Telemarketing is one of the effective forms of generating lead. And, contracting telemarketing outsourcing services can make the whole process even more worthwhile and rewarding. However, in order to ensure that your telemarketing outsourcing does not end up being a costlier and less effective exercise, there are essential steps to take before outsourcing your telemarketing.

Step #1: Interview as Many Providers as Possible

You should not just settle for any telemarketing provider that comes your way. Take your time to research the top providers and get to interview as many as possible and narrow your choice eventually to the best. Ensure you are asking the right questions such as ‘do you have a telemarketing plan?’ In fact, you should demand to see their telemarketing plan and ask them to create one specifically for your type of business. Adopt due diligence to help you hire the best telemarketing service provider.

Step #2: Make Your Sales and Marketing Goals/Strategy Clear

Even if you do not have a marketing strategy as a small business (which is usually the case), you should at least have insight into your target audience and what they need. While some telemarketing outsourcing providers will promise to help you in this aspect, they will end up doing trial and error that can land your business into trouble. So, you should be the one setting the pace concerning the needs of your target audience and the marketing strategy in place to meet your audience’s need.

Step #3: Choose a Supplier with Care

Ensure that the telemarketing service provider that you intend to hire is a specialist in telemarketing. You should look out for a provider with relatively quality selling skills as well as the ability to strike an engaging sales conversation by creating a rapport with a prospect. In fact, you should interview the provider in view or whosoever that will be assigned to handle your telemarketing. This way, you can be sure of what to expect. Check their portfolio for previous projects and request to speak with previous or present clients to gauge their level of satisfaction. Being profound in hiring telemarketing outsourcing services will ultimately reward you with the best possible outcome. 

Step #4: Keep Your Expectations Realistic

A lot of companies and businesses tend to have unrealistic expectations from telemarketers. Companies should realize that new prospects and contacts have to be nurtured overtime. You should not expect faster and higher closure rates that are obtainable with networking referrals since this tactic is equivalent to leads purchase. Give the telemarketer time to nurture the generated contacts to maturity. This way, you will eventually build loyal patrons when their hearts are completely won.

Indeed, hiring telemarketing outsourcing services can be rewarding in so many ways such as cost reduction, efficient telemarketing, loyal patronage, and access to talented telemarketers.  However, ensure you adopt the right process in hiring the best provider, and try as much as possible to keep your expectation realistic. This way you can get the best that outsourcing has to offer.

Daven Michaels is a New York Times Best Selling Author and CEO of premiere global outsourcing company, 123Employee. The company employs hundreds of young bright individuals on three continents. His International event, Beyond Marketing Live! inspires entrepreneurs build & grow their business with revolutionary new theories and systems allowing them to design the business and personal lifestyle of their dreams.