Outsource Appointment Setting

37 replies
I was wondering if anyone outsource their cold calling for appointment settings and can give me some advice.

I have a local SEO business and I've tried cold calling recently, it's not bad once you get a momentum going but I havent had time to go full time with this because of my part time Job and just like most people, I hate it. I don't see myself doing this everyday either. I rather focus on closing a sale from appointments doing face to face.

So, has anyone tried outsourcing appointment settings telemarketers? Please give me your thoughts on this.

Thanks
#appointment #outsource #setting
  • Profile picture of the author bawls
    You can hire a cold caller sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author kebertt
    Absolutely - If you're looking to hire someone on the cheap oDesk is always an option, but be prepared to do a lot of filtering. If possible, your best option would probably be to find someone local who can work on an hourly + commission basis.

    Once you find someone reliable, scale, scale, scale.
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  • Profile picture of the author RazorSharpSamurai
    Banned
    Are you guys doing the same too? Any success stories with outsourcing?

    PanteraIM just posted a thread here on a good script for appointment settings. This is kind of motivating me to use this for myself, but maybe even hire someone during the times that I am not available to cold call.
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  • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
    All your doing when you outsource appointment setting is have someone else do the appointment setting.

    So if your asking does appointment setting work, absolutely we know this....no one can tell you that if you go to odesk and hire an outsourcer to cold call that it will go well.

    The act itself of appointment setting works....it's about finding someone or a company that does it well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rearden
    Bump to Maxwell.

    If your skill set is lacking in cold calling, be prepared to excel in another skill set -- managing people.

    I have gone through 6 to 10 appointment setters to work leads I receive, I now have probably the best appointment setter I have ever worked with. He's a former call center owner, too. Independent, does a knock-up job -- no hand-holding whatsoever.

    Just be prepared to weed through the junk.
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    • Profile picture of the author battleweb
      Originally Posted by Rearden View Post

      Bump to Maxwell.

      I have gone through 6 to 10 appointment setters to work leads I receive, I now have probably the best appointment setter I have ever worked with. He's a former call center owner, too. Independent, does a knock-up job -- no hand-holding whatsoever.

      Just be prepared to weed through the junk.
      Former call center owner?? Mind my asking what one would expect to pay an appointment setter with that kind of background?
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      • Profile picture of the author RimaNaj2011
        I never liked appointment setting with calls. Maybe it was just the leads I had but inbound leads are going to be more valuable.
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    • Profile picture of the author RazorSharpSamurai
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Rearden View Post

      Bump to Maxwell.

      If your skill set is lacking in cold calling, be prepared to excel in another skill set -- managing people.

      I have gone through 6 to 10 appointment setters to work leads I receive, I now have probably the best appointment setter I have ever worked with. He's a former call center owner, too. Independent, does a knock-up job -- no hand-holding whatsoever.

      Just be prepared to weed through the junk.
      Can you guide me where you looked for these appointment setters?


      Originally Posted by RimaNaj2011 View Post

      I never liked appointment setting with calls. Maybe it was just the leads I had but inbound leads are going to be more valuable.
      How do you get your inbound leads? What is your method?
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      • Profile picture of the author RimaNaj2011
        Originally Posted by RazorSharpMomentum View Post

        How do you get your inbound leads? What is your method?
        Direct mail. When the prospect comes to you and asks for more information, it's really hard to not close them. Just a simple one page "letter" in a handwritten envelope. Most expensive thing is the stamps and the time it takes but I send about 30 letters and close 1 client from that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rearden
    I think you can get away with paying appointment setters $10 to $15 an hour, assuming they are calling on inbound/reply cards. That's a good price for American nationals.

    I've wasted so much money trying to cheap it, and picking up foreigners with slight accents, or people who were just as cheap price-wise as they were quality-wise.

    Find a professional, give them a week or two to perform, fire them if they aren't, or continue to keep them on if they do well.
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    • Profile picture of the author RimaNaj2011
      Phillipines works well too if you want cheap and quality work. I paid about $0.30 a call with a $10 bonus for each appointment and I required 1 appointment per 50 calls. I called HP support and was talking to someone from the Phillipines. Trust me, if HP, HSBC, and big companies are doing it, it works. Granted, it's just to set appointments, if you want a closer and phone seller, I wouldn't count on the Filipino guys, they just aren't aggressive enough.
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      • Profile picture of the author portoce
        Hi there! where in the philipines can I get a good appointment setter, could you provide me with the information, I need an appointment setter

        Thanks

        Elio
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        • Profile picture of the author bsummers
          Elio, if you are in need of appointment setters, PM me. I will refer you to a colleague of mine.
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  • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
    Hey man, I appreciate the shout out.

    My advice would be to use the script and try it out for yourself first for a couple of weeks.

    Even though a good closer armed with a script will work independently they will still need to be managed and taught the nuances that every script is going to have. You can only teach someone this through experience.

    It takes roughly 40 hours of call time for a TM to start seeing any real efficiencies in terms of how much they are booking and also how closely the appointments match what you're looking for as a prospect.

    You should be prepared to invest at least a month into someone, but once you find them you have them for a long time if you pay them competitively and with bonuses + commission.

    A good incentive is to pay a $10 cash bonus on every appointment that gets qualified and seen over their daily threshold. If you want 3 seen appointments a day from your TM and they book you 5 they deserve that extra $20.

    This way you are only paying a bonus on qualified appointments that you've already seen. If the prospect is out of your criteria for an appointment the TM doesn't get paid their bonus. This makes this model win/win with little risk to you.

    It's not much to the business, but to a worker who is used to being paid a minimum wage it really motivates them to slam down good leads because they know they can make $50+ an hour if they do their job really well.

    Getting paid in cash NEXT DAY tax free is also a huge motivator. That's the person's petrol money, cigarettes, booze money for after work. Little things like that really inspire people to stretch themselves.
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  • Check out this WSO from Bruce:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...ness-fast.html

    I don't own it but it may help you.
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  • Profile picture of the author RazorSharpSamurai
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    Thanks PanteraIM. I think I'm going to suck it up and try out your script for a couple of weeks and see how it goes.

    I'm still new to cold calling that's probably why I'm already thinking about outsourcing. The fear and not enough practice, creating excuses. I'll probably hire someone down the line later when I'm comfortable and experienced with this myself.
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    • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
      Originally Posted by RazorSharpMomentum View Post

      Thanks PanteraIM. I think I'm going to suck it up and try out your script for a couple of weeks and see how it goes.

      I'm still new to cold calling that's probably why I'm already thinking about outsourcing. The fear and not enough practice, creating excuses. I'll probably hire someone down the line later when I'm comfortable and experienced with this myself.
      Good work


      You need to get on the phone ASAP otherwise you will continue to procrastinate.

      You can either go straight on into it and use the script I've already provided.

      Or if you want to get your feet wet first you could simply call them and do a market research call/sign them up on your list with an ebook or something. It's a lot less scary than it seems in reality, it's all in your head.
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      • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
        Originally Posted by PanteraIM View Post

        Good work


        You need to get on the phone ASAP otherwise you will continue to procrastinate.

        You can either go straight on into it and use the script I've already provided.

        Or if you want to get your feet wet first you could simply call them and do a market research call/sign them up on your list with an ebook or something. It's a lot less scary than it seems in reality, it's all in your head.
        I'm only asking this question because it seems like you have a lot of experience in this. Although, its obvious you do your own calling. Have you come across a company or service that does appoints per cost?
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        • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
          Originally Posted by TakenAction View Post

          I'm only asking this question because it seems like you have a lot of experience in this. Although, its obvious you do your own calling. Have you come across a company or service that does appoints per cost?
          Some independent agents offer those services on Odesk I've seen, but any 'serious' business is not going to do that because its not profitable.
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          • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
            Originally Posted by PanteraIM View Post

            Some independent agents offer those services on Odesk I've seen, but any 'serious' business is not going to do that because its not profitable.
            HAHAHAHAHAHAHA and how would you know what's profitable or not?

            Maybe your experience is that you can't generate leads consistently enough for YOU to make a per appointment model profitable. :rolleyes:

            It is absolutely profitable or else we wouldn't do it. I turn a profit on every single campaign or I wouldn't do it. I have never lost money offering my clients per appointment services.

            Know why? Because we have the experience in web design and seo appointment setting so we know how long it takes to generate those appointments.

            I'm offended that you would make such a blanket statement when you arent in the business and quite frankly your full of shit. Your only on here to build a list and based on the emails you send you have no real experience because your advice and "tips" are stuff anyone can find in a cheap sales book at the bookstore. No real value.

            Keep your advice relevant to your experience friend.
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            • Profile picture of the author PanteraIM
              Originally Posted by MaxwellB View Post

              HAHAHAHAHAHAHA and how would you know what's profitable or not?

              Maybe your experience is that you can't generate leads consistently enough for YOU to make a per appointment model profitable. :rolleyes:

              It is absolutely profitable or else we wouldn't do it. I turn a profit on every single campaign or I wouldn't do it. I have never lost money offering my clients per appointment services.

              Know why? Because we have the experience in web design and seo appointment setting so we know how long it takes to generate those appointments.

              I'm offended that you would make such a blanket statement when you arent in the business and quite frankly your full of shit. Your only on here to build a list and based on the emails you send you have no real experience because your advice and "tips" are trash, stuff anyone can find in a cheap sales book at the bookstore. No real value.

              Keep your advice relevant to your experience friend.
              Wow. I'm truly surprised by your comment. I didn't know someone could feel so slighted over someone else's opinion.

              You are just making yourself look bad here. And I'm not going to defend myself or sling anything back at you for reasons I just explained.

              If you don't like my content then don't read or my reply to my threads and leave your thoroughly unconstructive and jealous comments to yourself.
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              • Profile picture of the author Salashwal
                Originally Posted by PanteraIM View Post

                Wow. I'm truly surprised by your comment. I didn't know someone could feel so slighted over someone else's opinion.

                You are just making yourself look bad here. And I'm not going to defend myself or sling anything back at you for reasons I just explained.

                If you don't like my content then don't read or my reply to my threads and leave your thoroughly unconstructive and jealous comments to yourself.
                Well said. Like a gentleman.
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              • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
                Originally Posted by PanteraIM View Post

                Wow. I'm truly surprised by your comment. I didn't know someone could feel so slighted over someone else's opinion.

                You are just making yourself look bad here. And I'm not going to defend myself or sling anything back at you for reasons I just explained.

                If you don't like my content then don't read or my reply to my threads and leave your thoroughly unconstructive and jealous comments to yourself.
                So you giving an opinion based on zero experience and pulling it out of thin air and delivering it as fact to people on the forum who would not know any better than to believe you is constructive?

                Look I have been on this forum for a long time...and you know my line of work, so when someone specifically in a thread that I have posted in says that my business isn't legitimate or "serious" is of course going to make me defensive.

                Anyone who doesn't see that is self centered and ignorant.
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                • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
                  Originally Posted by MaxwellB View Post

                  So you giving an opinion based on zero experience and pulling it out of thin air and delivering it as fact to people on the forum who would not know any better than to believe you is constructive?

                  Look I have been on this forum for a long time...and you know my line of work, so when someone specifically in a thread that I have posted in says that my business isn't legitimate or "serious" is of course going to make me defensive.

                  Anyone who doesn't see that is self centered and ignorant.
                  I don't think he was speaking directly about your company, I could be wrong but I also disagree that a pay per appointment model is not profitable as I do it literally everyday for insurance agents.

                  I think the misconception is people might think you do the calling, get an appointment, come back and collect $45 or whatever your fee is and then start the process all over again, THAT would not be profitable.
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                  • Profile picture of the author MaxwellB
                    Originally Posted by Deidra Renee View Post

                    I don't think he was speaking directly about your company, I could be wrong but I also disagree that a pay per appointment model is not profitable as I do it literally everyday for insurance agents.

                    I think the misconception is people might think you do the calling, get an appointment, come back and collect $45 or whatever your fee is and then start the process all over again, THAT would not be profitable.
                    See I have to disagree and trust me I do respect your opinion because I know from your posts that you provide value and have real experience, but I do think he had my company in mind because he knows and saw on this thread that we do per appointment work. So when he posted that he must have realized that and decided to post anyway. But that's neither here nor there I really don't care I got defensive and now it's done.

                    On to your second comment...

                    What is not profitable about that though?

                    That's not exactly how we do it but essentially it is...we have a per appointment price...and a minimum number of appointments clients need to commit to, call it an appointment package.

                    Then we set those XX number of appointments.

                    We profit from this model.
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                    • Profile picture of the author sdmtl
                      Where is your site???
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                    • Profile picture of the author profitableblog
                      Originally Posted by MaxwellB View Post

                      See I have to disagree and trust me I do respect your opinion because I know from your posts that you provide value and have real experience, but I do think he had my company in mind because he knows and saw on this thread that we do per appointment work. So when he posted that he must have realized that and decided to post anyway. But that's neither here nor there I really don't care I got defensive and now it's done.

                      On to your second comment...

                      What is not profitable about that though?

                      That's not exactly how we do it but essentially it is...we have a per appointment price...and a minimum number of appointments clients need to commit to, call it an appointment package.

                      Then we set those XX number of appointments.

                      We profit from this model.

                      Quick note - your site is down today: Down For Everyone Or Just Me -> Check if your website is down or up?

                      I loved reading this thread as the bottom line is telemarketing is hard and there are too many people that make a living ripping people off which gives everyone a bad name when it may or may not be true. I understand that concept as I worked in the nutrition industry and there are tons of bad actors in that category - especially supplements so you either grow a thick skin as you laugh to the bank or spend all your time defending yourself which I would take your approach of being a gentleman.
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  • Profile picture of the author npk
    If you do hire a telemarketer, send them a few different scripts so you can split test.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mwind076
      Originally Posted by npk View Post

      If you do hire a telemarketer, send them a few different scripts so you can split test.
      Or hire someone that knows how to tweak a script on the spot if it's not working. I don't recommend you write random scripts and have someone "try them out" unless you know what you're doing, which means, do you know what the objections have been? Do you know what a correct sampling and accurate response should be to your script? Have you called using these scripts and know which ones don't work? Do you have any idea how to run a calling campaign?

      There is way too much that can go wrong with someone that has no knowledge of calling and what to expect with them writing their own script. It's how we get people that want us to use their wonderful script they created, but then wonder why it's not working and we changed it...if it was working, then why didn't you make a million bucks off it when YOU called? Why are you calling me to work miracles if your script is so good? It's not.

      You're better off having a professional handle the campaign and teaching YOU how to do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author TakenAction
    anyone know any companies or services that will have a cost per appointment model?
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  • Profile picture of the author ambrking
    There are plenty of appointment setters that are open for outsourcing. Or you can try working with a company. Make sure you check if they are credible and are knowledgeable. To get the most out of a campaign, try pairing it with online marketing too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
    When I was selling Yellow Page advetising, I got a lot of appointments by having my then girlfriend make some calls for me.

    She would call businesses that weren't advertising with us, and she would ask to speak to the owner or whoever handled their yellow page advertising.

    She would then go on to explain she was my personal assistant, used a little script I wrote for her and whether Monday or Tuesday (whatever two days) were best for them to meet with me? (I taught her how to use the presumptive close.)

    If she encountered the gatekeeper, she actually could bypass them a lot easier, because she said she was my personal assistant.

    I think it worked well because it helped build a little rapport. She was in essence doing the same job as a lot of the gatekeepers. She wasn't that "sneaky, bothersome, salesperson" she was just my assistant.

    This worked like a charm.

    I got so many more appointments this way than when I was cold calling on my own.

    She actually called places I had already tried and couldn't get around the gatekeeper. Thanks to her, places I couldn't get around the gatekeeper, actually wound up giving me appointments.

    If you have any unemployed or part time employed female relatives/friends or wife/girlfriend I would highly suggest you give this method a shot.

    Obviously, you should compensate them either for a fixed amount or a % of profit on any deals you close thanks to their appointment setting.

    I'm not trying to be sexist, but as a general rule of thumb, in my experience, people are more receptive to women over the phone, they're less likely to be rude to a woman too.
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    • Profile picture of the author RazorSharpSamurai
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

      When I was selling Yellow Page advetising, I got a lot of appointments by having my then girlfriend make some calls for me.

      She would call businesses that weren't advertising with us, and she would ask to speak to the owner or whoever handled their yellow page advertising.

      She would then go on to explain she was my personal assistant, used a little script I wrote for her and whether Monday or Tuesday (whatever two days) were best for them to meet with me? (I taught her how to use the presumptive close.)

      If she encountered the gatekeeper, she actually could bypass them a lot easier, because she said she was my personal assistant.

      I think it worked well because it helped build a little rapport. She was in essence doing the same job as a lot of the gatekeepers. She wasn't that "sneaky, bothersome, salesperson" she was just my assistant.

      This worked like a charm.

      I got so many more appointments this way than when I was cold calling on my own.

      She actually called places I had already tried and couldn't get around the gatekeeper. Thanks to her, places I couldn't get around the gatekeeper, actually wound up giving me appointments.

      If you have any unemployed or part time employed female relatives/friends or wife/girlfriend I would highly suggest you give this method a shot.

      Obviously, you should compensate them either for a fixed amount or a % of profit on any deals you close thanks to their appointment setting.

      I'm not trying to be sexist, but as a general rule of thumb, in my experience, people are more receptive to women over the phone, they're less likely to be rude to a woman too.
      Wow, I wish I had a girlfriend like that lol. She's definitely a keeper.
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  • Profile picture of the author rolltide
    Maxwell,
    I sent an email yesterday regarding your services. The message was sent through your site. I will await your reply.


    Thanks,
    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author DesertSand
    For what its worth, Mwind076 View Profile: Mwind076 are a husband and wife team that do this for a living. If I remember correctly, they've been doing it for years. Anyways, hit her up, shes top notch.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mwind076
    Now we all know cold calling and appt setting doesn't work. I'm just here for the good conversation and friends. Kidding, thanks DesertSand.

    How did this thread pop up? Oh wait, someone random asked where to find appt setters and the new sig guy posted another reply to get his sign clicked on. Maybe I'm just in a mood today. Good thing I'm not the only one that called him out on it.
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