AI in Sales Outreach: 5 Mistakes to Avoid & How to Fix Them

Mistake #1: letting AI run your outreach on autopilot

The biggest misconception in sales automation is that autonomous AI exists and can handle your entire outreach process independently. This fundamental misunderstanding leads to the most damaging mistake: allowing AI to operate without human supervision.

“Autonomous AI does not exist yet,” explains Thibaut, who discovered this firsthand when an AI agent sent hundreds of generic messages to his prospects without his knowledge. “The AI agent started learning whatever, and then it started sending these things… I didn’t know who it was contacting, what messages it was using.”

The reality is that most AI sales tools are essentially ChatGPT wrappers with a tendency to hallucinate and generate irrelevant content. When prospects receive automated messages, they immediately recognize the lack of authenticity and dismiss them.

The solution: AI as your assistant, not your replacement.

Instead of complete automation, use AI as a sophisticated assistant that requires your oversight. La Growth Machine’s Magic Messages feature exemplifies this approach by using structured forms to guide AI in generating relevant copy while maintaining human control. You can choose to enable manual approval through the “Customize before sending” option, giving you the flexibility to review and refine messages before they’re sent across LinkedIn DM or Email channels.

TC : 15 min

The key is understanding that prospecting psychology is complex and requires human insight to address specific problems prospects face. AI can help generate ideas and streamline processes, but the final decision should always rest with you.

Mistake #2: skipping AI training and context

Many sales professionals expect AI to produce quality content without providing proper training or context. This approach typically results in generic, ineffective messages that fail to resonate with prospects.

Here is the 4-step framework for AI coaching, recommended by Thibaut:

1. Context dump: Provide a comprehensive background about your situation, goals, and challenges
2. Role assignment: Define the AI as a specific expert (e.g., “You’re a cold outreach expert with a track record of achieving 30% reply rates”)
3. Task definition: Clearly state what you want to accomplish (“We’re in a coaching session to build an effective outreach sequence”)
4. Format specification: Set parameters for interaction (“Ask me three questions, one at a time”)

This approach transforms AI from a content generator into a strategic coach that asks insightful questions and helps you develop more effective messaging.

Mistake #3: missing scalable personalization opportunities

While AI excels at processing large amounts of data quickly, many users fail to leverage its personalization capabilities effectively. The goal isn’t to create unique messages for every prospect, but to use AI to scale personalized elements efficiently.

LinkedIn voice messages represent a powerful personalization opportunity that AI can enhance without compromising authenticity. La Growth Machine’s AI Voice Messages feature allows you to record one message and automatically personalize the prospect’s name, creating hundreds of customized voice notes effortlessly.

This approach maintains the personal touch that drives higher response rates while achieving the scale necessary for effective Outbound campaigns. Voice messages remain relatively uncommon in most professionals’ inboxes, making them an effective way to stand out.

If you don’t know what to say in your voice notes, check out our 11 best scripts!

Mistake #4: falling for fake AI features

The current market is flooded with tools claiming revolutionary AI capabilities that often amount to basic automation with an “AI” label. These tools typically promise unrealistic outcomes like “replacing entire SDR teams” or “booking 100 meetings per month automatically.”

Identifying genuine AI value

Legitimate AI features excel at processing large datasets and turning them into actionable insights. For example, La Growth Machine’s Lookalike feature analyzes successful customer profiles to identify similar prospects automatically, a task that would take hours manually but is completed in seconds with AI.

Warning signs of fake AI features include:

• Promises that seem too good to be true
• Claims of complete automation without human oversight
• Lack of transparency about how the AI works
• Generic outputs that don’t reflect your specific context

Building an effective tool stack

Focus on tools that complement each other rather than seeking one solution for everything. According to Thibaut, a lean, effective stack might include:

• La Growth Machine for multi-channel automation and lead generation
• LinkedIn (standard version) for social selling
• Calendly for meeting scheduling
• Notion for opportunity tracking

Mistake #5: automating social engagement without control

LinkedIn commenting and social engagement represent another area where AI automation often backfires. Generic AI-generated comments are easily recognizable and create negative impressions instead of fostering relationships.

The balanced approach to Social Warming

Tools like Extrovert demonstrate how AI can enhance social engagement while maintaining authenticity. Instead of automatically posting comments, these solutions suggest high-quality responses that you can review and approve before posting.

“When someone is clearly able to see that something has been automated or a robot has been trying to build a relationship for them on behalf of someone, they hate it,” notes Thibaut. “But when the line is really blurred and you don’t know, that makes a big difference.“

The key principle is maintaining human oversight over all relationship-building activities. Think of yourself as the executive chef in a high-end restaurant; your team can prepare the ingredients, but you must approve every dish before it reaches the customer.

Strategic implementation guidelines

Multi-channel campaign length

Campaign duration should align with your strategic approach:

• Enterprise accounts (top 30 targets): 16 touchpoints over 30 days with deep personalization
• High-volume prospecting: Maximum 4 touchpoints across LinkedIn, email, and calling
• Small deal focus: 2 touchpoints maximum to maintain efficiency

The importance of iteration

Success in AI-enhanced prospecting requires continuous testing and refinement. Use A/B Testing features (available on LGM)  to compare different approaches and regularly update your messaging based on results. Remember that prospecting is inherently challenging: even top performers see response rates below 50%.

As AI technology continues to evolve, the competitive advantage will belong to those who master this balance between automation and human insight.

Remember: AI should amplify your expertise, not replace your judgment. Use it to scale your best practices, not to avoid the hard work of understanding your prospects and crafting compelling value propositions.