Choosing the right outbound sales software can feel overwhelming. This guide cuts through the noise, presenting the top 11 contenders for 2024.
We’ll analyze their core features, highlighting strengths and weaknesses to help you choose a winner. Whether you prioritize automation, lead generation, or data accuracy, this guide will equip you to find the software that best fits your team’s needs.
Ready? Let’s go.
What is Outbound Marketing?
Outbound marketing is a traditional approach where a business initiates contact with potential customers to promote its products or services. It’s essentially the opposite of inbound marketing, where you attract customers through valuable content and make them come to you.
Imagine outbound marketing like fishing with a net. You cast a wide net, hoping to catch a variety of fish (potential customers), even if they weren’t actively looking for what you have (your product or service).Â
This method is more effective for a big haul, but you might also catch some unwanted things (uninterested leads).
Some of the most commonly used outbound marketing tactics include:Â
- Outbound calling
- Email marketing
- Social media ads
- Traditional channels like TV commercials or trade shows.
How can outbound sales software improve productivity?
While casting a wide net can catch many fish, it can also be time-consuming and imprecise. This is where outbound sales software comes in.Â
Let’s check the benefits of using such software for your sales team.
- It automates mundane tasks. You can automate repetitive tasks like dialing, data entry, and scheduling follow-ups to free sales reps from tedious work. It lets them spend more time on high-value sales activities like crafting pitches and connecting with leads.
- It provides actionable insights. Beyond automation, the software delivers actionable insights on campaigns, rep activity, and conversions, empowering sales managers to optimize strategies and drive ROI.
- It helps you target the right leads. By integrating with CRMs and offering lead scoring, outbound sales software ensures sales reps only contact qualified prospects.Â
- It streamlines communication. With centralized communication through the software, your team can keep track of all interactions (cold calls, cold emails) in one place. This makes it easier for reps to stay on top of conversations and collaborate with colleagues.
Top Outbound Sales Software in 2024
Here are the top 11 outbound sales software to consider in 2024.
1. Adapt
🌟 4.6/5 Rating on G2
Adapt.io is a global B2B sales intelligence platform designed to enhance outbound sales efforts by providing access to cmprehensive contact lists and company information databases.
Key Features
- Data Enrichment: Gain a deeper understanding of your prospects with social media profiles, news mentions, and technology stack insights.
- CRM Data Boost: Enhance your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) by automatically enriching contact information with valuable details.
- Email Finder Extension: Discover contact details directly from LinkedIn and websites with our Chrome extension (perfect for Google Chrome users!).
- Powerful Filters: Find ideal prospects (matching your Ideal Customer Profile) with industry-leading search and segmentation tools.
- Seamless Integrations: Simplify data flow and scale your lead generation efforts with our adaptable APIs.
PricingÂ
Adapt offers different pricing tiers based on features, number of credits, and licenses. Contact sales or get a custom plan by filling out the form here.
ProsÂ
- Adapt can automatically update your CRM with additional contact information
- The focus on verified data helps ensure you’re reaching the right people, improving the effectiveness of your outreach campaigns.
- You can search and segment B2B contacts based on specific criteria, such as industry, job title, and company size.Â
- The Chrome extension simplifies finding contact details directly from LinkedIn profiles and websites, saving time and effort compared to manual searching.
- Prioritizes data privacy and compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA
ConsÂ
- Lack of publicized pricing, making it challenging for potential users to assess
- Limited credits are available with the free plan
2. ZoomInfo SalesOS
🌟 4.5/5 Rating on G2
ZoomInfo SalesOS is a sales intelligence platform that provides accurate contact and company data with features supporting outreach activities like email automation and sales conversation insights.
Key Features
- Contact and Company Data: Access a massive database of verified B2B contact and company information, including email addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, and firmographics (company size, industry, etc.).
- Intent Data: Leverage buying signals and website visitor behavior data to identify prospects actively researching solutions like yours, allowing you to prioritize outreach efforts.
- SalesOS Chrome Extension: Quickly access contact information and enrich existing data points directly from websites and social media profiles while you browse.
- Integrations: Integrates with various CRMs and sales tools for a streamlined workflow and centralized data management
PricingÂ
Custom quotes are available on request. You can contact sales to get a custom plan for the solution.
ProsÂ
- Comprehensive professional and company profiles
- Direct business and mobile phone numbers & verified email addresses
- Real-time insights and alerts related to company events
- Tailored sales sequences and follow-ups
- Sales scripts and templates customization
- Video messaging integration
- Real-time analytics and performance monitoring
- Integration with popular sales and marketing technologies
ConsÂ
- The database for the Middle East (MENA) and APAC regions is limited compared to other regions
- Accuracy for EU leads may be lower compared to other regions
- Some users find the platform’s lack of customization options and control over data and workflows to be a drawback
3. Cognism
🌟 4.6/5 Rating on G2
Cognism is a sales intelligence platform that helps businesses find high-quality leads and improve their outbound sales efforts.
Standout FeaturesÂ
- Access to a global database of B2B contact and company data: Cognism provides verified business email addresses and mobile phone numbers for decision-makers at millions of companies.
- Lead scoring: You can prioritize your outreach efforts by identifying the leads that are most likely to convert.
- Sales automation tools: Cognism offers features like email sequencing and multi-channel customer communication to help you automate your outreach process.
- Real-time sales insights: It provides data on how your prospects interact with your emails and website, so you can tailor your outreach accordingly.
PricingÂ
Cognism’s pricing structure is flexible and customizable. It offers tier-based pricing options tailored to your business needs.
ProsÂ
- Unrestricted views and page-level exporting
- Accurate and up-to-date B2B data
- Diamond Data® for 3x connect rates
- Compliance with GDPR regulations
- User-friendly interface
- Quality, reliable data for connecting with prospects
- Excellent customer service
- Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms for lead generation optimization
ConsÂ
- Occasional bugs with the extension that require uninstalling and reinstalling
- Data quality in Asian markets may not be as comprehensive as desired
- Some data, like email addresses, can be incorrect leading to bounces
4. BuiltWith
🌟 4.3/5 Rating on G2
BuiltWith is a lead generation tool that helps businesses find contact information for decision-makers at B2B companies. It provides data on a company’s technology stack, funding history, and team members.
Key FeaturesÂ
- Technology Stack Discovery: Uncover the technology platforms and tools potential customers use. This can reveal valuable insights into their website infrastructure, marketing tools, and potential needs.
- Lead Generation: Identify B2B decision-makers and their contact information (depending on the custom plan) to build targeted prospect lists for outreach.Â
- Funding History and Team Member Data: Access information on a company’s funding rounds, investors, and key team members.Â
- Sales Intelligence Features: (Depending on plan) BuiltWith offers some features relevant to outbound sales, like advanced search filters to identify companies based on specific criteria and the ability to export prospect data for outreach campaigns.
- API Access: (For Enterprise plans) Integrate BuiltWith data with your CRM or marketing automation platform for a streamlined workflow.
PricingÂ
BuiltWith offers various pricing plans to cater to different needs:
- Basic Plan: Starting at $295 per month, limited to two technologies.
- Pro Plan: Priced at $495 per month, allowing for more reports.
- Team Plan: Available at $995 per month, offering multiple logins and additional features.
ProsÂ
- Assists in strategic decision-making and predictive lead discovery
- Enables thorough website examination for optimization and competition understanding
- Offers detailed marketing-led prospect lists and competitor analysis
- Regularly updates data on billions of commercial pages
- Allows for deep dives into technology profiling and competitor analysis
ConsÂ
- Report-sorting function can be cumbersome for users
- Lacks an activity dashboard and data mapping features
- Integration with only three other business software products
- May not be cost-effective for small businesses
5. Groove
🌟 4.6/5 Rating on G2
Groove is a cloud-based phone system that integrates with CRMs and other sales tools. It offers features like call recording, transcription, and analytics.
Key Features
- Shared Inbox: Groove allows you to manage all your sales calls, cold emails, and text messages from a single, shared inbox. This eliminates the need to switch between different platforms, providing a centralized view of all customer interactions for the entire team.
- Call Analytics & Reporting: Gain valuable insights into your sales calls through detailed analytics and advanced reporting features. You can track metrics like call duration, call volume, and connection rates to identify trends and optimize your sales strategy.
- Call Recording & Transcription: Record and transcribe your sales calls for easy reference and coaching purposes. Your sales team can review their calls, identify areas for improvement, and share best practices with colleagues.
- Real-time Call Coaching & Collaboration: Managers can listen in on calls live and offer real-time coaching and feedback to reps. This can be particularly valuable for onboarding new team members or improving communication skills.
PricingÂ
- Standard: $6.00 per user per month
- Plus: $11.60 per user per month
- Pro: $19.60 $11.60 per user per month
- Select: $26.00 $11.60 per user per month
ProsÂ
- Provides helpful stats, integrations, and multiple knowledge bases
- Simplifies building and managing ticketing systems and knowledge bases
- Clean interface with simple additions to canned responses and knowledge base
- Slick integrations with WordPress, Slack, and live chat support
- Simplifies complex systems while retaining essential features
Cons
- Clunky interaction with Gmail/Calendar and limited mobile functionality
- Inconsistent auto-refresh function
- Limited metrics viewing options and challenges in customizing wide ranges of data
6. Kaspr
🌟 4.4/5 Rating on G2
Kaspr.io is a sales engagement software that helps businesses personalize outreach at scale. It uses artificial intelligence to generate personalized email content, automate follow-ups, and schedule meetings.
Standout FeaturesÂ
- AI-powered Content Generation: Rely on artificial intelligence to generate personalized email content based on relevant prospect data and buying signals. This can save reps significant time by automating the creation of tailored email introductions and messages.
- Automated Follow-Ups: Kaspr automates sending personalized follow-up emails to nurture leads and keep them engaged. You can set up triggers and sequences based on prospect behavior (e.g., email opens, link clicks) to ensure timely follow-up without manual intervention.
- Meeting Scheduling Integration: Kaspr integrates with popular calendar platforms, allowing reps to easily schedule meetings directly within the platform. This streamlines the scheduling process and reduces back-and-forth communication with relevant prospects.
PricingÂ
Kaspr’s pricing plan model is based on a per-user basis.
- Free Plan: $0 per user per month
- Starter: $65 per user per month
- Business: $79 per user per month
- Organization: $79 per user per month
ProsÂ
- Helps differentiate between mobile and landline numbers
- Provides contact details of C-suite executives
- Offers integration with LinkedIn
- Extracts contact information in bulk
- Complies with GDPR and CCPA
- Outreach automation for sending automated follow-up LinkedIn messages
ConsÂ
- Contact details can be incorrect if individuals have moved to new companies or changed roles
- Contact numbers may not always appear
- Slack integration may need improvement
7. SalesLoft
🌟 4.5/5 Rating on G2
SalesLoft is a comprehensive sales engagement software that helps businesses streamline their outbound sales processes. It offers features like email sequencing, automated follow-ups, call tracking, and analytics.
Key Features
- Email sequencing and follow-ups: Automate personalized email outreach sequences with built-in reminders and follow-up logic. Schedule cold emails to go out optimally and ensure prospects don’t slip through the cracks.
- Call tracking and analytics: Track call activity, measure performance metrics, and gain contextual insights into rep conversations.
- Sales engagement tools: Leverage features like voicemail drop and cadences (multi-channel outreach plans) to boost rep efficiency.
- Sales Dialer: Use power dialing to eliminate wasted time on manual dialing and connect reps with relevant prospects faster.
- Real-time coaching and feedback: Managers can monitor rep activity and provide real-time coaching and feedback to improve communication skills and conversion rates.
PricingÂ
You can request a custom quote for three packages:
- Essentials
- Advanced
- PremierÂ
Each package has an annual contract, and you pay per user for every license.
Pros
- Allows personalized triggers and follow-up logic based on prospect behavior (e.g., email opens, link clicks).
- Ensures consistent and timely outreach, preventing potential leads from going cold.
- Enables data-driven decision-making by measuring campaign effectiveness and identifying areas for improvement.
- Features like call tracking and email analytics help reps work smarter.
ConsÂ
- It might not be ideal for complex outbound sales processes requiring highly personalized touches
- Users point out frequent lagging issues
8. Chili Piper
🌟 4.5/5 Rating on G2
Chili Piper is a meeting scheduling software that helps businesses streamline the process of scheduling sales demos and meetings. It integrates with calendars and CRMs to make scheduling easier for sales leaders, reps, and prospects.
Key Features
- Automated Scheduling Links: Generate personalized scheduling links that prospects can use to book meetings directly on your calendar with your availability pre-populated.
- Round Robin Distribution: Distribute meeting requests among your sales team based on pre-defined rules (e.g., availability, skills, workload).Â
- Buffer Time Management: Set buffer times between meetings to allow reps time for preparation and follow-up.Â
- Customization Options: Customize scheduling pages with your branding and messaging to create a professional experience for prospects.
- Team Management: Set permissions and manage user access within your sales team for scheduling and data visibility.
PricingÂ
- Instant Booker: $22.5 user per month
- Handoff: $37.5 user per month
- Form Concierge: Starting at $30.00 user per month
- Distro: $30.00 user per month
ProsÂ
- Efficient lead distribution to sales reps based on specific routing rules
- Increases speed to lead time, enhancing the chances of converting potential leads
- Provides a lean and mean inbound lead generating machine
- Enables quick response to inbound leads, crucial for conversion
- Offers contextual insights into the meeting process, optimizing lead conversion
- Designed for revenue teams, streamlining sales and marketing efforts
ConsÂ
- Not ideal for businesses that already have a well-optimized sales process
- Requires active involvement in the revenue process, which limits usability for non-revenue team members
9. Outfunnel
🌟 4.3/5 Rating on G2
Outfunnel is an outreach automation platform that helps businesses manage their outbound sales cadences across multiple channels, including email, social media, and phone calls.
Standout FeaturesÂ
- Multi-Channel Outreach Cadences: Design automated outreach sequences that combine email, social media (potential integration needed, check website), and phone calls.Â
- CRM Data Sync: Synchronize contact data between Outfunnel and your CRM to ensure all information is centralized and up-to-date.
- Email Automation: Automate personalized email outreach with pre-built email templates, triggers, and conditional branching.Â
- Lead Scoring: Create a scoring system based on pre-defined criteria to prioritize outreach efforts and focus on the most qualified leads.
- Reporting & Analytics: Track the performance of your outreach campaigns and analyze key metrics like email open rates, reply rates, and call connect rates.
PricingÂ
- Basic: Starts at $ $29 per month
- Professional: Starts at $99 per month
- Scale: Available on request
ProsÂ
- Lead scoring functionality to prioritize high-quality leads
- Detailed analytics and reporting for campaign performance tracking
- Personalization features for tailored communication with leads
- Multi-channel marketing capabilities for a holistic approach
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation and campaign setup
ConsÂ
- Limited customization options for advanced users
- May require additional training for optimal utilization of features
- Integration with certain CRM systems may be challenging
10. Klenty
🌟 4.6/5 Rating on G2
Klenty is an all-in-one prospecting tool that helps businesses find and connect with potential customers. It offers lead generation, social selling tools, and email automation features.
Standout FeaturesÂ
- Social Selling Tools: Find and connect with potential customers on social media platforms like LinkedIn.
- Email Automation: Automate email outreach with pre-built templates, personalization options, and multi-channel follow-ups.
- Prospect Communication Management: Track and manage all prospect interactions (calls, emails, social media) in one place for a clear picture of the outreach history.
- AI Writer: Klenty offers an AI-powered email writing assistant that helps you craft compelling email content and personalize messages at scale.
PricingÂ
- Startup: $ 50 per user per month billed annually
- Growth: $70 per user per month billed annually
- Pro: $100 per user per month billed annually
- Enterprise: Custom quote available on request
Pros
- Easy-to-use interface with no bloatware
- Powerful dialer for cold calling with parallel outbound dialing capabilities
- AI-driven buyer intent detection for prioritizing prospects
- Multi-channel outreach capabilities, including outbound calls, email, LinkedIn, SMS, and WhatsApp
- Advanced email personalization features like merge fields and liquid templates
ConsÂ
- Reporting features could be more robust
- Occasional performance bugs and design issues
- Limited features for LinkedIn outreach
11. HubSpot Sales Hub
🌟 4.5/5 Rating on G2
HubSpot Sales Hub is a CRM platform with built-in sales tools like email sequences, lead scoring and meeting scheduling. It is a good option for businesses that are already using HubSpot for marketing automation.
Key FeaturesÂ
- Centralized Contact Management: Organize all your prospect and customer information in one place for easy access and team collaboration.
- Visual Sales Pipeline: Track the progress of your deals through a visual pipeline, allowing you to monitor deal stages, identify bottlenecks, and forecast revenue.
- Lead Scoring: Qualify leads based on pre-defined criteria like website behavior, demographics, and form submissions to prioritize outreach efforts.
- Sales Automation Tools: Leverage features like email tracking, templates, and canned snippets to save time, ensure consistent messaging, and improve rep efficiency.
PricingÂ
- Professional: Starts at $800/mo
- Enterprise: Starts at $3,600/mo
ProsÂ
- All-in-one platform for sales and marketing teams to work together effectively
- Offers workflow automations and customization options
- Offers email tracking, templates, and call tracking & recording
- Integrates well with CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive
- Helps in deal tracking and progress monitoring
ConsÂ
- Reporting features could be more robust and customizable
- May not be ideal for companies overwhelmed with a high volume of leads
- Clunky interaction with Gmail/Calendar and limited mobile functionality
- Inconsistent auto-refresh function
How to choose the best outbound software?
Consider the following factors when selecting the right outbound sales software:Â
- Business Needs: Identify team size, budget, workflow gaps (automation? lead gen?) and existing integrations (CRM, etc.).
- Core Features: Research core functionalities (email automation, data enrichment) and advanced features (social selling tools) that address your needs. Prioritize ease of use for smooth adoption.
- Check Reviews:Â Read reviews, compare pros and cons, and leverage demos/free trials to assess software firsthand. Consider the learning curve and ongoing costs as well.
- Compare Software: Shortlist strong contenders, involve your sales team, and negotiate pricing. Don’t forget data security and scalability.
Choose Adapt.io for Seamless Outreach Marketing
Feeling like your outbound sales tools and tactics are stuck in the past? Spending hours chasing down bad leads and outdated contact details? Adapt.io can help you find the right people faster and easier.
Here’s the deal:
- Comprehensive B2B Database: Adapt.io offers a vast database with detailed company and contact information. This includes verified emails, phone numbers, and more to help you effectively reach potential customers. Â
- User-Centric Approach: The platform values user feedback and focuses on enhancing the customer experience, ensuring that user suggestions are acted upon to improve the overall platform functionality.
- Smart Search and Filters: No more wasting time with generic searches. Adapt.io lets you target your outreach with laser focus. Find the perfect leads by industry, job title, company size, and more.
- Seamless Integration: Adapt.io offers a Chrome extension for easy integration into daily workflows, particularly beneficial for businesses heavily reliant on web-based tools and platforms.Â
- Boost Your Efficiency: Ditch the manual data entry. Adapt.io automates tasks like data enrichment, keeping your CRM system up-to-date without the hassle. Plus, it integrates with many popular CRM platforms for a smooth workflow.
FAQs
Outbound sales is a proactive approach where sales reps initiate contact with potential customers who haven’t expressed initial interest.Â
In software, inbound vs. outbound refers to how users interact:
- Inbound: Users come to you (e.g., website builders, CRM for existing customers).
- Outbound: You reach out to users (e.g., email marketing, marketing automation).