Cold calling in sales is a tried-and-true lead generation strategy.

This is understandable since it works, but if you’re going to use just plain old cold-calling techniques to get more leads, sooner or later, you’ll be stuck in a rut.

Consider cold calling as one tool in your wide arsenal of marketing channels and tactics, when properly integrated with other lead generation techniques,  you’ll find that exact sweet spot to generate more leads.

To generate leads without cold calling, you’ll have to broaden your strategy horizons and pay attention to other techniques to better qualify prospects and generate more sales.

This article will educate you on some of the cold calling alternatives out there and help you make the switch from old-school calls to more modern digital marketing techniques which are proven to build stronger relationships and result in higher sales for your business.

7 Proven Strategies to Generate Leads Without Cold Calling

1. Cold emails are still hot 🔥

In a world where everything is so fast-paced and full of distractions, there’s something to be said for the simplicity of cold emailing over calls. Unlike cold calling, email, however, takes time and effort to set up properly, but it can pay off in big ways if you know what you’re doing!

Cold emails are your first opportunity to get in touch with your prospect, so it’s critical to use that meeting as your first shot at building rapport. And after that initial connection, it’s a good idea to keep the ball rolling by sending follow-up emails or calling them again later on.

Source: Hunter.io

With this simple strategy, you can reach out again and again to your ideal customers and stay fresh in their minds - without wasting time and effort on phone calls that go nowhere.

Writing emails is no less than an art. Interested in writing effective cold emails? We have covered a detailed guide that shares the Secret to Writing Cold Emails.

2. Believe in the power of referrals

Raise your hand 🙋 if referrals happen to be your favorite lead generation tactic. And why shouldn’t it be? Referrals are one of the best way to get leads. Nothing can compete with the personal recommendation of someone who has had a positive experience with your product. The strength of your marketing campaign lies in getting customers to share those positive experiences with their friends and colleagues.

Among the many industry-leading examples of referral marketing, Airbnb is the one that we love the most. By understanding customer pain points and fears involved with travel, insurance, and renting with strangers, Airbnb carefully devised a plan to increase bookings.

Source: Airbnb

Here are a few strategies that you could use to replicate the success of Airbnb’s referral program:

• Discounts
• Freebies
• Extended free trials
• Gift vouchers
• Coupon codes
• Free shipping

3. Content marketing is the real king 👑

Content marketing is all about turning prospects into customers. Rather than have to reach out to them via cold calling techniques, you focus on creating content that ropes them directly into your sales funnel. Focus on creating content that solves your customers' problems. Show prospects why they should trust you, so you can have an ongoing conversation with them. A steady stream of qualified visitors will continue to generate leads for your business, and refer others to you as well.

Source: Visme

4. Make yourself noticeable with networking 🤝

People buy from people, not businesses. In our hyper-connected world, sometimes the best way to sell is by simply showing up and being real. Give your business a boost by attending industry events and getting out of the office. If you’re looking to generate more leads through one of the largest marketing channels out there, you should consider networking!

It can be a great way to build relationships with industry professionals and gain new customers by just getting in front of people, so that when they found themselves looking for something, they'd think of you.

5. Get your social media strategy right ✅

Brands from almost every domain and industry are on social media right now. To be honest, it’s gotten pretty crowded and messy at the same time. So how do you differentiate your brand from the millions of others out there? It’s important to remember that if you're bombarding your followers with posts that only seem to be shouting your product at people then you really need to develop a new strategy.

The key to social media success is to authentically engage in conversations with your customers. The best way to do that is to post on the topics people are interested in, then offer real-time advice and tips. This not only shows your brand is relevant and valuable, but also gives people a reason to follow you and keep coming back for more.

6. Spend time nurturing existing leads 🌱

It’s easy to disregard leads that have already bought from you. But it’s not ideal. Don’t forget you spent hours converting these leads into customers. Just because they opted your services once does not mean  that they aren’t interested in a future sale.  

Make sure to keep these accounts up-to-date on new products, special offers and discounts. Having your customers know that you care about their experiences from the very beginning will make them more receptive to future communication, such as warm calls and upsell opportunities

7. Start guest blogging on third-party publishing sites 🧑‍💻

Guest blogging to Get your company featured on sites with massive following is probably the most underrated yet important way to generate more leads. Most simply do not venture into guest blogging considering the efforts required, however, it’s benefits outweighs everything else.

When you write for publications that your ideal customers read, you are taking a step toward helping them understand who you are and what you have to offer. By writing articles that educate your potential clients, you demonstrate your knowledge and establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.

Wrapping Up

Let’s be honest, we all have a love-hate relationship with cold calling! No one quite likes it but no one can deny its effectiveness as well.

If you want to generate leads without cold calling, and if you’ve been thinking about turning your sales around,  we’d recommend trying out all of these strategies at the earliest. Remember, you don't need to pick up the phone to boost your sales. All you need is the will to make a change!

FAQs

What is cold calling in sales?

Cold calling is a practice that involves making phone calls to people you do not know, who may not be aware of the fact that you exist, or which usually doesn’t know about your product or service.

What is the benefit of cold calling?

Cold calling gives you the chance to practice your pitch, and get feedback from the prospect. Being able to adapt quickly, and adjust your strategy throughout the call allows you to get many referrals and clients in a short time period.

How to get leads without cold calling?

Networking, content marketing, referral marketing and social selling are some cold calling alternatives that you should consider including in your sales pipeline to generate more leads.