GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cold Calling Statistics

Cold calling's success remains low, with emails preferred by most decision-makers.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Sending personalized emails following up on cold calls can improve conversion rates by up to 40%

Statistic 2

The best time to make cold calls is between 4-5 pm, according to 57% of sales professionals

Statistic 3

44% of salespeople say the number one factor for effective cold calling is a compelling script

Statistic 4

The success rate of cold calling is higher when call times are personalized based on prospect behavior

Statistic 5

78% of decision-makers say they have declined a cold call in the past year

Statistic 6

60-70% of buyers prefer to be contacted via email rather than phone

Statistic 7

82% of buyers say they accept meetings with vendors who contact them via email, compared to just 21% for cold calls

Statistic 8

80% of prospects are impacted by 5-12 touchpoints before making a purchase decision

Statistic 9

82% of decision-makers prefer to be contacted by email rather than a cold call

Statistic 10

Cold calling can be beneficial when combined with social selling strategies, increasing engagement by over 50%

Statistic 11

69% of buyers prefer to have an ongoing dialogue rather than a one-time pitch

Statistic 12

58% of buyers prefer social media contact over cold calls

Statistic 13

80% of cold calls are unproductive

Statistic 14

57% of decision-makers say they have received a cold call and immediately rejected it

Statistic 15

90% of cold calls are just ignored or disconnected

Statistic 16

Most salespeople make an average of 8 cold call attempts to reach a prospect

Statistic 17

Cold calling accounts for approximately 60-70% of all sales outreach activities

Statistic 18

The average length of a cold call is approximately 1.5 minutes

Statistic 19

63% of salespeople say that their biggest challenge is connecting with the right person during cold calls

Statistic 20

75% of buyers have refused a cold call in the past year

Statistic 21

60% of salespeople say prospecting is the most difficult part of sales

Statistic 22

Nearly 60% of cold calls are disconnected or go unanswered

Statistic 23

50% of cold calls are made without any prior research about the prospect, decreasing potential success

Statistic 24

Only 2% of cold calls result in appointments

Statistic 25

The average success rate of a cold call is just 1.6%

Statistic 26

Around 41% of salespeople say cold calling can generate high-quality leads

Statistic 27

85% of decisions are made by the time a sales rep gets through the first five minutes of a cold call

Statistic 28

Companies that make regular cold calls report up to 20% higher revenue growth

Statistic 29

Salespeople report that their cold call success rate increases by up to 15% when using a multi-channel approach

Statistic 30

The average cold call contact rate is around 3%, meaning only 3 out of 100 calls result in a conversation

Statistic 31

Less than 10% of cold calls result in a meeting or appointment

Statistic 32

Crafting a tailored pitch can improve cold call success rates by up to 25%

Statistic 33

Cold calls made with a clear value proposition are twice as likely to be successful

Statistic 34

On average, it takes about 18 attempts to reach a prospect via cold calling

Statistic 35

Decision-makers are 4 times more likely to respond to a cold email than a cold call

Statistic 36

Use of CRM tools can boost cold calling efficiency by up to 50%

Statistic 37

Giving prospects a reason to respond, such as an offer or incentive, increases cold call success probability significantly

Statistic 38

Cold calling remains an essential part of a multi-channel outreach strategy for 69% of sales organizations

Statistic 39

65% of sales professionals say that building trust is the most critical factor in cold calling success

Statistic 40

Follow-up calls increase the likelihood of securing a meeting by 70%

Statistic 41

70% of cold calls are made between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays

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Key Highlights

  • Only 2% of cold calls result in appointments
  • 78% of decision-makers say they have declined a cold call in the past year
  • 80% of cold calls are unproductive
  • 60-70% of buyers prefer to be contacted via email rather than phone
  • 57% of decision-makers say they have received a cold call and immediately rejected it
  • 90% of cold calls are just ignored or disconnected
  • The average success rate of a cold call is just 1.6%
  • 82% of buyers say they accept meetings with vendors who contact them via email, compared to just 21% for cold calls
  • Most salespeople make an average of 8 cold call attempts to reach a prospect
  • 80% of prospects are impacted by 5-12 touchpoints before making a purchase decision
  • Cold calling accounts for approximately 60-70% of all sales outreach activities
  • Sending personalized emails following up on cold calls can improve conversion rates by up to 40%
  • Around 41% of salespeople say cold calling can generate high-quality leads

Despite being a cornerstone of sales outreach, cold calling suffers from a staggering 98.4% failure rate, with only 2% resulting in appointments, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies and smarter, personalized approaches.

Best Practices and Strategies for Cold Calling

  • Sending personalized emails following up on cold calls can improve conversion rates by up to 40%
  • The best time to make cold calls is between 4-5 pm, according to 57% of sales professionals
  • 44% of salespeople say the number one factor for effective cold calling is a compelling script
  • The success rate of cold calling is higher when call times are personalized based on prospect behavior

Best Practices and Strategies for Cold Calling Interpretation

Mastering the art of timing, personalization, and a compelling script transforms cold calls from a daunting task into a strategic opportunity to boost conversion rates—proving that in sales, a well-timed, tailored pitch can turn a cold lead into a warm opportunity.

Buyer Preferences and Engagement Methods

  • 78% of decision-makers say they have declined a cold call in the past year
  • 60-70% of buyers prefer to be contacted via email rather than phone
  • 82% of buyers say they accept meetings with vendors who contact them via email, compared to just 21% for cold calls
  • 80% of prospects are impacted by 5-12 touchpoints before making a purchase decision
  • 82% of decision-makers prefer to be contacted by email rather than a cold call
  • Cold calling can be beneficial when combined with social selling strategies, increasing engagement by over 50%
  • 69% of buyers prefer to have an ongoing dialogue rather than a one-time pitch
  • 58% of buyers prefer social media contact over cold calls

Buyer Preferences and Engagement Methods Interpretation

In an era where 82% of decision-makers balk at cold calls and prefer email, social media, and ongoing dialogue, cold calling has shifted from the primary sales tactic to a supplementary strategy—reminding us that in the game of persuasion, patience, persistence, and social savvy often trump the ring of the phone.

Challenges and Barriers in Cold Calling

  • 80% of cold calls are unproductive
  • 57% of decision-makers say they have received a cold call and immediately rejected it
  • 90% of cold calls are just ignored or disconnected
  • Most salespeople make an average of 8 cold call attempts to reach a prospect
  • Cold calling accounts for approximately 60-70% of all sales outreach activities
  • The average length of a cold call is approximately 1.5 minutes
  • 63% of salespeople say that their biggest challenge is connecting with the right person during cold calls
  • 75% of buyers have refused a cold call in the past year
  • 60% of salespeople say prospecting is the most difficult part of sales
  • Nearly 60% of cold calls are disconnected or go unanswered
  • 50% of cold calls are made without any prior research about the prospect, decreasing potential success

Challenges and Barriers in Cold Calling Interpretation

Given that over half of cold calls are unanswered or disconnected, with nearly 60% made without prior research, and most decision-makers quickly reject them, it’s clear that cold calling, while still dominating sales outreach, often resembles a game of chance where preparation and persistence are the only true strategies for success.

Cold Call Effectiveness and Success Rates

  • Only 2% of cold calls result in appointments
  • The average success rate of a cold call is just 1.6%
  • Around 41% of salespeople say cold calling can generate high-quality leads
  • 85% of decisions are made by the time a sales rep gets through the first five minutes of a cold call
  • Companies that make regular cold calls report up to 20% higher revenue growth
  • Salespeople report that their cold call success rate increases by up to 15% when using a multi-channel approach
  • The average cold call contact rate is around 3%, meaning only 3 out of 100 calls result in a conversation
  • Less than 10% of cold calls result in a meeting or appointment
  • Crafting a tailored pitch can improve cold call success rates by up to 25%
  • Cold calls made with a clear value proposition are twice as likely to be successful
  • On average, it takes about 18 attempts to reach a prospect via cold calling
  • Decision-makers are 4 times more likely to respond to a cold email than a cold call
  • Use of CRM tools can boost cold calling efficiency by up to 50%
  • Giving prospects a reason to respond, such as an offer or incentive, increases cold call success probability significantly
  • Cold calling remains an essential part of a multi-channel outreach strategy for 69% of sales organizations
  • 65% of sales professionals say that building trust is the most critical factor in cold calling success

Cold Call Effectiveness and Success Rates Interpretation

While cold calling's notoriously low success rates—just 1.6% overall—might seem like a lost cause, nearly 70% of sales teams still cling to it as a vital tactic, especially when coupled with tailored pitches, multi-channel approaches, and trust-building, proving that in the world of outreach, persistence and strategy often outshine sheer volume.

Success Rates

  • Follow-up calls increase the likelihood of securing a meeting by 70%

Success Rates Interpretation

A follow-up call isn’t just polite—it's the secret weapon that boosts your chances of landing a meeting by 70%, turning cold leads into warm opportunities.

Tools and Timing Optimization

  • 70% of cold calls are made between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays

Tools and Timing Optimization Interpretation

With 70% of cold calls landing between 9 am and 4 pm on weekdays, it's clear that even in the age of digital communication, old-school office hours remain prime time for capturing attention—so, perhaps, the real cold calling strategy is just being available when everyone else is working.