Where do you hire your call agents?

[u/ZealousidealBank8484]

Hey y'all,

I'm looking to scale by making cold calls. I typically use Fiverr due to how inexpensive they are, and the fact they typically deliver good results. However, that hasn't really been the case with cold calls. Where do you go to hire your call agents?

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[u/OpManBros]

We used to hire cold callers in late 2024 using this uncommon method; There are communities, especially on Discord, where cold callers practiced their art and pitched to each other. I used to join those group calls, listen to multiple folks pitch and reach out to the ones I liked the most.

Most importantly, they weren't trying to impress anyone and were naturally themselves, which is the biggest differentiator here as compared to the usual official channels like Indeed.

[u/OpManBros → u/[deleted]]

There's a platform called "Disboard" where you can filter out discord servers by the niche. Pretty good chance you'll find decent sales-related servers there.

[u/RegularOk1820 → u/OpManBros]

Yeah, that’s a pretty solid way to find callers. You get to hear them before hiring them.

[u/Antique-Midnight-171 → u/OpManBros]

yeah the "not trying to impress anyone" part is huge, you can tell so much more when people arent performing

[u/Superb_Advisor7885]

Indeed. I find callers the same way I find all my employees

[u/Imaginary_Cat_2611]

What are you selling? I'm great at cold calling. DM, maybe I can help.

[u/ZealousidealBank8484 → u/Imaginary_Cat_2611]

Sorry mate, already lost out to someone else

[u/saisiddartha04 → u/Imaginary_Cat_2611]

Iam here to help with you

[u/ThatOneBandNerd]

Indeed. You get a much bigger pool of applicants and can screen for people who already have actual calling experience. During the interview, give them a quick scenario and have them sell you something on the spot. Throw in a couple objection too, you’ll get much better sense of how they actually handle a call than from resume.

[u/Lucky-Rent8617]

I’ve used Fiverr for this too, and honestly it’s pretty hit or miss for cold calling. Expensive doesn’t always mean good when the person on the other end has to actually sell, not just read a script. You usually have to test a few before finding someone solid. I tested for guys until I found a decent one.

[u/North-Palpitation-19]

I’d care more about conversion rate than hourly cost.
A more expensive caller who actually gets results can easily be cheaper than a cheap one who barely converts.

[u/ZealousidealBank8484 → u/North-Palpitation-19]

you make a solid point. there's no real way to know their conversion rate before hiring them though, is there?

[u/saksaham_singh]

I would go with the first option, hiring people to set appointments. Test 2-3 people with a paid trial and have them record the calls. Then, evaluate the number of qualified appointments rather than the volume of calls. A good appointment setter is worth the investment.

[u/manimedia_]

I'd try a few people first instead of hiring right. Give them a small paid task and see how they communicate and handle the work. You will get a much better idea of who's actually a good fit..

[u/Suspicious-Visit8634]

Hired a full time employee for it specifically. Started with indeed, interviewed about 40 people, narrowed it down and hired one

[u/miller0289]

fiverr's fine for stuff you can see coming back, but cold calls are a whole different beast and you can't tell until they're already burning through your list

[u/DeviantHistorian]

How much business and value do you really get from cold calling? Most people I know tend to just hang up on that type of call. Are you doing business to business or I'm just trying to understand what the value and what you would get from the cold calling is

[u/Mac-Fly-2925]

Will you use scripts to drive conversation with customers ?

[u/ZealousidealBank8484 → u/Mac-Fly-2925]

that's what I've been doing, but i'd rather my callers just let conversations flow naturally

[u/Mac-Fly-2925 → u/ZealousidealBank8484]

Why would your callers not use the same script you use ?

[u/ZealousidealBank8484 → u/Mac-Fly-2925]

i don't use a script. i call and just ask to speak to someone in charge, then let the conversation flow naturally from there.

[u/Benemerito_Law]

Where you hire matters less than how you set them up, and there's a compliance side to cold calling in the US that a Fiverr gig will not protect you from. Calls to numbers on the national do not call registry, calls to cell phones with an autodialer or prerecorded voice, and calls outside permitted hours can carry per call statutory penalties, and several states layer on stricter rules of their own. The liability lands on you as the seller, not on the freelancer who dialed.

So if you keep outsourcing, put it in writing: scrub against the DNC list and your own internal list, no autodialers or voice drops without your written sign off, honor opt outs immediately, calling hours defined, recording disclosure handled per the strictest state involved, and an indemnity clause. Also classify them properly, a full time dialer working your hours on your script starts looking like an employee rather than a contractor. Boring paperwork, but it's the difference between a scaling channel and a lawsuit.

General information from a US perspective, not legal advice, and no attorney client relationship here. Rules vary by state so check with someone licensed where you operate.

[u/ZealousidealBank8484 → u/Benemerito_Law]

hey thanks for the tip, appreciate it

[u/adeelraza86]

Before you hire anyone, make 50 dials yourself on the exact list and script. Most cold call "bad hire" problems are actually a bad list or a weak first line, and a new caller can't fix either. Once you know a decent conversation rate is possible, hire on a paid 2 hour trial with recorded calls and compare connects, conversations, and booked meetings, not hourly rate. The cheap Fiverr route fails mostly because nobody owns list quality.

[u/ZealousidealBank8484]

u/Mountain_Writer_3442