Hire the best Cold Callers

Not everyone likes getting cold calls—it can feel intrusive and irritating to pick up the phone, thinking it’s someone you know, and instead it’s someone hoping to sell you something. That’s why it’s important to hire a skilled cold caller. The best cold caller for your needs will be personable and engaging and know how to close a deal.

A skilled cold caller can be an asset for any organization looking to connect with potential clients. This guide will help you understand the value a cold caller can bring to your business. We’ll explore the qualities to look for in a cold caller, helpful information to know before you hire a cold caller, and how to hire the best cold caller for your needs.

What does a cold caller do?

Cold callers are people who make unsolicited phone calls or visits to sell a product or service to a potential customer. They are usually reaching out to people who’ve not expressed an interest in or given permission to be called or approached. The goal of cold calling is to make a sale or get the person interested in the product or service.

These cold callers help organizations generate sales leads by educating potential customers about their product or service and sometimes converting the lead into a client. Organizations that hire cold callers often look for professionals who are personable, persuasive, and skilled at talking. They should also have resiliency to help them withstand repeated rejection.

Writing a cold caller job post

Find the cold caller that best fits your needs by creating an effective job post. Consider the following details to write a compelling job post that clearly states your needs.

Job post title

Describe exactly what you’re looking for using clear, straightforward language. Identify keywords that your ideal cold call candidate is likely to type into a job search bar, for example:

• Telemarketer. Telemarketer needed to make outbound calls to educate consumers, generate leads, and sell our life insurance product. 
• Lead generation associate. We are a solar panel company hiring a lead generation associate to generate sales leads to pass on to our sales team.
• Appointment setter. Appointment setter needed to contact leads and set up appointments for the sales team of a SaaS company.
• Inside sales rep. Home security system retailer seeks inside sales rep for outbound cold calling and handling inbound leads.

Project description

An effective project description for a cold caller should cover the following areas:

• Scope of work. List all the deliverables you’ll need from the cold caller, including language proficiency, desired track record, and volume of calls you expect them to make per shift.
• Project length. Indicate whether the project is small or large in scope, quantifying as much detail as possible around milestones and timeline.
• Background. Mention the type of cold calling experience you’d like the person to have and information about prior experience you’d like them to share with you.
• Budget. Set a budget and include your hourly payment preference.

Cold caller job responsibilities

Add details about cold calling job responsibilities. Common responsibilities include:

• Meet daily volume. Meet daily call volume quota of over 100 calls, including following up after voicemails.
• Follow sales scripts. Closely follow sales scripts and talking points to successfully advance customers through the sales funnel.
• Respond to customer needs. Develop strong rapport with customers and respond in real time to promote products and services that match their needs.
• Input call records. Input call records into our CRM platform, including clear next steps and follow-ups to support sales.

Cold caller skills and qualifications

Share the specific qualifications you’d like the cold caller to have. Qualities to ask for can include:

• Persuasive communicator. Seeking a friendly and engaging cold caller experienced at converting conversations into sales. 
• Top sales achiever. Seeking a go-getter with a can-do spirit to generate client leads and sales through cold calling.
• Efficient time manager. In search of organized cold caller who can efficiently and effectively log more than 100 sales calls per shift. 

Helpful information to know before you hire a cold caller

Understand the role, demand, and costs associated with selecting a cold caller so you can make an informed choice. Consider the following information before hiring.

The role of a cold caller

Successful cold callers can generate new business for an organization by making an unsolicited phone call. That’s no easy task. When you hire a cold caller, skills to ask about include:

• Generating leads. A cold caller can identify potential customers and collect key information about their needs and interest levels to pass along to a member of your sales team for follow-up. 
• Closing a sale. A cold caller may be able to finalize details and close a sale during the actual cold call.
• Setting appointments. A cold caller can do the preliminary work with a promising lead to educate and assess interest, then schedule a sales appointment. 
• Building customer data. A cold caller can reach out to targeted geographic areas or customer types and collect information to add to a customer database.

Cold caller hiring demand in 2024

Cold calling remains a vital component of sales strategies, especially in industries where direct, personalized outreach is key to generating leads. Sectors such as real estate. B2B services, and financial products continue to rely on cold calling to establish initial contact with potential clients. Despite the growing popularity of digital marketing and inbound strategies, cold calling retains its effectiveness, particularly when it is used to complement broader multi-channel outreach efforts that include emails, social media, and other forms of communication.

The approach to cold calling has evolved significantly, with modern techniques involving more research and data-driven targeting to increase the effectiveness of outreach. Salespeople now often integrate cold calling into a larger, multi-faceted strategy that leverages various tools and platforms. However, the effectiveness of cold calling still hinges on persistence, a strong script, and the ability to handle rejection - making it a valuable tool in industries where direct contact is crucial for closing deals.

Looking ahead, the demand for cold calling jobs is expected to vary across different industries over the next five years. Automation and AI are likely to handle many routine tasks traditionally associated with cold calling, potentially reducing the need for such roles in some areas. However, in niche industries and B2B sales, where complex sales cycles require personalized outreach, the demand for skilled cold callers could remain steady or even increase slightly. These roles may evolve to require more advanced skills, such as proficiency in CRM tools and a deeper understanding of customer data, ensuring that cold calling remains a valuable part of the sales process. 

The most common projects for cold callers

Cold callers are commonly hired to perform a variety of sales tasks that focus on generating new pipelines for sales and revenue. Popular projects cold callers are hired for include:

• Lead generation campaigns. Cold callers are hired to reach out to prospects to learn more about needs and interests and create qualified sales leads. 
• Event promotion. Cold callers are hired to promote events by contacting potential attendees to increase client registration.
• Fundraising campaigns. Cold callers are tasked with calling donors by phone to solicit donations and support for non-profits.
• Client retention. Cold callers are asked to call existing customers to renew or encourage re-purchasing subscriptions or programs.
• Appointment setting. Cold callers are hired for campaigns that focus on contacting prospects to schedule meetings for the sales team.

Industries hiring cold callers

Many industries hire cold callers for generating leads, collecting information, or converting a call into a sale. Top industries hiring cold callers include:

• Insurance. The insurance industry hires cold callers for lead generation and driving sales for home, auto, health, and life insurance policies.
• Financial services. Mortgage lenders, credit card companies, some banks, and investment brokers hire cold callers to make outbound sales calls.
• Solar energy. Companies that sell solar panels rely on cold callers to spread the word about their products, make a sale, or schedule follow-up appointments.
• Market research. Cold callers are hired to conduct surveys or gather consumer insights for market research.

Average cost of hiring a cold caller in 2024

Cold callers are typically paid by the hour. Rates vary, depending on a person’s success rate with calls, niche experience, location, and language proficiency. Be sure to ask the cold caller for details about prior cold calling experience. Find out their level of skill in the areas for which you’re hiring them.

Don’t be thrown off by cold caller hourly rates if costs vary:

• An experienced cold caller with a track record converting a cold call into a sale may require higher fees but also bring specialized expertise and deliver a higher-quality outcome.
• A more affordable cold caller may be highly qualified yet offering competitive pricing to build a client base.

A median hourly rate for a cold caller on Upwork in 2024 falls at about $15 per hour. Hourly rates can go as high as $50. Typical rates charged by cold callers on Upwork are:

• Entry-level. $10 per hour
• Intermediate. $18 per hour
• Expert. $50 per hour

Hire a cold caller today

Consider hiring a cold caller to generate awareness of your product or service and maybe even land a sale. Take a moment to understand what a cold caller does and why you may wish to hire a cold caller to support your business. Research cost, get clear on your own unique sales needs, and write a job description that will attract the person most likely to help you achieve your goals.

No matter which qualities and kinds of experience you’re looking for, you’ll find the professional you need on Upwork. The process is personalized, easy, and fast. Sign up and post a job today to find the cold caller who’s right for you.