Finding the best lead generation consultancy can be a challenge. With so many companies out there, how do you know that you’re hiring an agency that won’t just view you as a number? How do you know which agency is right for you? And is it even the right time to hire a consultancy?
This might seem daunting, but it’s an important decision to make.
Why?
Because choosing the wrong lead generation agency could cost you.
You might be paying them a hefty amount of money to generate leads, but you could get nothing in return.
There are a few red flags to look out for before putting your trust in a consulting firm, and you can do this by asking these 10 questions.
(This article will share things to consider before hiring lead generation services, but if you would like some lead gen advice, hop on a free 15 minute strategy session with the founder of SalesBread, Jack Reamer.)
Is it the right time to hire lead generation services?
Before you decide that it’s time to hire lead generation consulting services, you should also ask yourself questions.
You might feel that hiring a lead generation agency is the way to propel your business further, but if the timing isn’t right, you could end up losing money and feeling rather frustrated.
So ask yourself:
Are you sure of your ideal target audience?
If you don’t know who your ideal buyer is, then you are going to struggle to go after high quality leads that convert to sales.
You might target the wrong people, who have no interest in what you are selling, or perhaps they don’t have the budget to buy what you’re selling.
Therefore, figuring out your ideal target market is key to success.
If you don’t know exactly who your right target audience is, a lead generation agency might waste time contacting the wrong people.
There needs to be a key pattern in your sales.
You should already know who your customers are, who is buying, and have a customer base that is tightly grouped.
The video below is an example of how you can do this:
( Read this article on how to build a prospecting list if you’re unsure who your ideal client is. )
Do you have a proven product that is SELLING?
This might be some harsh advice….
But if your product isn’t great, then people aren’t going to buy it. There is no point in paying thousands of dollars for a lead generation company when your product is not 100% sales-worthy.
First, make sure that you have a proven product that is bringing in sales before hiring lead generation companies.
Because if you have a hot product, and it’s been selling well over the past 6 months, a lead generation company will find you more qualified leads to buy your product.
Can I afford to hire a lead generation consultancy?
If you are a brand-new start-up, hiring a lead generation agency might not be wise initially, unless you have the budget for it.
(For example, with inbound marketing, you can expect to pay between $4000-$15,000 per month; and with an outbound agency, you should expect to pay between $2000 – $20,000 per month)
Some other options that many entrepreneurs have found to work for lead generation if they don’t have the budget to hire an agency just yet are:
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Dabble in some social media marketing, Such as LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.
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Do some cold calling yourself until you can hire some more people to do it for you
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Start a monthly email marketing newsletter for your website.
And once you get in more leads and make more sales, you can see if hiring a lead generation consultancy is now worth your while. It’s all about ROI.
So, if you are ready to hire a lead generation consultancy, here are questions that you should ask them before forming a partnership.
1. What type of leads does the consultancy generate?
For example, at SalesBead, we are a B2B lead generation company. So, if you are looking for B2C leads or something really niche, it’s important to ask the consultancy which kind of leads they specialize in.
This works for both inbound and outbound lead generation. Hire an agency that specialises in the types of leads you need to generate.
Another question to ask is if they have had success in generating leads in your industry.
For example, if you are in the Fintech space, ask if they have generated leads in Fintech. Or if you are in Healthcare, find out if they generated leads in healthcare previously.
2. What lead generation methods and channels do they use?
If you know exactly who your target audience is, you will also know which channels they spend most of their time on. For example, we have noticed that many construction leads are always on their phones, so calling these leads might be alot better than using LinkedIn, for example.
You might also want to hire an agency that uses more than one lead generation channel. For example, cold email and LinkedIn outreach.
You could even ask an inbound agency if they offer social media and content marketing in the same package, for example. And if they offer social media marketing, which platforms are included?
If providers offer more than one outreach channel, hiring them would be a better option in comparison to hiring a lead generation consultancy that only does cold calling, for example.
Why? Because you can reach more high-quality prospects.
3. What are their lead generation strategies?
If you are in a specific niche, ask the lead gen company what their strategy is for finding potential leads in your niche.
For example, if you are looking to target podcasters in the “mommy influencer” niche, ask them what their exact strategy is.
If they aren’t willing to share it with you, be cautious.
Generating leads shouldn’t be a secret, and they should be able to explain how they intend to help you find them.
At SalesBread, we offer complete transparency. The articles we even post on our website are testimony to this.
We have no secrets, and if our clients would like to know our exact strategy, we are always happy to get on a call and discuss how we plan on helping them find quality leads.
Also, be careful of companies that use the spray-and-pray method. When it comes to generating high quality leads, there has to be a defined strategy.
4. What’s the number of leads to expect, and when can I expect them?
If you are planning on using a company that specializes in digital marketing and SEO, be wary if you are promised thousands of viewers to your site within a week or so.
SEO takes time, and on average, it can take 6 months to a year to start seeing an increase in traffic.
But if you’re working with an outbound agency, you should see leads within the first week.
92% of SalesBread clients receive their first lead within the first 48 hours of campaign launch.
It’s also important to have a discussion about how many leads you can expect.
Perhaps you’re expecting 600 leads within the first month, but realistically, you might not get that many. Therefore, this is a vital conversation to have.
Another concern is if an agency promises you thousands of leads within the first month. They could be overselling just to land the contract.
At SalesBread, we make it easy. Expect 1 lead per day, and your first lead within 48 hours. It’s as simple as that.
5. Is there a minimum monthly retainer that needs to be paid?
If there is, then this should sound alarm bells. (Unless they are an inbound agency, and it takes time to build up new leads.)
Why?
Because if you are working with an outbound sales team, leads should come in from the get-go. This means that there shouldn’t be a need for a monthly retainer.
That’s the beauty of outbound, leads should come in within the first few hours.
6: Do they use personalization in their lead generation process?
If you have decided to work with a cold email consulting business, do they use personalization in their messages?
Sending generic emails or LinkedIn messages are not going to get you results. Personalization needs to be used if they are going to capture the prospect’s attention.
Think about how many cold emails you get per day from marketers… How many of those emails do you ignore because they have been sent out via automation tools, all with the same message to just about everyone?
Personalization breaks the “delete-spam” cycle, thus capturing the attention of potential clients.
Question 7: Is there a fixed contract that needs to be signed?
Ask the agency what the contract entails and if there is a fixed contract.
For example, will you be locked into a contract for 3 months, 6 months, or a year?
At SalesBread, we don’t lock our clients into legal contracts because it’s our results that will get the client to stay.
There are reasons to stick around for three months; things do ramp up after the second month, as it does take time to get those follow-ups going.
BUT you should be happy within the first two weeks. (Especially with an outbound agency. Remember, online marketing can take some time to bring in quality leads, whether it’s SEO, PPC, or social media marketing.)
With successful lead generation efforts (especially in outbound), you should see results within the first 2 weeks; if not, then you should be wary.
Have a very clear discussion on the minimum engagement process. Ask what you can expect realistically within the first month, before signing anything.
Question 8: How much will your service cost?
This goes without saying, but always check the pricing before signing anything. Ask for a breakdown of the fee structure if need be, so that you aren’t terribly surprised at the end of the month with a huge bill.
Be sure that you understand where your money is going and how it will be used. At SalesBread, you can expect to pay between $3K per month, plus a 1 time setup fee.
This will all be discussed with you in detail before we partner up.
Question 9: Do they have any case studies or client testimonials that can be reviewed?
Case studies are also a great way to gauge a lead generation agency. If they have had some successful case studies, ask to read them.
At Salesbread, we have various case studies in our articles section that our clients can read.
For example, we managed to generate over 1400 leads in HR and Healthcare for a company called Connex Partners, which you can read about here.
Frequently asked questions about lead generation consultancies
What is lead generation consultancy?
A lead generation consultancy is a service that helps businesses find and attract potential customers, known as leads, who are interested in their products or services.
These consultancies use various strategies and techniques to generate leads, and this in turn will increase sales.
Why should I hire a lead generation consultancy?
Hiring a lead generation consultancy can help your business save time and resources by using their expertise. Remember, a lead generation consultant lives and breathes outreach.
So they have the time and expertise to help come up with a strategy for your company. They can also help you reach a wider audience, improve lead quality, and boost your sales and revenue.
How do I find the best lead generation consultancy for my business?
If you want to find the best lead generation consultancy for your business, start by researching and comparing different types of consultancies online.
Look for reviews, case studies, and testimonials to see what their success rate is. You could also consider meeting with potential consultancies to discuss your goals and see if they are a good fit for your business.
What are some common lead generation strategies used by consultancies?
Some of the most common lead generation strategies used by consultancies include:
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Content marketing
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Social media marketing
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Email marketing
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Search engine optimization (SEO)
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Paid advertising
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Cold email outreach
Who are some of the best lead generation companies to use?
It really depends on your needs.
For a detailed article on different b2b lead generation agencies, along with pricing, specialties, and reviews, read this article: Top 21 B2B Lead Generation Companies (2025 Reviews)
Choosing a B2B lead generation consultancy doesn’t have to be complicated
If you know what to look out for, finding the best agency to partner up with doesn’t have to be hard.
By asking the above questions, you can separate the great from the not-so-great agencies out there and get qualified leads in your sales funnel in no time at all.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help your company, hop on a free 15 minute strategy session with the CEO, of SalesBread, Jack Reamer, below.
