How to Pick the Right B2B Appointment Setting Service for Your Business

If you’re busy running your business, setting appointments and scheduling meetings might be the last thing on your to-do list. And yet, it’s the first step in connecting with prospects that can improve your bottom line, so it’s essential. That’s where a partnership can come in handy—a partnership with a service like Smith.ai that can assist with B2B appointment setting and other administrative tasks, as well as other solutions. 

Today, there are tons of companies out there claiming to offer the best solutions. Even more, there is a growing market for automated appointment and scheduling tools, and some people just can’t get enough of them. But how are you supposed to choose what’s best for your business? While there’s no single answer here, there are some definite tips to keep in mind and steps you can take. Here’s what you need to know. 

Choosing an appointment setting service: what to look for 

It makes sense to start with the basics. If you’re new to choosing an outsourced service, it can seem like a challenge to figure out what all you should be looking for. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered here. When you want to hire an appointment setting service, consider the following elements.

Experience/Areas of Expertise 

This is going to be one of the first things to consider. How much experience with B2B appointment setting does the company have? Are they specialized in your field, if necessary, such as in the case of law firms? Make sure you choose a service that can act as the face of your business without missing a beat. 

Types of Services Offered

Do they offer additional services beyond appointment setting? And what kind of appointment setting do they handle? Will they do it all or do they only handle cold calls and outreach? Can they take incoming appointment calls? These are all things to think about. 

Pricing/Pricing Structures

While cost shouldn’t be your only concern, you’re probably on a budget here. And naturally, you shouldn’t spend more than you have to even when it comes to outsourcing appointment scheduling. Check out the way that services are priced, and more importantly, ensure you choose a company that is transparent with their pricing and fees so that you know exactly what you’re getting. 

Integrations 

How does the appointment setting service integrate with your company’s software and tools? Will they be able to seamlessly manage and notify you of appointments without having to make extra steps or risk missing a beat? This is important if you’re going to make the most of these solutions because today’s technology requires that you be able to integrate and streamline your operations as much as possible. That includes with outsourcing solutions like this. 

Several other features and considerations might make your list here, but these cover all the general areas that you need to think about. You’ll get a much better solution if you take the time to research your options and make sure that you get the ideal fit for your needs. 

The pros and cons of outsourcing

So, what are the perks here? And are there any cautions? Well, for starters, there are more pros than cons here when you do it correctly. Of course, the “doing it correctly” part is the big thing. With everything that you’ve learned here, it should be easy for you to find the right appointment setting service for your needs, no matter how big or small those might be. 

And when you do, here are some pros and cons to consider with outsourcing professional services like appointment setting. 

Pros 

• You won’t have the expense of an employee, which adds up to almost 1.5 times their salary in the first year, and not much less in subsequent years due to training, overhead, etc. 

• You will have access to a better pool of talent and better solutions than if you were to hire in-house.

• The labor costs and overall expenses are lower when outsourcing and you still have total control of the process.

• Frees up your time to focus on other tasks, customers, etc. 

• Increases your return on investment. 

• Offers a better ability to control your spending in regard to admin solutions. 

• Gives you the chance to create a custom solution for your scheduling and other needs. 

• You can often outsource multiple services with one partner, freeing up time and resources without breaking the bank. 
  

Cons 

• If you don’t choose the right partner, you could be left in the dark with no useful software integrations. 

• Independent contractors may be hard to pin down or negotiate with in terms of contracts and work terms.

• Some people have reported issues with communication or their lack of control, but proper teams will ensure that these aren’t issues. 

• Contractors may not be familiar with the nuances of your company and operations. 
  

Ultimately, as long as you take the time to find the right partner, you stand to gain a lot more from outsourcing than you think, and especially when it comes to making and managing your appointments. When you outsource effectively, you’re giving your business the chance to grow in a scalable way and saving the expense of adding to the payroll until or unless it’s absolutely necessary. And speaking of necessary, a partnership with Smith.ai could be just what you need. 

Partner with Smith.ai for appointment setting, lead intake, and so much more

If you’re looking for more pros and fewer potential cons, consider a partnership with the dedicated virtual receptionists at Smith.ai. Not only can our 24/7 receptionists assist with appointment scheduling, but we offer assistance with lead intake and qualification, outbound sales and support, and even after-hours answering and live website chat support. 

Plus, as always, we’ll collaborate with you to create the perfect strategy to manage it all, no matter what your needs might be. To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss what the 24/7 virtual receptionists can do to streamline your appointment setting and more. You can also reach us at hello@smith.ai or (650) 727-6484.