But even with these agencies, challenges like low response rates, fixed costs, and long-term commitments can limit your ROI. That’s where Draftboard comes in as a complementary—or alternative—solution. By leveraging warm introductions, Draftboard connectors can help you book Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) with higher efficiency and flexibility.
1. Volume Needed for MQLs: BDR Agencies vs. Draftboard
BDR Agencies:
- High Volume, Low Yield: Many agencies rely on high-volume cold outreach to book meetings. This often involves emailing or calling hundreds, sometimes thousands, of prospects to secure a single MQL.
- Challenges: Response rates for cold outreach are typically 1-3%, meaning the majority of your budget goes toward unresponsive leads.
Draftboard:
- Higher Response Rates: With warm introductions, Draftboard connectors can achieve response rates of up to 60%, significantly increasing the likelihood of booking meetings.
- Efficiency: Instead of relying on volume, Draftboard focuses on quality, ensuring that every prospect is pre-qualified and engaged.
Key Takeaway:
Warm intros dramatically reduce the prospect volume needed to achieve your meeting goals, saving time and resources.
2. Fixed Costs vs. Pay-Per-Meeting Model
BDR Agencies:
- Fixed Monthly Costs: Agencies often charge a flat rate, such as $5,000 per month, regardless of the number of meetings booked.
- Long-Term Contracts: Many agencies require quarterly or longer-term commitments, adding financial risk if results don’t meet expectations.
Draftboard:
- Pay-Per-Meeting Flexibility: With Draftboard, you only pay for meetings booked. There’s no upfront cost or risk—if no meetings are secured (unlikely!), you pay nothing.
- Set Your Own Price: Companies can set their meeting price (minimum $500), allowing for complete control over your budget.
Key Takeaway:
Draftboard offers a more cost-effective and flexible approach compared to the fixed-cost structure of most outbound agencies.
3. Combining Both Options: Maximize Your Budget
- Why Not Both? If you have the budget, using both a BDR agency and Draftboard can diversify your lead generation strategy.
- Separate Prospect Lists: Upload a different list of prospects to Draftboard than the one you give your BDR agency. This allows you to test the effectiveness of both channels simultaneously.
- Compare Results: After a few weeks, review metrics like response rates, meeting rates, and overall ROI to determine which strategy delivers the best results.
Key Takeaway:
Using both options ensures you maximize coverage and can compare the effectiveness of cold outreach vs. warm introductions.
4. Other Benefits of Draftboard vs. BDR Agencies
Time Savings:
- BDR agencies often require ramp-up time for training, campaign setup, and prospecting. With Draftboard, connectors are ready to start booking meetings almost immediately.
Custom Pricing:
- Unlike BDR agencies with fixed fees, Draftboard lets you control your spending by setting your own per-meeting price.
Guaranteed Quality:
- Every meeting booked through Draftboard is pre-qualified, ensuring you’re speaking with the right decision-makers who are genuinely interested in your solution.
Scalable for SMBs and Enterprises:
- Draftboard’s pay-per-meeting model works for companies of all sizes, making it ideal for startups and established enterprises alike.
Conclusion:
Working with a BDR agency or outbound agency is a proven method for generating leads, but it isn’t the only option. By incorporating Draftboard’s warm introduction platform into your sales strategy, you can enjoy higher response rates, flexible pricing, and pre-qualified meetings that save time and boost ROI.
Whether you’re looking for a cost-effective alternative or a complementary solution, Draftboard helps you take control of your lead generation efforts—one warm intro at a time.
