5 Common Outsourcing Myths, Debunked

I get it. You want to do it all by yourself. You want to singlehandedly crush your revenue goals, every time. Killing the sales game month-after-month while your office mates stare in awe thinking “How does she do it?” as you saunter by with dollar sign clouds floating around you.

And then the alarm clock blares and you plop back into reality.

Most of us think we have it all together and can make these lofty dreams happen alone, reveling in the glory of our own sales and marketing prowess, but the truth is: business is always a team sport.

This is the part where outsourcing comes in – not to save the day – but to give you your cape and any other tools you need to help you save the day. Many companies insist on doing everything in-house – and they don’t exactly fail. But, they wind up knowing they could have done better and achieved more. Sound familiar?

Outsourcing is not a sign of weakness

Au contraire – it’s a measure of strength! 82% of large organizations in North America, Europe, and Asia view outsourcing as a mature and necessary function. You’ll reach heights you’ve never imagined because you’re finally able to focus on what you and your company do best, and let the experts work their sales-and-marketing magic.

But wait! Outsourcing is expensive and risky and (fill in the blank with any reason that has led you to balk at the idea thus far). You’re right to be concerned. But with the right partner, the return-on-investment can be massive.

Read on to debunk the most common myths associated with outsourcing.

Myth #1 – It’s easier to stick to the status quo.

“We’ve never outsourced. It’s just easier for us to do what we’ve been doing.”

Sticking to the status quo may be easier right now, but it has drawbacks in the long run. Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting – mediocre results. You can become 43% more efficient at generating leads when you outsource. Outsourcing some of your lead generation efforts takes some of the burden (and pressure) off your team.  Consider the long-term benefits of outsourcing:

• Strong ROI
• Controlled, measurable outcomes
• Partnership for success
• More time to focus on high priority business tasks
• Expertise
• Hyper-focus
• Objectivity

Myth #2 – We can’t afford to outsource.

“Outsourcing sounds amazing and I wish we could do it, but we just don’t have the budget.”

Cost is one of the top reasons companies balk at outsourcing, but investing in an outsourced partnership is worth the price when you consider everything that goes into a completely internal sales and marketing strategy: staffing, management, training, benefits and incentives, overhead, software and enablement tools, data costs, analytics and reporting, and the list goes on. Not to mention, sales teams have notoriously high turnover rates, and replacing an employee costs an average of 200% of their annual salary-plus-benefits.

Outsourcing engagement puts the power in your hands. You set the expectations on what ROI you want to see from the investment you make in your partner.

Myth #3 – Outsourcing is too risky.

“I like the benefits that are supposed to come with outsourcing, but it’s too risky. I have a lot riding on me. If we outsource and it backfires, I’d take the heat.”

Outsourcing is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Finding the right partner takes time and research, but investing in the process will minimize the risk. Before you leap into outsourcing, use our simple checklist to eliminate risk even further:

Myth #4 – No one will understand our product/solution/service like we do.

“We have a complex solution. There’s no way anyone else could deliver our message to prospects in the same way.”

The right partner will be one who takes the time to learn your product or solution inside and out. If you find a partner well versed in your industry, they’ll have no problem communicating with your customers and representing your brand as a true extension of your team.

When you decide to outsource, look for a partner in growth willing and ready to gain insight into your product or solution. You want a provider who identifies what it is that makes your company unique and embraces your brand with open arms.

Myth #5 – Outsourcing is a hassle.

“If we outsource, I’ll have to constantly monitor our provider and make sure they’re doing their job.”

Exactly the opposite. A good outsourced partner will make your life easier. Of course, your involvement is crucial to get the partnership up and running; but if you put in the prep work early on, when you do press play on your engagement, the partnership will move like a well-oiled machine.

Your partner should provide you with dashboards, reports, and documentation to let you know your expectations are being met. Then, you can relinquish control of monotonous daily tasks to focus on more pressing issues.

The Bottom Line

Take fear out of the equation when making your decision. Some of the most successful companies in the industry outsource. Don’t go it alone. You’ll achieve even better results with a partner experienced in exactly what you need.