Hey everyone – quick question for the group! We’re building out Zudu AI, a Voice AI platform focused on BFSI, BPO, and D2C, and are currently sourcing good ICP leads through Apollo.io. That’s been working well, but most calls go cold. The ratio is like 1 out of 70 leads agree for a demo even though they are directly handling voice solutions. Why do you think so?? How do you create a repeatable workflow or playbook for consistently generating high-quality prospective ICP leads?
Do you combine Apollo with enrichment tools (e.g., Clay, ZoomInfo, Clearbit, etc.)?
Any frameworks you’ve used to prioritize verticals / titles / triggers?
How do you structure outreach sequencing when targeting mid-market vs enterprise?
Would appreciate any insights or frameworks you’ve used to make this process more scalable. Happy to share what’s working for us too!
Great question Jitesh S.. I see a lot of teams running into the “70 leads → 1 demo” problem. In most cases, it’s less about the targeting and more about what happens between touches. Prospects might say yes to a demo, but go cold because they don’t get enough context before the live call. One thing I’ve seen work is creating a self-serve demo asset that shows the baseline value, so every outreach touch has something tangible (vs just booking a call). It makes your sequencing more effective because you’re not relying on a prospect to wait for a meeting to see the product. For example, with ProductLens we build automated, trackable demos that teams can send upfront or in between calls. It shortens the “gap time,” lets prospects explore on their own, and warms them up before they ever get to a live AE/SE. Curious if you’ve tried mixing product-led touches into your outbound yet?
Please try prospectoo! Similar to apollo but way more accurate.
If you’re at the problem–market fit stage, this is excellent insight. I’d recommend closely reviewing your calls to identify patterns: Are there commonalities in how prospects respond? Does the timing of your demo within the discovery call matter? Are there alternative ways you’re booking demo calls that could be more effective? If you’re refining your ICP, focus is critical. The more precise your targeting, the higher your conversion potential. Often—myself included—we cast too wide a net, hoping to capture more leads, when in reality, most of the broader market is irrelevant.
Yeah, there are a bunch of factors that could be driving that drop-off. From your post it sounds like you’re leaning on cold calls..is that right? If so, that can be tough unless you’ve got folks who are really skilled at it. Have you tested cold email alongside it? That’s where I’ve seen better traction, since you can tailor the messaging and the offer more precisely to your ICP. Speaking of ICP, really nailing that down (and validating it) makes a big difference. I’ve actually built a workflow that scrapes ideal customers and helps send out personalized outreach at scale. Happy to share what’s working for me if that’s useful.
Hey Antoinette D. Thanks for the insight. Being Voice AI, I have targeted leads as close as to those people who head and influence contact centers in companies. 75% of the people we reach out are the actual users of the product and ICPs. Some do direct me to the CTO channel but most CTO circles want to develop their own product than give a listen to (Voice AI) Any alternative ways that you would suggest?
