Why ​​Lead Generation Outsourcing Is Key to Maximizing Your Growth Potential

Right now, finding new customers can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. It’s not that clients aren’t looking for the services you offer—you’re just not showing up where they are searching and that’s a problem.

That's where lead generation outsourcing comes in handy. 

Download our ready-to-use email templates to reengage old leads for free and scale your sales process today!

In this article, we'll dive deep into lead generation outsourcing—what it entails, why it matters, and how to decide if it's the right move for your business. So grab a cup of coffee and let's get started.

Importance of finding leads

In many ways, leads are the lifeblood of your business. They're the folks who could become loyal customers and spread the word about your products or services far and wide, enabling your agency to grow while boosting your SEO lead generation efforts.

Benefits of lead generation outsourcing

Picture this: You're a digital agency owner with big dreams, but you and your team are also juggling a dozen fulfillment and admin tasks at once—where is the time to focus on sales? Outsourcing is a way to hand off the heavy lifting of finding potential customers and managing a lead generation database to experts who know the ropes.

Let’s start off by listing some of the main benefits that local lead generation outsourcing offers busy digital agencies:

1. Time and resource savings

Outsourcing lead generation can save you heaps of time and resources. Here's why:

• It frees up your team to focus on other important tasks.
• You won't have to spend time searching for leads, designing a lead generation website or landing page, or managing campaigns.

2. Expertise and experience

When you work with an outsourcing company, you get access to experts who know what they're doing. Here's how it helps:

• These companies have a lot of experience designing lead generation systems and finding and nurturing leads.
• They know what works because they've worked with many different clients.

3. Access to advanced tools and technologies

Outsourcing lead generation means you get access to the latest tools and tech without the hefty subscription bill. Here's what that means for you:

• You'll have access to lead generation tools that can analyze data and predict which leads are most likely to convert.
• This sales management software can help you target your marketing efforts more effectively.

4. Increased lead conversion rates and improved ROI

Outsourcing lead generation often leads to better lead quality and more sales. Here's how:

• You'll see more of the leads you get actually turn into customers.
• This means you'll get more bang for your buck and see a better return on your investment on things such as lead generation email marketing and marketing automation.

Lead generation vs. demand generation: Demand generation and lead generation may seem similar, but they serve distinct purposes in your content marketing lead generation strategy. While demand generation concentrates on building awareness and interest in your brand among potential customers, lead generation is geared toward converting those aware prospects into actual customers.

Real-life examples

Looking at real-life success stories can give you an idea of what outsourcing lead generation can do for you. Here are some case study examples:

E-Marketing Associates

Leverages Business App to impress prospects and gain a competitive edge generating $550K+

The challenge: E-Marketing Associates sought a holistic solution to streamline their operations, enhance digital marketing services, and offer user-friendly reporting to clients. They aimed to scale their business while nurturing long-term client relationships. Discover how they optimized their lead generation funnel in this case study.

Download the case study

Apartments.com

Apartments.com delivers online reputation management at scale with 1112% review volume growth

The challenge: Apartments.com caters to multifamily housing providers across America, equipping them with tools to market listings, manage online reputations, and engage target audiences. As they expanded into new markets and increased sales efforts, they faced the challenge of streamlining operations and consolidating vendors to ensure a seamless customer experience while scaling their operations. Find out how they did it below.

Download the case study

Challenges of lead generation outsourcing

Here are some common challenges you might encounter while trying to outsource your lead generation efforts, and ways to navigate them more effectively:

• Selecting the right partner

Choosing the wrong outsourcing partner can lead to communication issues, inefficiency, and poor client relation management (CRM) lead generation.

Tip: Research potential partners thoroughly, checking their experience, reviews, and compatibility with your business values.

• Data security concerns

Outsourcing involves sharing sensitive data, which should raise some questions about data security and privacy. Can these folks be trusted to keep your data secure?

Tip: Ensure the outsourcing partner you work with has robust security measures in place and adheres to industry standards like GDPR or HIPAA. With Website Pro, for example, you’ll never worry about your site going down, getting hacked, or dealing with pesky servers again. Gain peace of mind knowing that your site is hosted by the most trusted source on the internet and backed by the most up-to-date infrastructure. 

• Communication gaps

Miscommunication between you and the outsourcing partner can lead to misunderstandings and errors.

Tip: Establish clear communication channels, hold regular meetings, and use collaboration tools like Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Chat to stay connected.

• Maintaining brand consistency

You know your brand like the back of your hand, but what does your lead generation outsourcer do? Outsourcing may result in inconsistencies in brand messaging and tone.

Tip: Provide detailed brand guidelines to the outsourcing partner and monitor their work very closely in the beginning to ensure alignment with your brand identity.

General rules of thumb for lead generation outsourcing

When it comes to generating leads with an outsourcer, it is always important to follow a few lead generation best practices. Let’s take a quick look at a few:

Set clear expectations and goals

Clearly outline your expectations and objectives for the outsourcing partnership. That means you should define the scope of work, deliverables, and timelines. 

For example, if you're outsourcing lead generation for a product launch, specify the target number of leads and the timeframe for achieving them. Provide detailed guidelines on the quality of leads required, preferred lead sources, and any other specific requirements that are important for them to know.

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)

Identify measurable KPIs that align with your business objectives and track progress effectively. 

For instance, if you're outsourcing lead generation for a digital marketing campaign, relevant KPIs may include lead conversion rates, cost per lead, lead quality scores, and return on investment (ROI). Set specific targets for each KPI and regularly monitor performance against these benchmarks.

Regularly review progress and performance metrics

Schedule regular meetings or checkpoints to review progress and lead generation metrics. Analyze lead generation data, such as lead volume, lead sources, and conversion rates, to identify any trends or areas for improvement. 

For example, if the outsourcing partner doesn’t meet your target conversion rates, you may need to adjust the lead generation strategy or provide additional training and resources.

Tip: Decide before the end of your first meeting when you plan to connect again or set up a recurring meeting in your calendar using workflow automation. Having something down and set in stone will help keep the conversation going.

Foster open communication and transparency

Maintain open lines of communication with the outsourcing partner to address any concerns or issues as quickly as possible. Encourage honest feedback and transparency to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making. 

For instance, if there are discrepancies in lead quality or communication gaps, address them proactively by scheduling regular check-ins, conducting performance reviews, and providing constructive feedback.

How to determine whether you should outsource lead generation

When deciding if outsourcing lead generation is right for your business, it’s best to think about a few key things:

1. Business goals: What do you want to achieve? If you need more leads quickly or lack expertise in-house, outsourcing might help.
2. Resources and skills: Do you have the right people and tools to generate leads effectively? If not, outsourcing to experts could be a good move.
3. Readiness: Are you ready to work with an outside team? It means letting go of some control, so make sure your team is okay with that.
4. Cost and flexibility: Outsourcing can save money and make it easier to adapt as your needs change. Consider if these benefits outweigh the costs.

Assessment checklist

Here are some questions to help you decide if outsourcing is right for you:

• Do you know what you want to achieve with lead generation?

• Do you have the skills and tools to do it yourself?

• Are you okay with working closely with an outside team?

• Have you thought about the costs and benefits of outsourcing?

• Do you have a plan for finding the right outsourcing partner?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, outsourcing lead generation might be in the cards for you.

Making a decision

This isn’t something you should just rush into. It’s ok to take the time you need to weigh the pros and cons. If outsourcing fits your goals and budget, it could be a great asset to have under your belt. Just make sure you're ready for the changes it brings to your team and processes.