Let's Talk Cold Calling for Leads. . .Effective? Tips? Successes?

[Matthew Ryan]

My team and I are currently in the process of taking on a large cold call strategy in our prospective markets. We've used ProspectNow as a primary lead gen tool to generate phone numbers and prospective clients within our target markets and asset base. 

I wanted to start a discussion on the following: 

(1) what success rate others have used cold calling? 

(2) what alternative lead sources have you used to do so (i.e. would you recommend ProspectNow?) 

and in the end, 

(3) did you find Direct mail as the more efficient prospecting technique?