Cold Email vs Cold Calling: Which Works Better for B2B Sales?

The Debate That Never Ends

Sales teams have argued about cold email versus cold calling for years. The truth is that both channels work, but they work differently. Understanding when and how to use each one gives you a serious advantage over competitors who rely on just one approach.

Cold Email: The Numbers

• Average response rate: 1-5% for untargeted campaigns, 10-25% for well-targeted, personalized outreach
• Cost per contact: Very low. Once your infrastructure is set up, each additional email costs almost nothing.
• Scalability: High. You can reach hundreds of prospects daily with the right tools.
• Best for: Initial outreach, warming up cold prospects, reaching people who screen calls

Cold Calling: The Numbers

• Average connection rate: 2-3% of dials result in a meaningful conversation
• Cost per contact: Higher due to time investment per dial
• Scalability: Limited by the number of hours in the day
• Best for: High-value accounts, urgent offers, following up on warm signals

Where Cold Email Wins

Cold email has several clear advantages:

1. Asynchronous: Prospects respond on their own time, making them more receptive.
2. Trackable: You can measure opens, clicks, and replies with precision.
3. Scalable: With tools like Easy Email Finder, you can build targeted lists and send personalized emails to hundreds of prospects per day.
4. Less intrusive: An email sits in the inbox until the prospect is ready to read it.

Where Cold Calling Wins

Cold calling has its own strengths:

1. Immediate feedback: You know right away if your pitch resonates.
2. Relationship building: Voice-to-voice connection builds trust faster.
3. Objection handling: You can address concerns in real time.
4. Urgency: Calls convey urgency that email cannot match.

The Best Approach: Combine Both

The highest-performing sales teams use a multi-channel approach. A common playbook looks like this:

1. Send a personalized cold email to introduce yourself
2. Follow up with a phone call 2-3 days later, referencing your email
3. Send a second email with additional value
4. Connect on LinkedIn
5. Make a final call or send a breakup email

Get Started With the Right Data

Whether you choose cold email, cold calling, or both, it all starts with accurate contact data. Easy Email Finder helps you find verified business emails so your outreach reaches decision-makers, not dead inboxes.