LinkedIn or cold calling?
On LinkedIn you build a network; on the phone you get to the point quickly. Both have strengths and weaknesses. We compare them side by side and tell you honestly what we see working.
| LinkedIn outreach | Cold calling | |
|---|---|---|
| First contact | LinkedIn outreachA connection request and a personal message, sent from a personal profile. With us, by hand, with no bots or automation tools. | Cold callingA phone call, directly with the decision-maker or via reception. |
| Speed | LinkedIn outreachSlower. Days or weeks often pass between request, acceptance and reply. | Cold callingFast. In one conversation you know whether there is interest, and the appointment can be booked. |
| Reaching decision-makers | LinkedIn outreachGood for decision-makers who are active on LinkedIn. Not everyone is. | Cold callingAlso reaches decision-makers who are rarely online. A receptionist or assistant may stand between you and the decision-maker, though. |
| Volume | LinkedIn outreachRestricted by LinkedIn's limits and the time needed for personal messages. With us, 180 messages a week from your profile, sent by hand by our team. | Cold callingScales with the number of callers and calling hours. |
| Qualification | LinkedIn outreachYou can see job title and company on the profile. Whether someone makes the decision and whether there is a need only becomes clear in the conversation. | Cold callingStrong. In the conversation, you check industry, company size and decision-making authority straight away. |
| Impression on the prospect | LinkedIn outreachCalm and unobtrusive, if the message is personal. Standard messages are quickly ignored. | Cold callingMore direct. With a concrete reason it works well; without one, it quickly feels like an interruption. |
| What lasts | LinkedIn outreachYour network grows permanently with your target group. Prospects see your profile and messages again later. | Cold callingA good conversation sticks, but without follow-up there is little to show after the call. |
| Germany | LinkedIn outreachA good first step. Germany has stricter rules for B2B prospecting than the Netherlands. | Cold callingPossible, but with care. In Germany, we only call with a concrete, documented reason, from Radar or via LinkedIn. |
| What it asks of you | LinkedIn outreachA polished profile and time to follow up on responses, or someone who manages your inbox. | Cold callingTime, rhythm and persistence, or a team that calls for you. |
Why it's rarely either-or
LinkedIn and calling each solve a different problem. LinkedIn makes you known to your target group and opens the conversation. Calling makes it concrete: is there a need, who decides, and when do you sit down together? A decision-maker who already knows your name from LinkedIn is often more open to a call.
How we combine them
In the Plus package, LinkedIn and calling work together. Our team of LinkedIn specialists optimises your profile, sends connection requests to your target group by hand and manages your inbox, with no bots or automation tools. That's how we protect quality and avoid LinkedIn bans caused by automation tools. Our calling team then phones the warm and lukewarm leads, checks them against your target group and proposes the appointment in your client portal.
- 180 messages a week from your profile, sent by hand
- Inbox management and follow-up on every response
- Qualification by phone, and every appointment first for your approval in your client portal
- Radar provides the reason for the call
The combination works best, and that is how we work too: LinkedIn opens the door, a phone call books the appointment. Still, one channel is sometimes enough. If your target group is small, well defined and active on LinkedIn, LinkedIn alone will get you a long way. If you want to know quickly whether there is demand, or your target group is rarely on LinkedIn, start with cold calling. That is also our Basis package: Radar and calling, without LinkedIn.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't cold calling outdated?
Calling without a reason is. We call with a reason from Radar, such as a job opening or a new branch, or after a first contact on LinkedIn. Then the call is no longer cold.
Do you send messages from my own LinkedIn profile?
Yes. Our team of LinkedIn specialists works from your profile, in your name and with your permission, by hand and with no bots or automation tools. You approve all messages before we approach anyone.
Which package combines LinkedIn and calling?
The Plus package: everything in Basis, plus LinkedIn outsourcing for one profile. It costs €196 per approved meeting (20% off €245), €995 per 4 weeks (€195 for platform and management and €800 for LinkedIn) and €749.50 setup. For multiple profiles, there is Pro, on request.
Ready for a full calendar?
Book a 30-minute introduction. Together we look at your target audience, your market and which package fits. There's no obligation.