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- Cold email vs cold calling: which one actually works?
Cold email vs cold calling: which one actually works?
The best outbound teams use both.
Frank Sondors
September 04, 2025
Sales teams have debated this for years: is cold email or cold calling the better channel?
Which team are you on? |
Cold email fans say it scales, creates a written record, and gives prospects breathing room. Cold calling supporters argue nothing beats a live conversation for cutting through the noise.
The reality? Both are right.
And the teams that win aren’t choosing one or the other - they’re building systems that use both channels together.
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The case for cold email
Scales efficiently. One SDR can send hundreds of personalized emails per day.
Warms up prospects. A thoughtful first email means your name won’t be a stranger when you follow up by phone.
Creates a paper trail. Prospects can forward your email internally or revisit it later.
But email alone has its limits. Inboxes are crowded, deliverability can vary, and some buyers just won’t reply no matter how good your copy is.
The case for cold calling
Cuts straight to the point. A call forces an instant decision - pick up, listen, or hang up.
Builds human connection. Tone, pace, and real-time dialogue create trust faster than text.
Uncovers objections live. You don’t have to guess why someone isn’t replying - you can hear it directly.
But calling at scale is expensive and inefficient if you don’t already know who’s worth calling. That’s where data quality matters most.
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The real answer: multi-channel
The smartest teams don’t debate cold email vs cold calling. They use both - with data as the foundation.
Start with cold email to introduce yourself, deliver value, and qualify interest.
Follow up with a cold call to high-intent leads who open or engage but don’t reply.
Use both channels strategically, not randomly.
With Leadsforge, you can build complete lead lists with verified emails and phone numbers in the same enrichment flow. That means your team always has the data to test, combine, and scale both approaches.
Tip of the week:
Cold email works. Cold calling works. But the real edge comes from combining them - and having the right data to execute.
With Leadsforge, you don’t have to choose between channels. You can power both from the same enriched list.
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