Cold calling is one of the best ways to promote your company’s goods and services and generate publicity. However, your company’s cold callers must have specialized skills, time, and resources, which can be challenging to find.
That’s where outsourcing cold-calling services comes in handy. It boosts productivity and is cost-effective. In this article, we’ll explore the numerous benefits of outsourced cold-calling services and provide tips on how to hire the best cold callers. Read on!
What Is Outsourced Cold Calling?
Outsourced cold calling refers to hiring third-party providers to take over a company’s cold-calling tasks. Cold calling is a sales technique businesses use to reach out to potential customers who have not yet shown interest in their product or service.
The outsourced provider sets up a team of sales experts who will call prospects on your business’s behalf. Depending on your preference, the team can use your existing cold-call scripts or create a new one.
The common cold-calling services include lead generation and market research. Lead generation gathers information and assesses potential customers’ interests. Meanwhile, market research collects opinions, analyzes data about products and services, and studies market trends.
Are Cold Calls Illegal?
No, cold calls aren’t illegal if you comply with the laws that protect consumers. In the US, you must refrain from using automated calling systems or calling someone past working hours. Collecting money without consent or sending unsolicited emails is also prohibited.
Automated calling systems are computer programs that automatically dial phone numbers and send pre-recorded messages to the recipients. Using such systems to make unwanted calls is intrusive and is considered forgery.
Similarly, collecting money without consent is a form of fraud and is strictly prohibited.
Cold calling someone past working hours can also disrupt their time and is seen as violating privacy.
Lastly, sending unsolicited emails can be considered spam and annoying for recipients. These emails may contain malware or viruses, posing security risks to the user’s device. Thus, before making cold calls, know what not to do.
How to Outsource Cold Callers
Follow these steps to hire cold callers:
Step 1: Outline Your Objectives and Goals
Determine your objectives for cold calling, whether lead generation, market research, or appointment setting. Use these goals to guide you through the entire outsourcing process.
Step 2: Select the Right Cold-Calling Service Provider
Conduct thorough research and pick a reputable cold-calling service provider. Look for a company with experienced agents committed to quality and a proven track record.
Step 3: Provide Training and Resources
After picking a provider, develop a training program covering your products, services, and company values. Provide scripts to ensure accurate representation of your company.
Check out the best cold-calling software your outsourced cold caller can use here!
Step 4: Set a Communication Plan
Outline the frequency of meetings, progress reports, and feedback sessions with your outsourcing partner. This promotes open communication and facilitates a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Step 5: Implement the Cold-Calling Plan
Once everything is complete, launch your cold-calling campaign and monitor its progress. Track the number of calls, leads generated, and the conversion rate to ensure that your outsourced cold caller and plan are effective.
How to Engage Customers in Cold Calling
These are the steps to engage customers in cold calling:
Step 1: Research About Your Prospects
Browse blogs, social media, and websites to gain insight into your call list. Use this to create a pitch that shows your genuine interest in meeting their needs. A good pitch increases the chances of a positive response from your target audience.
Step 2: Draft Your Pitch
Create an engaging opening statement that introduces yourself, the company, and the purpose of the call. Use your research points to develop a script that addresses the audience’s concerns and needs.
Ensure the pitch sounds natural to maximize your target audience engagement. If your pitch sounds forced or robotic, it may cause your prospect to lose interest and drop the call.
Step 3: Build Rapport Quickly
Establish a connection with the prospect first. Use a positive and enthusiastic voice to create a friendly atmosphere to facilitate effective communication. You can mention trigger events like new product launches to capture their interest.
Step 4: Use Open-Ended Questions
Open-ended questions can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no. “ They are more interactive and create a two-way conversation. This lets you learn more about your prospects’ needs and concerns.
For instance, ask your prospect about a problem your product or service can help with. This will prompt your target audience to explain something and allow you to introduce an offer.
Step 5: Customize Your Pitch
Personalize your offering based on the prospect’s preferences. Focus on how your product or service can solve their problems. Use social proof, such as testimonials, to demonstrate its value.
Here are some discovery call questions that you can ask when cold calling a potential customer.
Step 6: Finalize With a Call-to-Action
Ask your prospect to take the next step in the sales process. Propose that they book a meeting, schedule a demo, send a proposal, or sign a contract. However, be careful not to be too pushy, as this can discourage your prospect from accepting your offer.
Step 7: Follow Up
If the prospect doesn’t make an immediate purchase, follow up with additional emails or calls.
Learn more about how to engage customers in cold calling from LinkedIn.
Benefits of Outsourcing Cold Calling
Here are the benefits of cold call outsourcing:
- Boosts Efficiency.
Specialized outsourced providers can handle cold calling services perfectly, allowing businesses to focus on core competencies and improve efficiency. - Transfers Risk.
Cold calling is a high-risk business with legal and ethical pitfalls. Outsourcing this task to a third-party provider shifts some of the legal and financial risks to the provider. - Increased Productivity.
Outsourced cold-calling agencies are efficient and can make as many calls as possible to generate sales, which boosts productivity. - Cost-Effective.
Cold-calling outsourcing reduces the need to invest in a cold-calling department, hire employees, or train staff. The providers already have the necessary resources and expertise, which can reduce business expenses. - Access to Specialized Skills.
Cold-calling agencies often have a team of professionals with years of experience. By outsourcing, businesses can benefit from their skills and knowledge.
Discover more about the benefits of outsourcing cold calling from LinkedIn.com
Risks of Outsourcing Cold Calling
These are the risks of outsourcing cold calling:
- Security Concerns.
Outsourcing cold calling involves sharing sensitive information about your business, products, or services with a third-party service provider. There is a risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information if the provider does not have adequate security measures. - Lack of Control.
When you outsource cold calling services, you rely on third-party providers to represent your business. This makes it challenging to control the quality of calls or messages, which can negatively impact your brand image. - Potential Miscommunication.
Differences in culture, language, and communication styles can cause misunderstandings between your outsourcing team and the target audience. This can lead to an inaccurate representation of your brand and a failure to convey key selling points, affecting your cold-calling campaign. - Cost.
Although outsourcing may seem cost-effective in the short run, it may not be sustainable in the long run. This is due to the hidden costs that can come with it, such as management fees. Moreover, if the outsourced team fails to deliver the desired results, you may incur additional costs of sourcing a new team. - Difficulty Responding to Real-Time Issues.
An outsourced team may not have the same knowledge, expertise, or authority to handle complex issues promptly. This can result in delays in resolving customer concerns, negatively impacting customer satisfaction and potentially losing potential leads. - Limited Customization and Flexibility.
Outsourced cold-calling services often use a standardized approach to reach potential customers. This may limit the ability to customize communication strategies and adapt quickly to changes in the market.
