Outsourced Cold Calling

As a manufacturer's rep, I get clients with leads they think are gold but are often outdated listings. I've been researching firms that claim they can quickly and efficient sort old lists into warm leads. Would you as an account rep personally pay a contractor to perform cold calling on your behalf to generate warm leads beyond what your employer generates?


🔎 Prospecting
📞 Cold Calling
💸 Investing
12
CoorsKing
WR Officer
5
Retired King of the Coors Knights
We tried it at my old company (outsourced SDRs) and not only was it garbage it managed to piss off some of the qualified prospects. Now, I am sure there are some actually good firms that do this, I just have not had a good experience. I think I remember Bean Boi @poweredbycaffeine discussing something similar before? 
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
5
☕️
Yes, I have touched on this topic so many times that I may have a restraining order out on me.

Outsourcing is all well and good, but it takes A LOT of training to get it right. Furthermore, an individual rep should not make this choice, but instead, it should be an org-wide sales initiative since it will require multiple people to train and monitor the situation. 

Where are you located @SaltySoul ?
SaltySoul
Contributor
0
Director of New Business Development
I'm in Canada. I trust the firm I'm considering based upon being domestic with a very experienced staff of independent contractors but I do see the pitfalls that cpuld exist especially if using off shore sources without experience.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
2
☕️
I had a domestic team…across the city actually…and they ended up wasting more of my time than they provided deal flow in the end. 
SaltySoul
Contributor
0
Director of New Business Development
Thank you for the feedback 
funcoupons
WR Officer
5
👑
No. I would rather do my own prospecting than hand that responsibility (and my valuable leads,) to some random stranger with zero ties to my company.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
No way. Do it yourself. I ain't trusting people I don't know to do my job. 
SaltySoul
Contributor
1
Director of New Business Development
I wasn't suggesting not personally vetting recent relevant leads. I could have been more detailed and established these were all old leads that need re-qualifying.
Beans
Big Shot
4
Enterprise Account Executive
This has been asked a dozen times over.

It is a terrible plan, terrible for culture, terrible for results, and leaves you no room to promote absolute beasts.

Develop internally, long term if your product doesn't suck, you'll be thankful.
SaltySoul
Contributor
1
Director of New Business Development
Learning I need to search my subjects first before posting! Thanks for the feedback.
Beans
Big Shot
0
Enterprise Account Executive
Hey no worries on that, I’ve no problem with reposts.
But for sure you’ll see the same responses more fleshed out, you’ll do better going internal, short term struggle long term gain.
ryan_howard
Politicker
2
Director, Business Development
This stuff literally never works
Corpslovechild
Politicker
1
Inbound Sales Manager
F A C T S
SaaSam
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Would you be comfortable outsourcing most or all of your first impressions to someone that you didn't know extremely well? That's how I view outsourcing SDRs.

If they are super good it could pay dividends but, are you willing to risk it? The chances that they are great reps are really low, if they were great reps, they would be working for another company internally.
SaltySoul
Contributor
0
Director of New Business Development
Fair point on first impression perspective. I was looking at how I could quickly vet what my experience tells me are terrible lists to show my client that we need to invest further into lead gen to create more mutual value.
SaaSam
Politicker
0
Account Executive
On that account you would probably do good to hire an outsourced SDR for a month or two. If you think the list is likely garbage you don't want to waste the time of anyone that costs more. I know an AE at a place in Mexico that you could talk to. Their low end cost is 3500 per rep per month on a month to month basis. I'll make the intro if you want.

In no way trying to promote this company by the way, if you can find someone cheaper go with them. Since you really just need someone to smile and dial that speaks good english.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Never worked for us. More more shit qualified lead than our marketing generated
justatopproducer
Politicker
0
VP OF SALES -US
I thought about using task rabbit, but the people qualified wanted no lie $90+ an hour. I don't make that and I am better than they are so I did it myself with a frown on my face.
SaltySoul
Contributor
1
Director of New Business Development
You bring up a very solid point on pricing. I have seen the service offered at the $90+ price point as well. Would you have considered it at $50/hr or $40/hr?
justatopproducer
Politicker
0
VP OF SALES -US
Absolutely not. At that point I would contact mg employer and ask them to hire an SDR and then sell them on thr benefits of doing so. If that didnt work probably find a company that wouod provide me what I needed ti be succesful. Also, cold calls suck but I believe its easier to learn about them and their business and build stronger raport. How many times have you gotten a meeting set to find out they just want a price and to tell their boss “heres the qoute you asked for”. Rather than uncovering needs at multiple levels. Increases closing rate for sure
SaltySoul
Contributor
0
Director of New Business Development
I think you nailed the issue I'm trying to overcome, my client doesn't want to pay up for the service required. I probably need to fire them and find a replacement clients that wants to invest in the process.
Corpslovechild
Politicker
0
Inbound Sales Manager
Based on my experience, outsourced cold calling never works.
SaltySoul
Contributor
1
Director of New Business Development
I appreciate the feedback. Based upon responses Im reconsidering my path forward.

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