7 Questions to Ask Outsourced Sales Companies Before You Commit to One

Outsourcing your sales efforts is a great way to free up your time and make better use of your resources. After all, outsourced sales companies are dedicated to selling, so they’re going to get much better results than even the best salespeople on your team. Perhaps you’re a small business or solopreneur who doesn’t have a sales team or the means to acquire one—outsourcing is a great choice here, as well. 

Of course, you can’t just run out and hire the first company that you find (and that goes for anything). You need to take the time to assess your options and determine exactly what you need. In doing that, there are some questions and concerns that will be more pressing than others. What matters to you may be different than what matters to another business, after all. As you’re considering what you want from this investment, remember to keep the following questions in mind. 

1. What is your cold calling approach?

Any company worth working with will be happy to explain their sales process and approach to you. This will help reassure you that they get results (and hopefully show you how they do so), giving you the peace of mind that you need. If you hear a company’s approach and decide it’s not the direction you want to go, that’s fine, too. That’s why you ask these questions, after all. To get answers, not to have people tell you what you want to hear. 

2. What is your track record like?

Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that you’re working with an outsourced sales team that has a track record of success in their business. You aren’t going to hand your sales over to someone incapable of producing results, after all. Plus, the best companies are those who are more than willing to show off their successes, as well as the challenges they have overcome in their years of business. 

Consider not just how they’ve helped increase sales, but other milestones and benchmarks they’ve made along the way (such as improving a company’s retention or increasing customer satisfaction via online chat). This will ensure that your outsourced sales team will take your business in the right direction. 

3. Do you offer multi-touch campaigns or handle multiple deliverables?

You may only need assistance with one campaign. If, however, you’re considering multiple campaigns or need to get a comprehensive sales approach, it’s important to have a team that can help you in every regard. The best outsourced sales teams will help you create a dynamic campaign that takes care of all your sales needs, no matter how big or small they might be. 

Even if you’re just starting and don’t need it yet, you will eventually, and it’s easier if you don’t have to switch companies later. 

4. Do you use any automation technology?

This is important. Technology is great, but you don’t want to outsource your sales to a company that’s just going to turn on the automated dialers and sit back and wait for a bite. There is a time and a place for automation and other AI, and the best companies will know where and how to use it to perfection. Some companies haven’t gotten that far or still stick with the traditional methods of human interaction, but a balance of the two can do a lot more for you than you think. 

5. What kind of strategic planning services do you offer?

Help with sales is great, but what good is anything without a plan? Your best option is to find a team that offers strategic planning along with their sales solutions. Otherwise, you’ve got to make your own plans and then just find people to carry them out. That defeats the purpose of outsourcing in the first place. Get as much as you can from a sales outsourcing company, including a team that will strategize both with and for you. 

6. Does your company have experience in my market/niche?

While this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, it’s helpful to know that you’re working with salespeople who have experience with the market or type of industry in which you sell goods or services. After all, the more expertise they have, the better they will be at converting those sales calls without you having to intervene. Of course, this is also a chance for them to offer other expertise or proof of experience in lieu of direct work within your industry, proving they’re willing to do what it takes to get the job done. 

7. How does your team handle reporting?

This is a big one for business owners and sales leaders. You need to know how you’re going to be kept informed of what’s going on with your sales, how things are progressing, if strategies need tweaking, etc. A professional sales company will have a structure in place for reporting that is standardized to make it easy for you to keep up. You should be able to get updates when YOU want them and on your terms. 

If they can integrate with your CRM and other software, deliver automated daily reports, and so forth, even better. 

For the ultimate partnership in sales, support, and more, partner with the team at Smith.ai

We’ve spent years perfecting the business of supporting other businesses, and now it’s your turn to benefit. Instead of struggling to find the best sales solutions, partner with the dedicated virtual receptionists at Smith.ai and get all the solutions that your business needs. Not only can our agents help with outbound sales support, but they can also offer admin and communications support for:

• Lead intake and scheduling
• After-hours call answering
• Live website chat
• Payment collection
• Temporary receptionist services
• And so much more!

To learn more and get started on your new sales strategy, schedule a consultation with the dedicated agents at Smith.ai today. If you’d like to talk more, you can also reach us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.