Does selling AI websites via cold calling still work?
Yeah, I'd say it can work. Most of these approaches are still technically feasible, but that specific approach is less effective because it's been squeezed out. You'd likely get 1.5 to 2× ROI per unit time by reaching out with a Loom video instead of a cold call, delivering the same message. If you refine your wording, add follow‑up sequences, and optimize the approach, you could see two to three times the ROI, since cold calling introduces inefficiencies. Outbound calling still works, but it's not as good as those alternatives.
Cold calling isn't effective because it's asynchronous, requires you to be available when the prospect is, and you have to get past gatekeepers. A better approach is to send Loom videos that prospects can watch on their own time, letting you follow up repeatedly without scheduling conflicts.
Outbound AI callers aren’t yet good enough for professionals. The only real benefit is saving a little money on labor, but the downside is a substantial drop in conversion because people are far less likely to want to work with or set an appointment when they realize they’re talking to an AI. That hit to revenue far outweighs the modest savings—think 20 or 30 to one against you. So, for a real estate company, using an AI cold caller to reach out is not worth it; you’ll lose more in missed deals than you save on labor.
Cold calling is a very direct way to reach people, but it's inefficient—you might spend only about 15 minutes of an hour on actual calls, with pickup rates around 3-6%. This means you often waste time on dialing, voicemails, and unanswered calls. I've made over 10,000 cold calls in my career and realized I could achieve the same outreach using Loom videos: record a video, send it, and it lands at the top of their inbox with no dial time, plus you can automate follow-ups. Loom saves time, lets you show visuals, and avoids the spam fatigue of phone calls. So instead of cold calling, just send Loom videos.
I wouldn’t recommend cold calling today. While it’s cheap to start—just a phone and your voice—the biggest downside is that it’s synchronous, meaning over half of your leads aren’t available when you call, cutting your efficiency in half right away. It also forces you to block time for calls, makes you vulnerable to spam patterns, and requires years of practice to become effective, with most of your time spent talking to unqualified prospects and having to convince them of your credibility. In contrast, asynchronous methods like personalized Loom videos let you work in short windows, avoid the 50% availability loss, and create a reusable asset you can send via email, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. When hyper‑customized, such videos can be seen by about two‑thirds of prospects and generate reply rates around 50 %. Spending an hour a day on Loom outreach can yield five to ten times the results of cold calling. That’s why I’ve shifted from cold email to warm inbound and scaled my agencies, and I advise you to use Loom videos for your SaaS launch.