Worldwide, we are seeing increasing competition in every vertical market. That means it’s more vital than ever for businesses to improve their sales techniques. One way for your sales team to do so is to gain the skill of appointment setting.
B2B appointment setting services are only one piece of a larger sales puzzle. Still, it’s a crucial skill to have if you want to close more deals. Read on to learn about appointment setting and why you want to know how to use it.
What Is B2B Appointment Setting?
Business-to-business (B2B) appointment setting involves companies setting a date to meet with a prospect in person. The meeting often involves a showing of your product or service. Afterward, there’s an in-depth discussion and a sales pitch.
B2B appointment setting services are an age-old sales tactic, but that doesn’t mean it is outdated. It still works well, especially in B2B settings, and advanced technology has made it more personalized and focused.
Note that appointment setting is only for prospects, not leads. Using your resources to make appointments with those at the top of your sales funnel is unwise. The next section will discuss why that is the case.
How Do B2B Appointment Setting Services Work?
There are several major stages in the B2B cycle. These are:
- Lead generation
- Lead qualification
- Appointment setting
Lead generation is about making personal contact with people curious about what you offer. It can involve cold calling, emailing, or even social selling. The sales team should nurture any leads by following up. Speak with them again and learn more about their needs.
The lead qualification process segments leads to see which are more likely to buy. Here, the sales team should be in talks with decision-makers who are ready and able to buy.
Appointment setting is the sales cycle’s final stage. Once the sales team qualifies a lead, they must work to get in front of them so they can make a sales pitch. By the time that happens, you have already built a connection with someone in a position to buy. The appointment you set is your chance to answer questions, overcome objections, and close the deal.
Who Should Use B2B Appointment Setting?
There are a few ways to know whether appointment setting is a good plan for your business. Ask these questions:
- Are you marketing high-ticket B2B products and services? When clients invest more, they need more nurturing and personalization.
- Are you unable to close many sales due to poor lead quality? Appointment setting requires you to better vet your prospects. Doing so will increase conversions.
- Does your product or service need a demo or consultation to show its true value? If so, personal appointments will be the best way to show your offer.
Consider adding appointment setting to your strategy if you answer yes to any of these.
Why Is B2B Appointment Setting So Important?
When the prospect takes the time to meet with you in person, it shows how serious they are about buying. A prospect who promises to consider an offer but has yet to make an appointment likely won’t buy. Thus, appointment setting helps your sales team avoid wasting time.
Additionally, appointment setting creates a great experience for the prospect. They will see the product or service in action during a personalized showing. They will also have the chance to ask questions and have any concerns eased. That can lead to longer-lasting business connections and client satisfaction.
What Are the Pros and Cons of B2B Appointment Setting?
Appointment setting has many clear benefits for business owners. The most common advantages that business owners will notice include the following:
- Creating trust with prospects through relationship building
- Keeping your sales pipeline full of prospective clients
- Growing your network to find new opportunities through referrals
- Getting quick feedback about your sales process, presentation, and product
It’s also important to note that there are a few drawbacks to be aware of, such as:
- The cost of the tools and tech needed for high-volume appointment setting
- The costs of hiring new staff or retraining to close skill gaps
- Nurturing leads and setting appointments means less time spent closing deals
You can overcome these drawbacks. Still, you should consider shifting how your sales team works.
What Are Some Best Practices for B2B Appointment Setting?
Appointment setting is only useful when it’s done right. With that said, here are four best practices to remember as you add this skill to your arsenal:
Scheduling
Choose a scheduling model that works for your sales team. Standard time slot scheduling is convenient for prospects. Still, things can get tough if appointments run late. Cluster and wave scheduling can help you prioritize clients and predict volume. However, these models limit client freedom and control.
Team Structure
Create a well-defined sales team structure. You may want to have a few cross-trained people that set appointments, close deals, and manage accounts. You may also want a bigger team where every person specializes in a unique skill. Your team structure will depend on your hiring budget, individual choices, and employee skillsets.
Tracking
You must set and track key performance indicators. These can be anything from touches over time to appointment completion percentages. They will help you measure and optimize for maximum success.
Personalization
Customize your presentation and script to separate prospects. Making a personal link is vital to the sales process. Take time to find out about your prospect’s needs and pain points. If you can address those, you’re more likely to land the sale.
What Challenges Can B2B Appointment Setting Bring?
Appointment setting is a vital skill for your sales team, but it can be challenging. It’s important to know some of the issues you might face so you can get proactive about tackling them.
Apart from the cons noted above, some challenges include the following:
- Having an outdated database that can be time-consuming to update
- Learning to carry a dialogue that provides value and gathers the right info
- Knowing your target industry’s key decision-makers and how to contact them
- Not knowing how to get past client objections
- Knowing a prospect’s business process and how long contracts may take
- Not having the time (or time management skills) to do everything your sales cycle requires
Thankfully, most of these issues are just skills gaps your team can fill through training. You can also fill them by outsourcing your appointment setting to a contact center.
Should You Outsource Your B2B Appointment Setting?
Appointment setting is a resource-heavy activity. Some teams have the time, budget, and energy to take it on, but others do not. One thing they can do is outsource their appointment setting. A few of the benefits you can reap from outsourcing are as follows:
- Allowing the sales team to work on closing deals, which boosts productivity while using less time and resources
- Using other people’s skills instead of retraining your sales team saves precious time
- Saving money by not having to hire a large team or buy infrastructure
- Flexibility to scale your team up or down as needed
Whatever you choose to do, make sure that you take your business budget, timeline, and goals into consideration.
An Age-Old Strategy to Help You Reach New Heights
Appointment setting is one of the best ways to build relationships with prospects. It allows you to address their needs and pain points. By showing passion, heart, and true respect for your clients, you are more likely to make a sale.
Whether you outsource the task or take it on in-house, consider adding B2B appointment setting services to your sales strategy and see how it can help you close more deals and reach your goals.