B2B sales prospecting in France
By Charles Perret, Founder, devloFrom our Swiss base, we support companies looking to enter or accelerate their development on the French market. French companies also turn to our agency to meet their future customers in the DACH region (Switzerland, Germany and Austria), but also in Belgium and Europe.
How can you succeed in B2B prospecting in France with an above-average response rate?
France is the most competitive French-speaking B2B market in Europe: decision-makers receive an average of 120 commercial emails a week and have developed very powerful filtering reflexes. According to Forrester Research 2024, the average response rate for B2B cold email campaigns in France is less than 2%** for generalist agencies - compared with 7% for personalised multi-channel approaches.
devlo has been operating in France since 2020, using a tried and tested method based on over 1,000 campaigns: precise identification of the KPI, multi-channel sequences (cold email + LinkedIn + cold calling) coordinated over 21 days, and personalisation at scale using Clay. Our teams write and prospect exclusively in native French**, with in-depth knowledge of the Île-de-France, Lyon, Marseille and regional markets.
As a result, our clients obtain their first qualified appointments as early as the 3rd week of the campaign - whether they are targeting SMEs, ETIs or large accounts. For example, Cegos obtained 14 meetings with training decision-makers in just a few weeks using our targeted approach.
In summary:
Key points
- Response rate 3x higher than the FR average thanks to a coordinated multi-channel approach (cold email + LinkedIn + calling).
- Native French only: no translations, messages written by native speakers familiar with the French market.
- First appointments on D+15: 2-week test method, then full-scale roll-out with measurable results.
- 1,000+ campaigns deployed including dozens in France: IT/SaaS, training, industry, B2B services, real estate.
Case studies
Concrete results in this market
Apidae
13% de prospects intéressés
Association d’utilité publique qui agit pour la protection de la biodiversité
Square Co
52 clients potentiels ont manifesté leur intérêt pour un rendez-vous au cours des deux premières campagnes.
Services pour les énergies renouvelables
Cegos
73% Taux d'ouverture
Formation professionnelle, développement des compétences, coaching
Lemanvisio
89% de taux d'ouverture
Intégration des outils informatiques et de conférence
Frequently asked questions
Why choose a Swiss agency to prospect in France?
Our Swiss positioning brings an image of seriousness and quality.
Our Swiss positioning brings an image of seriousness and quality. We combine rigorous methodology with knowledge of the French market to deliver superior results.
What sectors are you targeting in France?
All B2B sectors: tech, industry, services, environment, training.
All B2B sectors: tech, industry, services, environment, training. We have had successes in biodiversity (70 meetings), biofuels (52 meetings) and training (14 meetings).
How are you managing RGPD compliance in France?
All our campaigns are RGPD compliant.
All our campaigns are RGPD compliant. We only use professional B2B data, with systematic opt-out and full traceability.
How long does it take to launch a prospecting campaign in France?
Allow 2 to 3 weeks for preparation: definition of the KPI, construction of prospect lists, drafting of sequences and technical configuration.
Allow 2 to 3 weeks for preparation: definition of the KPI, construction of prospect lists, drafting of sequences and technical configuration. The first results are generally seen in the 4th week after launch.
Do you prospect throughout France or just in the Île-de-France region?
We cover the whole of France.
We cover the whole of France. While most of our campaigns are concentrated in the Paris region, we also target Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse and all regional economic centres, depending on your KPI.
What is your approach to prospecting key accounts in France?
For key accounts, we deploy an ABM (Account-Based Marketing) strategy combining personalised cold email, a targeted LinkedIn approach and research into buying signals.
For key accounts, we deploy an ABM (Account-Based Marketing) strategy combining personalised cold email, a targeted LinkedIn approach and research into buying signals. Each decision-maker receives a message tailored to their role and context.
Do you offer multilingual campaigns for France and Switzerland?
Yes, our teams write in French, German, English and Dutch.
Yes, our teams write in French, German, English and Dutch. For a customer targeting both France and German-speaking Switzerland, we create separate sequences adapted linguistically and culturally to each market.
How do you measure the ROI of a prospecting campaign in France?
We track the open rate, response rate, number of qualified appointments and the rate of conversion into business opportunities.
We track the open rate, response rate, number of qualified appointments and the rate of conversion into business opportunities. Our customers receive weekly and monthly reports with all the KPIs. On average, our campaigns generate a positive ROI within the first 2 months.
Ready to grow your commercial pipeline?
Book a free 30-minute strategic call with our team.