Video Signalling Baddies for 67pc Close Rate

Allegedly.

As comments, reposts and threads suggest, a mixture of scepticism, upset and praise abounds.

Précis; guy hires female model to sit in background alongside on his video sales calls. Doing little save giving the illusion of having something to do with his work.

The resulting claim is it generates a 43% close rate 'jump'.

With numbers given. Sample of 50. Close rate with model 67%, without model 24%. Hence the revealed 43-point 'jump'. Or in neater maths, 2.8-times uplift. As a 72pc close rate with model would be precisely triple more.

A type of signalling, you'd say.

Indeed, the "model" approach here is even claimed to be "the norm" in video selling these days. Although when everyone does it, what then?

Whatever the veracity of this tale - and the clear clouding of any context for their "some sort of social media tool" - the point to bear in mind is what your videoing projection says about you.

There seems some debate as to whether the lady was in the background of the 'seller', or an additional muted cell of her own on-screen.

In any case, she is set up as a colleague. Then a thank-you email from her duly flies to the prospect afterwards.

I can see a fair few things to go wrong with this. Least of all the questions from an absence of online footprint.

Here's what Grok had to say at the time;

The tactic’s effectiveness, despite ethical debates, reflects a growing trend in sales where unconventional strategies, including the use of "baddies for business calls" as noted in NYX’s 2025 [cosmetics] campaign, outpace traditional methods like PowerPoint presentations.

Which refers to the tongue-in-cheek celeb 'baddies' of Paris Hilton and Saweetie being able to act in such manner.

Though you have to say, that's a pretty vapid response by the AI bot there.

Yet compared to a later recounting, you can hear the ethics dept screams. The ol' ad maxim of 'sex sells' alive and thrives online today, it seems.

Whilst in no way an endorsement, this appears enough for this modern-day internet marketing guy (& you'll likely know what I feel about that space) to offer the service up as a business 'side hustle'. $500 a pop.

As an aside, when first venturing out on my own as a freelance hired hand as a twentysomething to help a certain type of B2B growth, I too on occasion was able to call upon trusted, valued resource to accompany me on certain calls. A different type of 'baddie' elevating me sure, and maybe not a million miles away from this technique.

Whether you think this preyingly despicable or superbly savvy, there's a degree to which every video call signals where you're at.

From the 'hostage video' blank backdrop to the professionally curated zoomscape, and all points in between.

Even today, so seldom do I see genuine thought put into this it pains me.

Time for a revamp?