prospects. We prefer using the Fibonacci sequence. How does it work?
The Fibonacci Sequence is the series of numbers:
So you can then use this sequence for LinkedIn cadence.
You start by sending your messages quite close together. You would send a message on day 1, day 2, day 3, and then on day 5, 8, 13, and so on.
This helps in the sense that initially, your messages are frequent, but then they slow down over time.
You will have the benefit of expanding your campaign over time so that you can reach your prospects at the right time for them.
Step 5: Use a clear CTA
Having a clear low-commitment CTA can also make all the difference in your campaigns. We always ask for a booked call. But we make it as easy as possible for prospects to say yes.
Here are some CTAs you can use:
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Are you available for a chat?
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How is your availability for a 10 min call this week?
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I’d love to share more on why you may need [PRODUCT] and how it can help [BENEFIT]. How’s {{=day}} next week look for a 15-minute call?
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Are you free for a call this Friday to discuss [MAIN BENEFIT]?
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Are you available for a quick call in the next days to see if [MY PRODUCT] aligns with your goals?
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When are you free to connect this week? You can use this link to book directly on my calendar
If you’re interested in trying this method, hop on a free 15-minute strategy session with me.
Here are some case studies if you’re interested in seeing more detailed information on how our campaigns work:
IT Lead Generation Case Study – 294 Leads Generated, 41% Average Reply Rate
Fintech Lead Generation Strategy – 118 leads in 8 Weeks
LocalEyes Case Study – 78 Qualified Leads in 60 Days.
2. Create referral campaigns
We have seen referral campaigns work, but you need to know exactly which professionals are:
A.) Already working with and have earned the trust of clients you would like to target.
B.) Motivated to refer business to you.
What does this mean?
It means that they should not be competing with you for sales prospects. This also means that they should be selling a “sister” service to your own.
For example, for people who buy peanut butter, a sister product would be jelly.
Think about people who buy web design services; a sister service would be SEO to get that website visible.
Your job is to think back to who has given you referrals in the past, or think about which professionals offer sister services or products to you.
You would then want to reach out to these companies and be transparent.
For example, you could say: “We work with these kinds of clients, doing this particular service…
I’d like to connect regarding a partnership with you and queue up a call right away.”
Sometimes, it also makes sense to read your referrals with money. If this is the case, be transparent and tell them that you’re interested in financially compensating them.
3. Try podcasting
Podcasts are a great way to generate more sales leads. You could either be interviewed on podcasts or start your own podcast and invite your ideal clients as guests on your show.
All you have to do is come up with a mutually interesting topic; In that way, you can have a lot of conversations with people that you want to work with.
The initial podcast invitation often opens the door to building relationships with your ideal clients.
It’s like a warm intro without the awkward sales pitch. You’re offering them value and a chance to share their story or expertise.
Plus, you’re also building your authority at the same time. Listeners who tune in consistently begin to see you as a go-to expert in your niche.
So not only are you creating connections one-on-one, you’re also attracting inbound leads who already trust you because they’ve heard your voice, your insights, your personality.
It’s kind of like networking at scale, with a mic.
We often get leads from podcasts or get asked to be on podcasts. This is a great way to build authority and your audience.
4. Publish a book
When you write a book, especially one that speaks directly to the challenges your ideal client faces, you position yourself as the expert.
You’re not just telling people you know your stuff… you’re showing them. And when people read your book and see that you understand their pain points and have real solutions?
That builds trust fast.
It also gives you an easy reason to reach out to leads. “Hey, I thought you might enjoy this. Here’s a copy of my book.”
And it works the other way too, people who read your book and resonate with your message often reach out to you.
Whether it’s podcast hosts, LinkedIn connections, event organizers, or potential clients, your book starts conversations with people.
These potential buyers are interested, they’re warmed up, and they already view you as someone who can help.
So really, a book isn’t just a book, it’s a lead magnet, a credibility builder, and a networking tool all wrapped into one.
5. Social media marketing
Social media marketing can be highly effective for many businesses.
When you consistently share helpful, valuable content that addresses your audience’s pain points, you position yourself as an authority in your field.
As a result, people are more likely to trust you and reach out when they need your help.
For example, there are many psychologists who use Instagram to share their expertise. They then offer courses, webinars, or even sessions to help their audience.
You could also use LinkedIn social media marketing for B2B lead generation.
Many agencies share their expertise, insights, and opinions. When your audience is constantly seeing your content, they will view you as the go-to expert and reach out to you.
Social media marketing does take time, though. It can be hard to stand out, but if you post consistently and offer value, prospects will constantly see your brand.
Many marketers have also found that the longer they stay consistent with their social media efforts, typically over a year, the better their results.
That consistent activity not only drives more traffic to their websites or offers, but also increases the chances of converting that traffic into actual leads.
Stats show that 53% of marketers use social media to drive results. Recent findings show that over half of marketers, around 53%, are now using social media as a lead generation tool.
Among all the platforms out there, LinkedIn and Facebook stand out as the top performers when it comes to attracting quality leads.
6. Email marketing
Email marketing is still a great way to generate leads, and it’s not just because everyone checks their inbox daily.
When someone joins your email list, they’re giving you permission to speak directly to them.
That’s a big deal.
It means you can build a relationship over time, share valuable content, and gently guide them toward your offer without being pushy.
Plus, with the right segmentation and personalization, your emails can feel like one-on-one conversations, exactly what makes someone more likely to trust you and eventually buy from you.
Besides this, sometimes prospects aren’t ready to buy your product just yet. A timely email can keep your product and services at the top of their minds.
We actually once had a prospect who wasn’t ready to take on our done for you lead generation services just yet, but a year down the line, they saw our email and remembered our services. Guess what? They signed up.
Remember to offer value and not spam prospects. If your emails are helpful, people won’t just unsubscribe.
7. Content marketing for more sales leads
Content marketing is incredibly effective for lead generation, with 74% of marketers say content marketing is really effective for generating leads, according to HubSpot.
We have personally seen this at SalesBread, too, with most of our leads coming in from content marketing and recently AI overviews and ChatGPT.
So if you’re looking for more leads, you might want to invest in content marketing and SEO. Yes, it takes time, but if you have a solid strategy in place, you will see a return on investment.
When you create helpful, relevant content, like blog posts, guides, or videos, that’s optimized for SEO, you increase your chances of showing up when your ideal clients are searching for solutions.
And now, with tools like Google’s AI overviews highlighting quick answers from high-quality sources, your content has an even greater chance of being seen.
The key is to create content that not only ranks well, but also builds trust.
So when someone lands on your site, they see you as the expert and are more likely to take that next step, whether it’s signing up, booking a call, or downloading a resource.
8. Webinars
Clearscope is really good at providing helpful webinars for inbound marketers and SEOs alike.
They have an entire page dedicated to webinars for their audience.
Webinars give people a reason to opt in.
Why?
Because these leads are showing up for something valuable.
Whether it’s a live training, a workshop, or a behind-the-scenes demo, webinars let you showcase your expertise in real time and engage directly with your audience.
People sign up with their name and email, which means you’ve already captured a warm lead.
Plus, during the webinar, you’re building trust by teaching and not selling, which makes your eventual offer feel like a natural next step.
And the best part? You can repurpose the webinar as evergreen content to keep bringing in leads long after it’s over.
You can even offer live Q&A sessions, which allows prospects the opportunity to ask you specific questions.
9. Content syndication
Content syndication is a smart way to get your best content in front of a larger, more targeted audience, without having to start from scratch.
Instead of only relying on just your blog or website, you share your content on high-traffic platforms (like Medium) or with media partners where your ideal customers already hang out.
You could also write guest posts for these sites, and repurpose your content for social media platforms or even for podcasts.
This will drive more visibility, clicks, and ultimately, more leads.
And since many syndication platforms offer lead capture forms or gated content options, you can collect contact details from people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say.
HubSpot goes into more detail on how to do this here.
10. Inbound marketing
Image from: huify.com
Inbound marketing flips the traditional sales approach on its head.
Instead of chasing down leads, you’re attracting them by offering value, whether through your blogs, videos, SEO, or social media.
It’s about creating content that speaks to your ideal customer’s needs, and this, in turn, lets them come to you.
And because these leads have already shown interest by engaging with your content, they’re usually warmer and easier to convert compared to cold outreach.
By using a mix of inbound and outbound, you will find more valuable leads.
11. Social selling
Social selling is all about building real relationships on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or even Facebook.
Instead of pitching right away, you focus on connecting, engaging, and adding value. You can do this by commenting on posts, sharing helpful insights, or sending thoughtful messages.
Over time, this builds trust and positions you as someone who actually understands your prospects.
And once there’s a relationship, it becomes a lot easier (and more natural) to introduce your solution or offer. It’s like networking but just more intentional and less pushy.
12. Sponsoring someone’s newsletter
Sponsoring a newsletter is a clever way to get in front of a highly targeted audience without having to build one from the bottom up.
Think about it…
When someone subscribes to a niche newsletter, it means they’re already interested in that topic.
So by placing your brand, offer, or lead magnet in front of those readers, you’re getting exposure to warm prospects who are way more likely to engage.
Whether it’s a link to a free resource, a special offer, or just brand awareness, newsletter sponsorships help drive traffic, build credibility, and bring in leads from people who already trust the voice behind the email.
Need more customers for your business?
If you’re tired of cold calling and need new ways to generate leads, why not try some of the lead generation strategies above?
Stats show that many of these approaches work.
And if you would like a more tailored lead generation strategy, why not hop on a free 15-minute strategy session below?
