In 2019, multi-channel cold outreach is outperforming single-channel cold outreach. That is why only two percent of sales teams are using just cold email outreach to reach out to prospects. Since multi-channel is a rather new method in the B2B world, there are misconceptions about it. So, in this post, I will explain why a multi-channel approach is better and how to do it the right way.

Before I start breaking down each topic, here is the list of them for reference:

Why multi-channel outreach is better than single-channel outreach

you do not depend on any single channel
may find a better channel altogether
give the prospect more chances in different channels

Different channels for cold outreach

How to do multi-channel outreach the right way

• focus on two to three channels at first
• set them up parallelly
• create personalised messages
• reach out to prospects
• analyse metrics and adapt

The importance of a congregation tool

Why multi-channel outreach is better than single-channel outreach

Here are the top three reasons for doing multi-channel outreach over single-channel:

you do not depend on any single channel
you may find a better channel altogether
you give the prospect more chances in different channels to reply to you
Markets change and channels become saturated or are abandoned. So, having other options prevents any potential downturn in your channel from decreasing your results. For example, if you are using email and LinkedIn outreach, then the saturation of prospects’ inboxes would not affect you.

On the other hand, by experimenting with new channels you may find a new one that gives you a better ROI. For example, if you were using cold calling to find customers, then you will find that switching to a hybrid with email outreach may enhance your results.

Finally, approaching a prospect in different channels increases the chances of finding the ideal channel for them. That is because each prospect has a different contact medium of preference.

Different channels for cold outreach

Here are a few channels that you can implement in your sales funnel. I will include what they are, why they are useful, and how to start using them.

1. Email – send targeted emails to find ideal prospects interested in your product
Cold emails are powerful because you quickly find sales-ready leads. Use them as one of your main channels for cold outreach since they are non-intrusive and email will not go away for a long time.

Step 1. choose an email tool in the marketplace with the right features

Step 2. write dynamic templates based on successful campaigns

Step 3. gather qualitative contact data on your target prospects

Step 4. reach out and profit

2. LinkedIn or Xing – start conversations with prospects by sending connection requests or messages
Social selling is effective in B2B due to social platforms’ innate networking nature. Especially the platforms geared towards professionals.

Use LinkedIn as one of your main channels because 80% of B2B leads come from it.

Step 1. choose a tool for automated social outreach

Step 2. write dynamic messages tailored to the recipient

Step 3. gather quality data on prospects

Step 4. reach out and reap the rewards

3. Cold calling – call prospects to initiate live dialogues through the phone and find opportunities
Cold calling is still useful combined with other channels. As a standalone channel, it can be quite disruptive to prospects and provide a lower ROI.

Use a call when prospects are warmed up and interested in your product. It can serve as a shortcut to a deal.

Step 1. make a list of prospects with the potential to use your product

Step 2. gather basic intel and phone number on them

Step 3. reach out through other channels (e.g.: email)

Step 3. cold call prospects that have shown high interest

Now that you know the reasons why multi-channel is better than single-channel, and have examples of channels to introduce in your funnel, let’s dissect how to do it the right way.

How to multi-channel outreach the right way

In this section, I am assuming that you have your ideal customer profile and a list of prospects on hand. So, let’s examine the lessons to perfect your multi-channel approach.

1. Focus on two to three channels at first

It is better to focus on fewer channels first and master them to not spread yourself too thin. That way you can concentrate resources and get a better ROI.

2. Set up the channels parallelly

Use a software that can send messages parallelly and conditionally in an automated fashion. Also, have the sending of messages stop as soon as the prospect replies on any channel.

3. Create personalised messages

Create personalised messages to increase the chances of getting a reply from prospects. You can do so by using dynamic placeholders.

4. Reach out to prospects

Start your outreach process by activating the campaign in all the channels at the same time. That will allow you to connect with the prospect in their prefered channel.

5. Analyse metrics and adapt

Analyse the metrics of your campaign to see which channels work best and adjust your campaigns accordingly.

If you would like to keep exploring the topic of cold outreach, then I suggest reading our other article on avoiding the 14 most common cold outreach mistakes.

Let’s now explore why this whole process is ideally done through a congregation tool.

The importance of a congregation tool

Reason 1: have everything under one dashboard connected to your CRM to keep it simple.

Reason 2: the software automatically stops the prospect from getting more messages when they reply.

Reason 3: you are able to send prospects different messages based on their reactions to your previous ones (e.g.: opened/unopened).

Reason 4: you have the process working parallelly to fully utilise the benefits of multi-channel outreach. All your channels are working to get a conversation started with the prospect.

Conclusion

Why multi-channel is better than single-channel

you do not depend on any single channel
you may find a better channel altogether
you give the prospect more chances in different channels to reply to you
Different channels for cold outreach

email
LinkedIn
Xing
Facebook
cold calling
How to multi-channel outreach the right way

focus on two to three channels at first
set them up parallelly
create personalised messages
reach out to prospects
analyse metrics and adapt
The importance of a congregation tool

you can organise everything under one dashboard
it stops reaching out once you get a reply
you get conditional pathways
sources:
Topohq.com
https://blog.topohq.com/age-multi-channel-prospecting-despite-hype-nothing-dead/
Business.linkedin.com
https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/blog/linkedin-b2b-marketing/2017/10-surprising-stats-you-didnt-know-about-marketing-on-linkedin