How to Outsource Cold Calling—The Ultimate Guide

How to Outsource Cold Calling—The Ultimate Guide

We've all heard the claim: cold calling is dead. But is it really true? Not by a long shot.

As more companies shift towards digital marketing and stop making personalized calls, cold calling has become more effective simply because there are fewer calls being made. While getting people on the phone may be harder, research reveals that 7 out of 10 buyers accept cold calls, and 92% of buyers arrange meetings after receiving a cold call.

However, cold calling campaigns targeting business owners aren't always popular with sales and marketing teams. Many avoid it, and those who do it often give up too early—nearly half of sales reps stop after the first unsuccessful attempt to reach a prospect.

This has led many businesses to outsource cold calling to call center services, helping to augment their sales and marketing teams.

What is Outsourced Cold Calling?

Outsourcing involves hiring third-party providers to handle specific tasks, letting professionals manage certain aspects of your business. Outsourcing cold calling to an outbound call center filled with experts can be a cost-effective way to generate leads, set appointments, and make sales. Companies like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer allow you to hire freelancers for sales and marketing tasks, while firms such as Simba Teleservices can help you find the right outsourced cold calling partner.

Outsourcing has become common across industries as it enables companies to extend their reach and lighten the load for in-house teams. By outsourcing tasks like lead generation and appointment scheduling, your sales and marketing teams can focus on qualified leads that need further engagement.

Telemarketer stereotypes don't apply to top-tier cold calling companies. The best centers employ skilled sales professionals who are well-trained in lead generation and follow industry best practices to maximize conversions.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Cold Calling

So, why should you outsource your cold calling? Besides alleviating the burden on your internal team, you’ll get access to cold calling experts with optimized sales scripts and the expertise to know when to break from the script and engage prospects in a meaningful way. Other benefits include:

• Increased Efficiency: Collaborating with experienced cold-calling professionals improves your productivity. These experts handle cold outreach, allowing your in-house team to focus on closing deals.

• Lead Generation at Scale: Outsourcing allows you to scale lead generation efforts as needed. Whether your salesforce is small or large, outsourcing can extend your reach and target specific regions, industries, or customer bases. For instance, if you're offering services to 50,000 businesses, outsourcing can help you contact a large portion of them, or scale up during peak selling periods.

• Expert Cold Callers: Outsourced teams specialize in targeting decision-makers, effectively handling calls, and leaving quality voicemails when necessary. These professionals know how to engage both business owners and consumers to secure results.

• Follow-ups Managed for You: Reaching a decision-maker often takes multiple attempts. Outsourcing services will handle the follow-up calls, appointment setting, and lead nurturing, saving your internal team time.

• Custom Lead Generation: Call centers will follow your guidance to build tailored lists of high-quality leads. They use segmentation strategies to maximize ROI.

• Advanced Tools, Training, and Technology: Call centers invest in top technology and provide regular training to ensure their agents are up to industry standards, enhancing your business's chances for success.

The Drawbacks of Outsourcing Cold Calling

Despite its advantages, outsourcing cold calling does have some downsides that should be considered:

• Less Control: Outsourcing means less direct control over the cold-calling process. Although you can monitor performance, establishing trust in the outsourcing provider is essential to ensure they accurately represent your business.

• Potential Knowledge Gaps: Even the best-trained SDRs might lack the deep understanding of your products or services that your in-house team possesses. This can lead to missed insights during customer interactions.

• Language and Cultural Barriers: When outsourcing overseas, accents or cultural differences can affect customer satisfaction and lead to misunderstandings. Many companies opt for nearshore partners or carefully select offshore teams with high English proficiency.

• Divided Attention: While your in-house team is fully dedicated to your company’s sales, outsourced agents often split their focus across multiple clients, which may result in less attention to your business unless contracted for full-time work.

How Outsourced Cold Calling Services Operate

While every call center has its own approach, most follow a similar process. They’ll use a list (either provided by you or generated by them) and target customers who meet your qualifications. Cold callers use sales scripts, tailored to your goals, and focus on keeping prospects engaged while conveying essential information.

Effective cold calling is integral to building a strong sales pipeline and driving revenue.

Types of Cold Calling Services

Outsourcing companies offer various cold calling services, including:

• Lead generation

• Appointment scheduling

• Direct sales

• Customer support

Building an Effective Cold Calling Process

Although the calls are outsourced, you’ll need to play an active role in shaping the cold calling process. Define your target audience, provide market research, and help refine scripts to align with your brand’s tone. The more information you provide, the more effectively the outsourced team can tailor its efforts.

Ensure that your provider follows legal guidelines, including the National Do Not Call List, secure transaction practices, and agreed-upon calling hours. You might also have your internal list of prospects that should not be contacted by your outsourced team.

Who Should Outsource Cold Calling?

Outsourcing cold calling is particularly beneficial for companies whose SDRs struggle to meet the daily call volume. According to a study, the average SDR makes about 35 calls per day, while 50 dials per day have been the industry standard for effective outreach.

If your SDRs are not hitting this target, outsourcing might be a good option. This allows your internal team to focus on more advanced tasks, like upselling and closing deals, while outsourced agents handle the cold calling.

Is Outsourcing Cold Calling Cost-Effective?

The effectiveness of cold calling depends on its ability to convert into sales. When you outsource, focus on measuring conversion rates to ensure a good return on investment. Many companies find that outsourcing reduces customer acquisition costs and increases reach.

For example, the average salary for an SDR in the U.S. is around $50,000 annually, plus bonuses. In comparison, outsourcing cold calling services may cost between $7 to $50 per hour, depending on the provider and level of expertise.

Ready to Outsource Your Cold Calling?

Deciding whether to outsource cold calling depends on your company’s needs and goals. Outsourcing can be an excellent option if you’re trying to expand your lead generation, struggling to find qualified SDRs, or aiming to scale your business quickly. Contact Simba Teleservices for more information

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