You’ve decided to explore outsourced sales and marketing. Smart move. But what actually happens when you make that decision?
If you’re like most business owners, you probably have questions: How does the process really work? What should you expect in the first few months? How do you know if it’s working?
Here’s exactly how the process unfolds and what you can realistically expect when you partner with an outsourced sales and marketing team.
How Outsourced Sales and Marketing Actually Works
Before diving into timelines and expectations, let’s discuss the two ways you can get started with outsourcing your sales and marketing departments.
Option 1: Complete Outsourcing to Agencies or Freelancers
This is the traditional approach where you hire an external agency or freelancers to handle your sales and marketing functions entirely. You pay them to manage campaigns, generate leads, and deliver results while you focus on other aspects of your business.
The agency handles everything from strategy to execution using its own team and processes.
Option 2: Building Your Own Offshore Team
This approach involves hiring dedicated offshore professionals who work exclusively for your business but are recruited and managed through a partner like Pavago.
You get your own Sales Development Representatives, Digital Marketing Managers, or Google Ads Specialists who integrate directly into your company culture and processes.
The key difference? Option 1 gives you hands-off convenience, while Option 2 provides more control and integration at a lower cost.
Most growing businesses find that building their own offshore team through Pavago offers the perfect balance of expertise, cost-effectiveness, and direct oversight.
✌️ With Pavago, you’re not just outsourcing tasks – you’re expanding your team with top-tier offshore talent who become part of your company’s day-to-day operations.
These professionals work in your time zone, use your systems, and are fully dedicated to your success.
Your First 90 Days: What to Expect?
Once you’ve decided on an outsourcing model and hired a team, it’s time to move to the implementation stage.
The first few weeks of either outsourcing or offshoring set the foundation for everything that follows.
First 30 Days
If you’re outsourcing to an agency, your partner will begin with a comprehensive audit of your current sales and marketing processes.
Your outsourced staff will dive into your data and customer profiles and identify any gaps in your approach. This discovery phase is vital as it shapes the strategy moving forward.
On the other hand, if you’re hiring offshore individuals directly, you’ll start by selecting the right professionals and ensuring they align with your business needs.
During these initial weeks, you’ll have direct communication with your new team members, ensuring their skills, personality, and communication style fit well with your company culture.
This personal connection helps foster a seamless integration into your existing workflow.
Once the team is selected, whether through an agency or directly hired, the integration phase begins.
Your new offshore team, whether working with an agency or directly with you, gains access to your CRM, marketing automation platforms, and analytics tools.
They’ll spend time understanding your brand voice, product positioning, and ideal customer profile.
Reputable agencies often have standardized onboarding processes to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
For directly hired teams, it’s important to provide clear training and resources to set them up for success.
Related: Onboarding Remote Employees – The Ultimate Checklist for Startups
In the first month, you’ll notice improved lead quality and better tracking systems rather than dramatic volume increases.
Most businesses see a 10-20% uptick in qualified leads as processes become more organized and systematic.
Next 30-60 Days
The real momentum builds around month three.
Lead volume typically increases by 40-60% as campaigns are optimized and your team understands what resonates with your audience.
Your sales pipeline also starts moving faster during this period because lead nurturing becomes more sophisticated and targeted.
By month six, most businesses experience a 65-100% increase in lead generation, and conversion rates improve by 30-50%.
The cost efficiency becomes apparent immediately with staffing cost reductions of 40-70%, but the investment typically pays for itself around month three, with positive ROI reaching 150-300% by the six-month mark.
Some things take longer than expected, though. Complex system integrations can stretch to 4-6 weeks, especially if you’re using specialized industry software.
Industry-specific campaign optimization takes 2-4 months for niche markets, and building consistent brand messaging across all channels often require 3-6 months of refinement.
How to Vet Potential Partners for Outsourcing Sales and Marketing
The partner selection process can make or break your outsourcing success. Not all providers are created equal, so here’s what to focus on during your evaluation:
Questions to Ask
- “Can you show me specific results for businesses similar to mine?”
- “What’s your average time-to-results for companies in my industry?”
- “How do you handle team turnover and knowledge retention?”
- “What happens if we’re not seeing results after 90 days?”
Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
- Guaranteeing specific results without understanding your business first
- Unwillingness to provide detailed case studies or client references
- Pressure to sign long-term contracts immediately
- Lack of industry-specific experience or relevant certifications
Experience matters tremendously in this space. Look for partners who have worked with businesses your size in your industry, with relevant certifications from platforms like Google Ads, HubSpot, or Salesforce. They should demonstrate familiarity with your existing tools and systems.
Pavago helps you save time and effort by connecting you with the right offshore talent quickly and efficiently. Find your perfect match from our pre-vetted talent pool today!
Understanding Pricing Models for Outsourced Sales and Marketing
| Model | Monthly Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Retainer | $3,000-$15,000 | Ongoing comprehensive support |
| Performance-Based | Varies by results | Companies with longer sales cycles |
| Hybrid | $2,500-$10,000 + performance fees | Most growing businesses |
| Offshore Dedicated | $2,000-$8,000 per professional | Direct team management preferred |
The retainer model works best when you need comprehensive, ongoing support across multiple channels. You’re essentially hiring a full marketing department at a fraction of the cost of building one internally.
Performance-based pricing can seem attractive initially, but it often becomes more expensive over time as successful campaigns scale. This model works well for businesses with longer sales cycles where attribution is clear and measurable.
The hybrid approach combines the best of both worlds—you get predictable base costs with performance incentives that align your partner’s success with yours. Most growing businesses find that this strikes the right balance between cost control and results accountability.
Offshore dedicated employees offer the most control and cost efficiency. You’re essentially hiring employees who work exclusively for you, but are hiring through an outsourcing partner, saving you the hassle of hiring and payroll.
This model requires more involvement from your side, but delivers the highest value for businesses ready to invest in the management relationship.
Managing Your Outsourced Team Effectively
Successful partnerships require structured communication without micromanagement. The key is finding the right balance between oversight and autonomy that allows your outsourced team to do what they do best.
Communication Structure That Works:
- Weekly strategy calls (30-45 minutes) to align on priorities
- Bi-weekly performance reviews to identify what’s working
- Monthly strategic planning sessions for long-term alignment
- Quarterly goal-setting meetings to adjust targets
Key Metrics to Track:
- Lead quality scores (not just quantity)
- Cost per acquisition by channel
- Sales cycle length changes
- Customer lifetime value impact
- Team productivity and efficiency metrics
The biggest management mistakes happen early in the relationship. Resist the urge to micromanage day-to-day activities – you hired experts for their expertise.
Changing strategy too frequently prevents campaigns from reaching optimization potential, while providing insufficient context about your business handicaps your team’s decision-making ability.
Your internal team needs proper onboarding, too. They need to understand how to work with the offshore team, what information to provide, and how to interpret the reports and recommendations they’ll receive.
If you want to learn more about how to build a successful business with an offshore team, you’ll find this article helpful: How I Built A Thriving Business with A 100% Offshore Team
Case Study: How Pavago Helped Zen Dental Studio Outsource Its Marketing
Zen Dental Studio’s CEO, Prabesh, reached out to Pavago because he was frustrated with expensive agencies delivering lackluster results.
He wanted someone to take full charge of his marketing efforts, but couldn’t afford to hire locally. That’s where Pavago stepped in.
We helped Zen Dental Studio find an outsourced Marketing Director who understood the assignment and delivered exceptional results:
- 65% increase in leads in three months
- Shortened sales cycle through automated outreach tools
- Over $10,000 savings in operational costs in just 3 months
The result? A stronger lead flow, higher close rates, and more time to focus on delivering top-notch service to their clients.
Common Challenges and How to Navigate Them
Even the best partnerships face obstacles. Here are the most frequent challenges and practical solutions:
- Integration Issues: Ensure your outsourcing partner has demonstrable experience with your specific technology stack before signing. This conversation should happen during vetting, not after commitment.
- Brand Voice Inconsistency: Create a comprehensive brand guide with specific examples of approved messaging, tone, and style. Include examples of what not to say alongside preferred approaches.
- Unrealistic Expectations: Establish clear KPIs and realistic timelines upfront. This protects both parties and creates accountability structures that benefit everyone.
- Communication Breakdowns: Set up structured communication schedules and use project management tools that work for both teams rather than forcing adaptation to incompatible processes.
The key to overcoming these challenges is prevention through proper planning and clear communication from day one. Most issues arise from assumptions rather than actual incompatibilities.
Your Next Steps
Ready to move forward? Here’s your practical action plan:
Phase 1: Self-Assessment
- Define clear goals and realistic timelines
- Identify specific roles and skills you need
- Determine your budget and preferred pricing model
- Assess your readiness to manage an outsourced relationship
Phase 2: Partner Research
- Research 3-5 potential partners using our vetting criteria
- Schedule discovery calls with your top candidates
- Request detailed case studies and references
- Compare proposals and pricing structures
Phase 3: Decision and Launch
- Check references by speaking with current/former clients
- Negotiate contract terms and success metrics
- Consider starting with a 90-day pilot program
- Plan your internal team’s onboarding process
The discovery conversations should feel collaborative rather than sales-focused. Pay attention to how well potential partners listen and whether their questions demonstrate genuine understanding of your business challenges.
At Pavago, we specialize in helping businesses navigate this exact process.
We provide dedicated offshore professionals for roles like Business Development Representatives, Digital Marketing Managers, and Facebook Ads Specialists who integrate seamlessly into your existing operations.
Ready to see how outsourced sales and marketing could work for your business? Let’s discuss your specific situation and find the right fit.
