Outsourced Demand Generation in 2026: A Complete Guide for B2B Sales Leaders
Major Takeaways: Outsourced Demand Generation
Outsourced demand generation allows B2B teams to access specialized expertise, advanced tooling, and proven processes without the time and cost of building in‑house teams, accelerating pipeline creation by months rather than quarters.
Compared to internal hiring, demand generation solutions outsourcing often reduces total acquisition costs by 30–60% by eliminating recruiting, onboarding, and technology overhead while delivering predictable monthly spend.
Demand generation outsourcing is most effective when companies need rapid pipeline growth, lack internal SDR capacity, or are entering new markets where internal teams lack experience or data coverage.
When aligned to ICPs and sales criteria, outsourced demand generation consistently improves pipeline quality by focusing on intent‑driven targeting, multi‑touch engagement, and sales‑ready qualification instead of raw lead volume.
Clear KPIs, strong onboarding, ongoing sales alignment, and transparent reporting are the primary drivers of success, far outweighing pricing models or channel selection alone.
The most reliable metrics include cost per qualified meeting, sales‑accepted lead rate, pipeline value generated, and conversion from meeting to opportunity, rather than surface‑level activity metrics.
Common risks include poor brand alignment, weak sales integration, and unrealistic expectations; these are mitigated through structured onboarding, defined qualification criteria, and continuous feedback loops.
Many B2B organizations achieve the strongest results by combining internal marketing or sales teams with outsourced demand generation to scale coverage while retaining strategic control.
Introduction
Outsourced B2B demand generation – also known as demand generation outsourcing or demand generation solutions outsourcing – has become an integral strategy for B2B companies striving to fill their pipelines in 2026. With B2B buyers more elusive and sales cycles growing longer, many organizations are turning to external experts to fuel top-of-funnel growth.
In fact, 59% of companies outsource some part of their lead generation process (1). This guide provides a comprehensive look at outsourcing demand gen, from its benefits and optimal use cases to selecting a partner, measuring success, and navigating potential pitfalls. We also spotlight top outsourced demand generation providers – including a detailed look at how we at Martal Group approach Sales-as-a-Service in 2026 – to help you make an informed decision.
Experienced sales and marketing leaders know that vague promises won’t sway the C-suite; you need data and strategy. So, let’s dive straight into why demand generation outsourcing is on the rise and how it can accelerate your B2B growth when done right.
What is Outsourced Demand Generation And How Does it Differ from In‑house Demand Gen?
Outsourced demand generation involves hiring an external partner to manage prospecting, outreach, and lead qualification, while in‑house demand generation is handled by internal teams. Outsourcing provides faster ramp up, access to specialized expertise, and scalable resources, allowing companies to quickly launch campaigns without recruiting or training new staff. It also gives access to advanced tools, processes, and data that may be costly to implement internally.
Understanding the distinction between demand generation vs lead generation is important here: lead generation typically focuses on delivering raw contacts or leads, whereas demand generation encompasses the broader process of targeting, messaging, multi-channel outreach, nurturing, qualification, and pipeline creation aligned with sales outcomes.
In-house demand generation, by contrast, offers greater control over messaging, team alignment, and day-to-day strategy, but requires significant investment in hiring, training, management, and technology. Internal teams may also take longer to reach full productivity, and scaling campaigns quickly can be challenging.
Outsourced demand generation can complement internal efforts, providing additional bandwidth, multi-channel capabilities, or niche market expertise, while in-house teams maintain strategic oversight and direct customer relationships. The choice often depends on budget, timeline, expertise needs, and how closely campaigns must align with internal processes.
Benefits of Outsourced Demand Generation
59% of companies outsource at least part of their lead generation process to drive pipeline growth and improve efficiency.
Reference Source: Marketing LTB
Outsourcing demand generation can deliver significant advantages for B2B organizations. By partnering with specialized providers, you gain access to expertise and scale that would be costly or time-consuming to develop internally. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Accelerated Results and Pipeline Growth: An outsourced team can hit the ground running with proven outreach processes, often producing results much faster than an in-house team that might need months to hire and ramp up. Research shows building an internal SDR team can take 3–6 months to yield results, whereas experienced outsourced teams start delivering qualified leads almost immediately (2). This speed to impact means a quicker fill of your sales pipeline.
- Cost Efficiency: Demand generation outsourcing is often more cost-effective than hiring and maintaining full-time staff. Companies avoid expenses like salaries, benefits, training, tech stack subscriptions, and management overhead. Studies have found outsourcing can reduce lead generation costs by 30–65% compared to in-house efforts (3). One analysis showed that even a lean two-person in-house SDR team in the U.S. can cost $18,000–$36,000 per month once you factor in tools and overhead – a burden many outsourced programs can meet or beat for a fraction of the cost (4).
- Specialized Expertise and Technology: Outsourced demand gen providers bring focused expertise, refined playbooks, and advanced tools to your campaigns. Their teams do one thing – prospecting and nurturing leads – day in and day out. This often translates to superior outcomes; for example, one white paper noted an outsourced lead generation department can achieve 43% better results than an in-house team. Providers also come equipped with technologies like intent-data platforms, automation, AI-driven outreach, and up-to-date contact databases that many in-house teams might not have. You effectively rent a fully equipped demand gen engine with the latest tech and techniques.
- Omnichannel Reach and Innovative Tactics: Good demand gen agencies run coordinated campaigns across multiple channels – email, LinkedIn, phone, content, events – ensuring you connect with prospects wherever they engage. They also experiment with creative tactics (for instance, multi-touch cadences, gifting or “lunch and learn” offers, retargeting ads) that an internal team might not have bandwidth or skills to implement. This omnichannel, innovative approach can significantly boost engagement and conversion rates by surrounding the buyer with consistent messaging.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Outsourced demand gen is highly scalable. Need to double the number of leads next quarter? It’s far easier to scale up with an external partner (who can add resources instantly) than to recruit, hire, and train new employees. Conversely, you can scale down or pause without the HR implications of layoffs. In a survey, 46% of B2B organizations planned to operate in a hybrid in-house + outsourced model by 2026 precisely to maintain this agility (6). The flexibility to ramp outreach efforts up or down on-demand means you can respond quickly to market opportunities or budget pressures.
- Focus on Core Competencies: By outsourcing the heavy lifting of demand gen, your internal team (especially sales reps) can focus on what they do best – closing deals and managing customer relationships. Instead of spending hours list-building or making cold calls, your account executives walk into scheduled meetings with qualified prospects. This increases productivity and morale, as salespeople spend more time on high-value activities and less on top-of-funnel prospecting.
- Continuous Optimization: Demand generation agencies live and die by performance, so they typically iterate and optimize campaigns rigorously. They conduct A/B tests on messaging, try different target segments, refine cadence timing, and adjust on the fly based on analytics. Many also provide detailed reporting and insights. This data-driven refinement drives better ROI over time – something internal teams often struggle to dedicate time for when juggling many responsibilities.
To put it simply, outsourcing demand generation lets you skip the learning curve and infrastructure build-out, and immediately plug into a proven engine for creating demand. It’s a shortcut to expertise, technology, and scale, with a predictable budget. No wonder more than half of B2B companies outsource at least part of their marketing or lead gen activities today.
When to Outsource vs In-House Demand Generation
46% of B2B organizations plan to operate using a hybrid in-house and outsourced demand generation model by 2026.
Reference Source: IMS nHance
Outsourced demand generation isn’t a silver bullet for every situation. The decision of outsourcing versus keeping demand gen in-house should be strategic, based on your company’s circumstances. Below are scenarios for when outsourcing makes sense and when an in-house approach might be preferable.
When to Consider Demand Generation Outsourcing: You should consider outsourcing demand gen in situations such as:
- Lack of In-House Bandwidth or Expertise: If you don’t have a dedicated lead generation team – or your marketing team is stretched thin – outsourcing is a fast way to fill the gap. Many companies “don’t have to be a lead generation expert to grow their business” when they partner with an agency that provides an experienced team to handle prospecting for them. For example, startups or SMBs with no outbound program can “plug in” a fractional demand gen team to jump-start prospecting rather than hiring SDRs from scratch.
- Stagnant Pipeline or Weak Lead Flow: When your in-house pipeline has dried up and sales targets are being missed due to too few leads, an outsourced provider can reinvigorate demand quickly. This is a common trigger for outsourcing – e.g. after several quarters of flat growth or complaints from your sales team about lead quality, an external partner can deliver a surge of qualified leads to refuel the pipeline.
- Urgent Need to Scale Pipeline Quickly: If aggressive growth goals or investor pressure demand rapid pipeline expansion, outsourcing is often the only way to get there in time. Hiring and ramping an internal team could take 4–6+ months, whereas a capable demand gen firm can deploy campaigns in a matter of weeks. As one example, companies that receive new funding or launch a product often engage outside teams to “scale your pipeline quickly without scaling your staff”. The outsourced approach provides instant capacity to meet a sudden need for volume.
- Entering New Markets or Segments: Expanding into a new region or industry where your team has little experience is another good reason to outsource. Specialized agencies likely have prospect data and outreach experience in that vertical or geography. They can provide local market knowledge, language capabilities, and established techniques to break in. For instance, if you’re targeting a new industry and lack contacts, an agency with multi-vertical experience can supply market-specific lead lists and tailored outreach, acting as a bridge into that segment.
- Outreach Efforts Are Underperforming: Perhaps you’ve tried some cold email or hired a telemarketing firm in the past and saw disappointing results – low response rates, lots of spam complaints, few meetings. Rather than giving up on outbound, it may be time to bring in experts. A sophisticated demand gen partner can diagnose the issues (targeting the wrong personas, poor email deliverability, generic messaging, etc.) and implement a data-driven, modern strategy (e.g. using intent data, multichannel touches) to significantly improve ROI. When previous in-house campaigns or basic vendors fail, a high-quality outsourcing partner can turn things around.
- Desire for Cost Control: If the economics of in-house demand gen don’t make sense for your organization, outsourcing provides a more predictable and often lower-cost alternative. Instead of variable costs (hiring, salaries, commissions, turnover) and sunk tool investments, you pay a set fee tied to outcomes. This is increasingly appealing in budget-conscious environments – a recent Deloitte study showed brands outsourcing marketing functions saved ~38% in annual costs on average (6). Outsourcing converts fixed costs into flexible ones and often stabilizes or reduces the overall cost per lead.
When to Keep Demand Generation In-House: On the other hand, retaining or building an in-house demand gen team might be preferable if:
- Brand Control is Paramount: If your organization has extremely strict brand guidelines or operates in an industry where messaging is highly sensitive (e.g. regulatory or technical fields), you may feel more comfortable keeping outreach internally. In-house teams give you full oversight of messaging and targeting. (That said, a good outsourcing partner will work hard to understand and represent your brand faithfully – more on that under challenges.)
- You Have Established In-House Demand Gen That’s Working: Larger enterprises that already have a well-oiled internal demand gen engine – complete with marketing automation, content marketing, BDRs/SDRs, and a steady flow of MQLs – might not gain as much from outsourcing. If you’re already hitting pipeline goals efficiently in-house, outsourcing could introduce complexity. Many enterprises still outsource selectively (e.g. contact list building or international outreach) but keep core functions inside to maintain control and institutional knowledge.
- Budget Supports Hiring and Long-Term Team Building: Some companies prefer to invest in growing their own team for the long run, especially if they have the budget and time. In-house teams can offer tighter integration with sales and other departments. If you can afford to hire top talent, provide ongoing training, and weather the ramp-up period, you might build a strategic asset in an internal demand gen department. This is often the case for organizations that view demand gen as core to their competitive advantage and want that capability internally.
- Highly Complex or Technical Offering: If your product or service is so complex that it requires deep subject-matter expertise to even initiate a conversation, an internal team of product experts might have an edge in generating leads. For example, highly technical engineering solutions or niche scientific products might need PhD-level outreach personnel. Outsourced SDR companies try to learn your domain, but there are instances where in-house technical sales engineers doing prospecting can be more effective due to their knowledge depth. (In many cases, however, a good agency will staff your account with people experienced in your industry – so this is a consideration, not a deal-breaker.)
Often, the best approach is hybrid – keep strategic roles and certain marketing functions in-house, but outsource the labor-intensive outbound prospecting and lead research. It’s telling that nearly half of B2B companies plan for a hybrid model by 2026 (6). Many organizations maintain an internal inbound marketing team (content, SEO, ads) while outsourcing outbound sales development, or they keep a small internal SDR team and augment it with an external team to boost volume.
In-House vs. Demand Generation Outsourcing: Quick Comparison
To summarize the differences, here’s a quick comparison of in-house versus outsourced demand generation:
Factor
In-House Team
Outsourced Partner
Initial Investment
High – recruiting, salaries, tools, training
Lower – typically a fixed monthly fee or contract
Time to Ramp
Slow – often 3–6 months to hire and train
Fast – experienced team can launch in weeks
Expertise Level
Varies – may have skill gaps or juniors
High – seasoned specialists with refined techniques
Cost per Lead
Can be higher and fluctuate (inefficiencies)
Predictable and often lower on average
Scalability
Limited – adding capacity requires new hires
Flexible – scale up/down by adjusting contract
Channel Coverage
May be limited by team skillset (e.g. only email)
Multichannel – agency provides full-funnel capabilities
Control & Oversight
Full control over messaging/brand
Shared – need to ensure partner alignment & reporting
Tools & Data
Company must invest in and manage tools
Partner provides state-of-art tools and data sources
Accountability
Internal KPIs, but team’s focus may shift
SLA-driven, with performance often tied to outcomes
In essence, outsourcing shines when speed, cost-efficiency, and access to expertise are top priorities, whereas in-house can be ideal for maximum control and when you’ve already built a strong internal competency. Many growing B2B firms start by outsourcing to drive quick results, then gradually hybridize or internalize certain functions as they scale. The right choice depends on your stage of growth, resources, and strategic priorities.
(Pro tip: Even if you keep demand gen in-house, it can be wise to engage an outsourced sales team for a pilot or overflow capacity during critical periods. This “best of both” approach ensures you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket and can benchmark results.)
How to Choose a Demand Generation Outsourcing Partner
63% of client-side marketers rank the seniority and quality of agency team members as a top selection criterion.
Reference Source: The Drum
Once you decide to explore demand generation outsourcing, the next crucial step is selecting the right partner. Not all agencies or providers are created equal – choosing a demand gen outsourcing partner requires due diligence in order to find a provider that fits your business needs and can deliver ROI. To help guide this process, here are key outsourcing questions and factors to consider when evaluating potential partners:
- Strategic Fit and Industry Experience: Look for a partner that has experience in your industry or target markets. Demand generation in B2B is not one-size-fits-all; the nuances of selling into, say, enterprise SaaS vs. manufacturing vs. healthcare are very different. Does the provider showcase case studies or clients in similar sectors? Do they understand your ideal customer profile and the pain points of your buyers? A SaaS demand generation agency with experience generating leads for solutions like yours will ramp up faster and speak your prospects’ language more credibly. For example, if you sell a technical product to IT leaders, you might prioritize a provider with a track record in tech sectors. Many top agencies will proudly share their niche focus or vertical expertise, which can be a deciding factor.
- Services and Channel Capabilities: “Demand generation” can span a broad array of activities – from content marketing and inbound lead nurture, to outbound prospecting and appointment setting, to account-based marketing campaigns. Be clear on which aspects you want to outsource and ensure the partner offers those services at a high level. If you need an omnichannel outbound campaign (emails + LinkedIn + calls), does the agency execute across all those channels? If you’re looking for integrated inbound and outbound, do they have capabilities in marketing automation, SEO, or content creation as well? Outline your required scope and ask if they handle those specific “demand generation solutions.” A good partner will also advise if your scope should be adjusted – for instance, they might suggest combining email and LinkedIn outreach for better results if you hadn’t considered it. The goal is to find a provider whose offerings match your needs; misalignment here can lead to disappointment down the road.
- Track Record and References: Examine the provider’s track record. What results have they achieved for clients similar to you? Credible agencies should be able to share performance metrics (average response rates, number of meetings booked, pipeline generated, etc.) and even reference clients you can speak with. Don’t hesitate to ask for references or check independent reviews on sites like Clutch or G2. Strong client testimonials and case studies demonstrating ROI are a positive sign. Conversely, a lack of any concrete results data is a red flag. For example, if an agency claims to boost pipeline, ask for a statistic or example – e.g. “We helped a client increase Marketing Qualified Leads by 125% in 6 months”. Specifics show credibility (9).
- Transparency and Reporting: Demand generation is an ongoing process, so transparency is vital. You’ll want a partner that provides regular, detailed reporting on key demand generation metrics (more on KPIs in the next section). During your evaluation, inquire about how often they report, what data you’ll receive, and what collaboration looks like. The best partners operate as an extension of your team – keeping you in the loop with weekly or biweekly updates, reviewing campaign insights with you, and being transparent about what’s working or not. Avoid agencies that seem unwilling to share raw data or hide behind vanity metrics. Given that nearly two-thirds of SMBs who part ways with agencies cite lack of perceived value (5), it’s critical that your outsourcing partner demonstrates value through clear results and communication. A strong provider will set measurable targets with you (meetings per month, SQL conversion rate, etc.) and jointly track progress.
- People and Talent Quality: Ultimately, people make the difference in demand generation. Who exactly will be representing your company to prospects? Ask about the team that will be assigned to your account – their backgrounds, experience level, and tenure. Some firms employ junior telemarketers or offshore callers with heavy scripts, while others (like Martal Group) use seasoned, onshore sales professionals with industry experience. This can greatly affect the quality of conversations and leads. Meet the account manager or SDRs if possible before signing on – their professionalism and understanding of your offering should instill confidence. Also consider team stability: high turnover on the agency side could disrupt your campaigns. The seniority and stability of the team is an important factor (one survey found 63% of client-side marketers value seniority of the agency team highly in selection) (10).
- Process and Methodology: How will the partner go about generating leads for you? Have them walk through their process in detail. Good agencies have a documented methodology – for example, how they build target lists (using what data sources and criteria), how they craft messaging (do they personalize? use templates?), how many touches and what sequence they use (e.g. 5-7 touches over 4 weeks via email/LinkedIn/call). Ensure their approach aligns with your buyers’ preferences and your brand. If you emphasize quality over quantity, do they focus on highly-qualified, intent-driven leads or will they spray and pray? If account-based marketing (ABM) is your strategy, can they support that with tailored account research and multi-stakeholder outreach? Clarify expectations on lead qualification criteria – how do they define a “qualified lead” or appointment in your context? The clearer both sides are on the plan and definitions, the smoother the engagement will be.
- Technology and Data Security: A top-tier demand gen provider should leverage modern sales and marketing tech – such as CRM integration, sales engagement platforms, intent data providers, AI tools for scaling personalization, etc. Inquire about what tools they use and how they handle data. For example, do they use a platform to track email opens/replies and manage leads? Do they have an AI-driven system for optimizing send times or suggesting targets (some, like Martal, have proprietary AI sales platforms)? Their tech stack can be a differentiator for performance. Equally important is data protection and compliance: ensure the partner follows GDPR/CCPA and other regulations, uses secure data transfer, and will sign a NDA. You will likely share sensitive prospect data or customer info with them. In fact, maintaining data security and brand safety is a growing concern – savvy companies only work with vendors who have clear data policies and transparency. Make sure any provider you choose checks that box.
- Culture and Communication: Consider the softer aspects too – is the agency’s communication style and culture compatible with yours? You’ll be working closely, so factors like time zone overlap, responsiveness, and general “feel” matter. Do they seem eager to collaborate and educate, or are they more of a vendor who goes off on their own? The best partnerships feel like an extension of your team. During initial calls, gauge if they ask thoughtful questions about your business and goals (good sign) or just push a generic sales pitch (not so good). Alignment on values and work style can greatly smooth the road ahead, especially when challenges arise.
- Pricing Model and Flexibility: Outsourced demand gen is typically billed either as a flat monthly retainer or a pay-per-lead/appointment model (sometimes with bonuses for performance). Understand exactly what you are paying for and how the pricing scales. If it’s a retainer, how many leads or meetings is it expected to produce? If pay-per-lead, what qualifies as a billable lead? Clarify contract length and exit clauses – many providers will start with a 3-6 month pilot before a longer commitment. Ensure the contract has some flexibility in case the partnership isn’t hitting the mark (e.g. a 30- or 60-day out after the pilot). Also be wary of providers whose pricing seems too good to be true; as with anything, you get what you pay for. Value-for-money is key – remember, “value for money” is the top factor SMBs consider when choosing a demand generation agency, and lack of value is the #1 reason they churn (5). The lowest cost option is not worthwhile if they don’t deliver results. Aim for a partner that offers a fair price for quality outcomes, and structure the agreement in a way that incentives success on both sides (for instance, performance-based milestones).
In summary, take your time to vet potential outsourced demand gen partners. Interview multiple agencies, ask tough questions, and request a proposal or plan to compare approaches. It’s much like hiring an employee – you want the best talent and fit. The right partner should instill confidence that they understand your goals and know how to achieve them. Once you choose, you’ll entrust them with valuable prospect relationships and your brand reputation in the market, so the stakes are high. But choose well, and you gain a strategic ally who will significantly lighten your load and boost your pipeline.
(Tip: Consider running a small pilot project or trial before a long-term contract. This lets you gauge their performance and working style on a low-risk basis. How they execute during a 8-12 week pilot will speak volumes about what a larger engagement would look like.)
Key Metrics and KPIs for Outsourced Demand Gen
Companies that outsource demand generation reduce costsby up to 65% compared to building an internal team.
Reference Source: Martal Group
Successful demand generation – whether in-house or outsourced – is ultimately judged by results. To ensure your outsourced demand gen program is delivering value, we recommend defining clear metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) from the outset. By tracking the right metrics, you can quantify the impact of outsourcing and hold your partner accountable for outcomes (and they can continuously optimize for improvement).
Here are key metrics and KPIs B2B sales and marketing leaders should monitor for outsourced demand generation:
- Lead Volume and Quality: The most direct metric is the number of leads or appointments generated by the outsourced efforts. Depending on your agreement, this could be measured as Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) delivered, sales meetings set with qualified prospects, or Sales Qualified Leads (SQLs)/opportunities passed to your sales team. However, don’t measure volume in isolation – lead quality is just as important. Keep an eye on conversion rates down the funnel. For example, how many of the MQLs convert to SQLs, or how many first appointments lead to pipeline opportunities? A vendor might hit a numeric goal by delivering many leads, but if they are low quality (e.g. wrong buyer profile or low interest), it will show in poor conversion to next steps. Balance quantity with quality indicators (like lead acceptance rates by sales). Ideally, set targets for both – e.g. 20 qualified meetings per month with at least 60% converting to pipeline.
- Cost Per Lead (CPL): Cost efficiency is a core reason to outsource, so track your Cost Per Lead. Calculate your total outsourcing cost for a period (monthly or quarterly fee, etc.) divided by the number of leads or meetings generated in that period. Compare this CPL to your historical in-house CPL or industry benchmarks. Is outsourcing reducing your cost per acquired lead? Also consider Cost Per Opportunity or Per Deal (if you can attribute that far) to gauge downstream efficiency. Over time, you want to see CPL stabilize or decrease as the partner optimizes campaigns. Note that a slightly higher CPL might be acceptable if lead quality is superior and conversion rates to revenue are higher – ultimately Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) of a customer is the bottom-line metric. But CPL is a useful early indicator of efficiency. Many companies find that outsourcing stabilizes and lowers their CPL by streamlining the process (agencies benefit from economies of scale), whereas in-house costs can fluctuate and often rise with inefficiencies (2).
- Pipeline Contribution: This is arguably the most important metric – how much pipeline (revenue opportunity) is the outsourced demand gen driving? Track the total qualified pipeline value generated from the leads provided. For example, if in a quarter the vendor set 30 meetings and 15 became sales opportunities with an average deal size of $50k, that’s $750k in pipeline generated. Pipeline contribution gives you a sense of potential ROI down the line. You can also track pipeline to target (what % of your overall pipeline or quota is being supported by the outsourced efforts). If that percentage is growing each quarter, the partnership is becoming more impactful. Some organizations also measure marketing-influenced revenue or outsourced-influenced revenue – meaning closed sales that originated from the vendor’s leads – which ultimately is the true ROI. It might take longer to accumulate that data, but keeping an eye on actual closed-won deals and revenue attributable to outsourced leads will tell you if the program is paying for itself (e.g. $X spent versus $Y won business).
- Conversion Rates and Funnel Metrics: Break down the funnel and measure conversion rates at each stage for outsourced leads. Key conversion metrics include: Response rate (what percentage of contacts engaged by the agency respond positively?), Meeting rate (what % of engaged leads convert to an initial sales call or demo), SQL/opportunity rate (what % of those meetings are deemed valid sales opportunities by your team), and ultimately close rate (what % of opportunities close). For example, you might see that 10% of prospects contacted by the partner express interest, 5% schedule a meeting, 3% become pipeline opportunities, and 1% close – or whatever the case may be. These ratios help diagnose the process. If response rate is high but meeting rate is low, maybe there’s a scheduling or qualification issue. If meetings are plenty but pipeline conversion is low, perhaps lead quality or sales follow-up needs work. Regularly reviewing these metrics with your vendor enables continuous improvement – maybe they need to tweak messaging to improve response, or target different titles to improve conversion. A collaborative partner will use this data to refine their approach. (At Martal, for instance, we share detailed funnel metrics and tweak targeting or cadence to boost weak spots in conversion.)
- Engagement Metrics: Depending on the channels used, you’ll have engagement-level KPIs that are leading indicators for success. For email outreach, track open rates and reply rates (and positive reply rates specifically). For LinkedIn, track connection acceptance and response rates. For call campaigns, track call-to-conversation rates or voicemail response rates. These metrics show how effective the messaging and outreach tactics are at generating interest. For instance, a B2B cold email average reply rate might be ~3-5% (1) – if your partner’s campaigns are consistently generating 8-10% reply rates with a healthy portion of positive replies, that’s a sign their content and targeting are resonating. Likewise, if email open rates are strong (say 40%+) but reply is low, it indicates interest without action – maybe the call-to-action needs work. Use engagement metrics as an early pulse check each week, while keeping your eyes on the bigger outcome metrics monthly.
- Lead Nurture and Follow-up Metrics: Some demand gen programs include lead nurturing or follow-up on longer-term leads. If so, track metrics like how many touchpoints on average to qualify a lead, or the nurture conversion rate (what % of initially “not interested” leads turn interested after additional follow-up). Also, measure speed metrics: how quickly does the partner follow up with inbound inquiries or responses? Speed-to-lead is crucial – 78% of buyers choose the vendor who responds first (1). If part of your outsourcing scope is handling inbound lead response or follow-up, ensure their SLA for response time is being met (e.g. reply within 1 business day, etc.). Slow or inconsistent follow-up can undermine an otherwise great campaign.
- Return on Investment (ROI): In the end, you’ll want to calculate the ROI of outsourcing your demand gen. This can be simple or as detailed as you prefer. A basic measure: Revenue Generated from outsourced leads divided by Cost of the outsourcing = ROI. For example, if over a year you spent $100k on the service and it yielded $500k in closed deals, that’s a 5x ROI (500%). Marketing leaders often have to justify such investments – being able to say “our outsourced demand gen delivered an ROI of 300% last year” is powerful. Even before actual revenue closes, you can estimate ROI by applying your historical win rates to the pipeline generated (e.g. 20% win rate on $2M pipeline = $400k expected revenue, vs $100k spend -> 4x ROI expected). Additionally, consider the opportunity cost saved: how much would it have cost to achieve the same results internally? For instance, if the outsourced team delivered 50 qualified meetings at a $500 cost per meeting, compare that to the fully-loaded cost of having your internal team generate those – often it’s much higher internally. Those kinds of efficiency gains are part of the ROI story too.
- Satisfaction and Retention: Finally, monitor the qualitative KPIs as well – such as sales team satisfaction with the leads (perhaps via periodic feedback or surveys), and the longevity of the engagement. If your sales reps consistently report that the outsourced leads are high quality and leading to productive conversations, that’s a key success indicator that might not show up in numbers immediately. Also, if the partnership with the vendor continues beyond initial terms or you expand the scope, that in itself signals ROI. (Providers with 80–90% client retention year-over-year typically indicate they’re delivering value, since clients stick around (9).)
When setting KPIs with your outsourced partner, make sure they align with business outcomes, not just vanity metrics. As one marketing consultant advises, brands should pay for outcomes like pipeline and revenue, not just “deliverables” or activity counts (6). For example, instead of measuring success by “number of emails sent” or “calls made,” measure by meetings booked or opportunities created. Tie at least a portion of their compensation or continuation of the contract to hitting these outcome-based KPIs. This keeps everyone focused on what truly matters – driving growth.
Remember, the right partner will welcome clear metrics and accountability. It’s wise to establish a dashboard or regular report on these KPIs and review it jointly (weekly or monthly). This practice not only holds the vendor accountable but also gives you insight to fine-tune efforts together. With solid metrics in place, you’ll have quantifiable proof of success – or early warning signs to address – in your outsourced demand generation initiative.
(Key takeaway: define what success looks like before the engagement starts. If both you and the provider agree on the target KPIs upfront, it avoids misalignment. Whether it’s 10 SQLs per month, $1M pipeline per quarter, or a 3x ROI in year one, get those expectations in writing so everyone is rowing in the same direction.)
Challenges and Risks of Demand Generation Outsourcing
56% of SMBs stop working with their marketing agency within the first12 months, most often due to perceived lack of value.
Reference Source: The Wise Marketer
Outsourcing demand generation can be a game-changer, but it’s not without its challenges. As a B2B leader, it’s important to approach sales and marketing outsourcing with eyes wide open about potential risks and how to mitigate them. Here are some common challenges of demand gen outsourcing and ways to address them:
- Maintaining Brand Voice and Messaging: One of the biggest concerns companies have is whether an external team can represent our brand accurately. Your brand voice, value proposition, and messaging nuances have been carefully crafted – will a third party get it right? There’s a risk of prospects receiving outreach that feels “off” or generic if the partner doesn’t deeply understand your business. Solution: This is mitigated by upfront onboarding and ongoing collaboration. Ensure you dedicate time to thoroughly brief the agency on your brand guidelines, ideal customer profile, product benefits, and tone. The best agencies will ask a lot of discovery questions and even develop messaging with your input. It’s wise to review and approve templates or initial messages to ensure they sound authentic. Regular touchpoints help maintain alignment. Many firms also start with a pilot campaign precisely to fine-tune messaging. With clear guidelines and feedback loops, an outsourced team can successfully adopt your brand voice – but it requires effort on both sides. (In fact, Martal emphasizes understanding each client’s unique value prop as a core step, tailoring outreach so it feels like a natural extension of the client’s own team.)
- Data Security and Privacy: When you outsource, you may need to share customer or prospect data, or allow the vendor to use your CRM, etc. This raises valid concerns about data privacy and compliance. You’re also entrusting an external party to handle communications that could impact your reputation. Solution: Make sure any partner follows strict data protection protocols. Put a robust NDA in place and ensure compliance with laws like GDPR if you operate in those jurisdictions. Ask about their data handling – do they use secure systems? Who has access? Many companies limit the data shared to only what’s necessary and use dedicated accounts for the vendor. You can also request periodic audits or activity logs. Choosing a reputable provider with proven security measures is key; don’t be shy about asking tough questions on this front. If a provider balks at security and compliance discussions, that’s a red flag. On the other hand, a trustworthy partner will have ready answers – e.g. they might say all data is stored in encrypted form, they never reuse your data elsewhere, and their outreach complies with opt-out rules and local regulations. Formalize expectations in the contract. With diligence, the risk here can be managed to an acceptable level.
- Quality Control and Consistency: When demand gen is in-house, you can directly oversee quality (list quality, email copy, call scripts, etc.). With an outside team, there’s a chance something slips through – maybe an email goes out with a typo, or a rep deviates from the script. There’s also the risk of inconsistent quality if the agency has multiple people working on your account. Solution: Insist on regular quality reviews. In the early stages, review call recordings or email samples. Provide feedback on what constitutes a qualified lead for you, and have the vendor document that in a brief for their team. Some companies do weekly calibration meetings to go over recent lead examples and ensure they meet the agreed criteria. Set KPIs that include quality measures (like acceptance rate by your sales team, or a lead scoring threshold). If using an appointment setting service, have a system for your sales reps to rate each meeting’s quality so you and the vendor can discuss any low-quality outliers. Essentially, continue to monitor and guide as if they were an internal team member – you don’t have to micromanage every move, but do trust and verify. The goal is a partnership where the vendor welcomes feedback and continuously aligns with your expectations.
- Lack of Internal Learning: One subtle downside of outsourcing is that your internal team might not develop certain skills or market knowledge, since the outsourced partner is doing the work. For example, if you outsource all top-of-funnel efforts, your team might lose touch with prospecting techniques or early-stage customer pain points. Solution: Create mechanisms for knowledge transfer. Have the vendor share insights they gather from campaigns – what messages resonate, what objections they hear frequently, etc. This can inform your marketing and sales strategy. Also, involve your internal folks in quarterly strategy sessions with the agency to stay in the loop. Some companies eventually bring demand gen back in-house after learning best practices from an agency engagement. To facilitate that, treat the relationship as a learning opportunity – e.g. have a marketing manager shadow campaign development, or review the content that the agency uses. You can also run a hybrid model (internal team works alongside outsourced team), which keeps your people sharp and provides extra capacity.
- Over-Reliance and Continuity Risk: If you lean entirely on an outsourced provider for pipeline, you could be in a tough spot if that relationship ends or falters. For instance, if the agency suddenly has turnover on your account or if after a contract period you decide not to renew, you might experience a gap in lead flow. Solution: Mitigate this by not putting all your eggs in one basket. Keep at least some demand gen capability in-house, or maintain access to the data and content the agency produced so you can transition if needed. Negotiate contract terms that allow an orderly wind-down (like delivering all contact lists, content, and notes used, as those are your assets). Also, monitor performance closely so you spot early signs of trouble – like a drop in quality or communication issues – and address them before they become acute. Having a backup plan or an alternate vendor in mind can add resilience. Many companies treat outsourced demand gen as a long-term partnership but still review it annually against other options (including building internal). This ensures you’re never complacent and can pivot if needed.
- Integration with Sales Team: Another challenge is integrating the outsourced leads seamlessly with your internal sales process. If your sales reps don’t trust or effectively follow up on the leads, even good outsourcing work can go to waste. Sometimes there’s a cultural or process disconnect: the agency books a meeting, but your rep forgets it or doesn’t prepare well, leading to a poor call – and everyone blames each other. Solution: Treat the outsourced team as part of your sales team for process purposes. Set up a clear lead handoff workflow. For example, ensure meetings show up on the correct salesperson’s calendar with all relevant details. Use your CRM to track outsourced leads through the funnel, and include them in sales pipeline meetings. Provide feedback from sales to the vendor regularly – e.g. if a meeting was not actually qualified, find out why the criteria slipped. Train your sales team too: make sure they understand the outreach the prospects have received so far and how to pick up the conversation. Sales and the outsource provider should have a tight feedback loop. When this integration is done well, outsourcing is like having an extended SDR team down the hall; done poorly, it’s like throwing leads over a fence and hoping someone catches them. Culture-wise, get buy-in from sales leadership at the start so that reps are receptive to working leads from an external source (some seasoned reps might initially be skeptical). Demonstrating quick wins – e.g. the first few meetings lead to real opportunities – will help win them over.
- Performance and ROI Risk: Lastly, there’s always the risk that the outsourcing simply doesn’t perform to expectations. Perhaps the vendor overpromised results, or their approach just isn’t connecting with your market. Unlike an internal team that you can pivot or reassign, with an outsourced contract you might feel stuck or lose precious time if it doesn’t work out. Solution: Mitigate by starting with a pilot or shorter contract tied to clear performance milestones. Make sure there are exit clauses if KPI thresholds aren’t met. Choose a partner whose incentives align with yours – e.g. performance-based pricing or at least a mutual understanding of success criteria (as discussed in the metrics section). Check references before signing to gauge their track record. If things aren’t working within a reasonable time (say 2-3 months), escalate concerns quickly and work with the partner to adjust strategy – a good one will adapt (different messaging, different segment, etc.). However, be patient enough to allow a learning curve; don’t pull the plug at the first minor setback. Many outsourced programs refine over the first few campaigns and then hit stride. But have a firm handle on ROI by a set point (e.g. at the 6-month mark we expect X pipeline; if dramatically below, re-evaluate). The worst-case scenario is you spend budget for little return – which is why ongoing KPI tracking is essential, so you can course-correct or terminate if needed. The encouraging news is that when chosen carefully, most businesses do see strong results from outsourcing – but as with any investment, stay vigilant.
Despite these challenges, thousands of B2B companies successfully leverage outsourced demand gen to accelerate growth. The difference between success and failure often comes down to managing the partnership actively. Treat your outsourced team as a trusted partner, not a black box vendor. Invest time in onboarding them, communicating openly, and aligning goals. When you do, you mitigate most risks. As one study noted, companies that outsource but maintain regular communication and clear KPIs with their agencies tend to achieve far better outcomes than those who take a hands-off approach.
In summary, go into an outsourcing engagement with realistic expectations: there will be a ramp-up and some hiccups to iron out. But with due diligence and proactive management, the benefits (more pipeline, lower cost, faster growth) greatly outweigh the challenges for most. By anticipating these common pitfalls, you can address them head-on and set your outsourced demand generation initiative up for long-term success.
Top 10 Outsourced Demand Generation Providers
With a top outsourced demand gen partner, you can reduce sales cycles by up to25% while engaging up to 5,000 prospects each month.
Reference Source: Martal Group
When it comes to outsourcing demand generation, choosing a reputable provider is crucial. There are many agencies and companies offering demand gen services, but their approaches and strengths can vary. In this section, we’ll spotlight a few top outsourced demand generation providers to give you an overview of the landscape – including a detailed look at our own services at Martal Group, and a brief overview of other notable players. This should help illustrate the options available as you consider partners.
Agency
Overview + Key Features
Ideal For
Martal Group
AI-powered Sales-as-a-Service for tech and service companies. Proprietary AI SDR platform for intent-driven targeting, omnichannel outreach (email, LinkedIn, calls), appointment setting, lead nurturing, and fractional SDR/AE teams. Tiered, scalable engagement with optional training via Martal Academy.
B2B tech and service firms looking to rapidly scale lead generation with flexible, full-funnel support.
CIENCE Technologies
Data-driven B2B lead generation with a sizable SDR team and proprietary software. Managed outbound campaigns, sales intelligence platform, multichannel sequences, metrics-focused operations.
Funded startups and midsize businesses needing structured, scalable outbound lead generation.
Belkins
Personalized outbound campaigns via email and LinkedIn with deliverability support. Email & LinkedIn outreach, campaign personalization, deliverability tools, flexible strategy adjustments.
Companies seeking customized SDR outreach with strong email and LinkedIn focus.
SalesRoads
Phone-based B2B lead generation, focusing on quality conversations with decision-makers. Cold calling, appointment setting, follow-up emails, experienced US-based sales reps.
Businesses prioritizing phone outreach to executives or needing professional cold callers.
Callbox
Multi-channel lead generation (voice, email, social, SMS) for long sales cycles. Multi-touch campaigns, proprietary contact database, long-cycle lead management, global coverage.
Companies needing structured multi-channel campaigns and pipeline nurturing over months.
Operatix
SDR teams and ABM for enterprise tech companies. ABM, enterprise outreach, SDR team outsourcing, integration with tech sales teams.
Tech firms targeting complex enterprise accounts with dedicated sales support.
Cleverly
LinkedIn outreach for startups. LinkedIn campaign management, outreach personalization, startup-oriented strategy.
Startups seeking LinkedIn-focused lead generation.
WebFX
Digital marketing combined with lead generation. Digital marketing integration, lead generation, multi-channel campaigns, marketing analytics.
Companies blending inbound marketing with lead generation.
LeadGeneration.com
Pay-per-lead B2B services. Pay-per-lead model, B2B targeting, lead qualification, volume-based campaigns.
Businesses seeking measurable lead volume without long-term contracts.
Abstrakt Marketing Group
General B2B lead generation services across multiple channels. Outbound campaigns, multichannel outreach, lead qualification, pipeline support.
Companies needing general lead generation support across various channels.
1. Martal Group – AI-Powered Sales-as-a-Service for Tech Companies
As Martal Group, we are a leader in outsourced B2B demand generation and sales, with a decade-plus track record of helping tech and service companies accelerate growth. Our model is often described as “Sales-as-a-Service” – effectively providing you with a fractional, on-demand sales team that generates leads, nurtures prospects, and books qualified meetings for your internal closers. Here’s an overview of what we bring to the table:
- AI SDR Platform: Martal has developed a proprietary AI-driven sales engagement platform that powers our outreach behind the scenes. This isn’t a generic off-the-shelf tool – it’s a system fine-tuned from years of campaign data. The platform helps with everything from sourcing intent signals to automating multichannel sequences. For example, it can analyze thousands of buying intent signals (powered by our partner, Landbase’s GTM-1 Omni) to build laser-targeted prospect lists and even suggest optimal messaging based on prospect behavior. It also manages technical aspects like verifying emails, warming up sending domains, and optimizing send schedules to protect deliverability.
What this means for you: our AI assists human reps to reach the right prospects at the right time with personalized touches – resulting in higher response rates and more efficient campaigns. We’ve seen this tech-driven approach help clients ramp up outreach 3× faster (7) while reducing costs by up to 65% (8) compared to traditional methods.
- Sales-as-a-Service (Fractional SDR/AE Teams): When you engage Martal, you’re getting a fractional sales team on-demand. We assign a dedicated team to your account – typically including a Sales Executive (outbound SDR), a Research/Data specialist, and a Campaign Manager – all led by an experienced Engagement Manager. This team essentially acts as an extension of your company. They handle everything from researching target accounts and building contact lists, to crafting messaging and conducting outreach, to following up and nurturing leads. It’s like hiring a ready-made, outsourced SDR team with leadership, without the overhead. And it’s scalable – if you need more coverage, we add more reps.
We take a tiered approach: for instance, our packages range from a Lead Generation tier (focused on initial outreach and appointments) up to a Sales Expansion tier (which can include full-cycle sales support and account management). This tiered packaging model means you can start with a pilot or lower tier and upgrade as you see success (omnichannel campaigns are part of even the base tier). The flexibility of month-to-month engagement after an initial pilot gives clients agility to scale. The core benefit is you get an entire experienced team “on call” – bridging the gap if you lack in-house SDRs or need to augment them quickly.
- Omnichannel Outreach – Email, LinkedIn, Cold Calling: Martal strongly believes in an omnichannel strategy to maximize engagement. Our team will reach prospects through multiple touchpoints – typically a combination of personalized cold emails, LinkedIn messages and content engagement, and phone calls/voicemails. We’ve found that this synchronized approach is far more effective than single-channel outreach, as it creates multiple impressions and builds credibility. For example, a sequence might start with a warm intro message on LinkedIn, follow up with a tailored email referencing a relevant pain point, and later a phone call to directly connect – all coordinated and often supported by our intent data (so we call when a prospect shows buying signals).
LinkedIn lead generation is an area we excel in – our LinkedIn specialists connect with your ideal clients and spark conversations that turn into sales meetings. At the same time, our cold email campaigns are carefully managed to avoid the spam trap – we use deliverability experts to warm up domains and send from addresses that protect your sender reputation. And yes, we do cold calling as needed – but with a modern twist, leveraging data to prioritize high-potential contacts and using experienced North America-based callers, not random call centers. By integrating these channels, Martal ensures prospects are engaged in the way they prefer – some respond to LinkedIn, some to email, some only to a human call – we cover all bases.
- Appointment Setting and Beyond: One of Martal’s flagship services is B2B appointment setting. Our team doesn’t just hand over leads for you to chase – we actively work to schedule meetings between the prospect and your sales executives. Every meeting is put on your calendar with context provided. We essentially operate as your SDR, so your closers can focus on pitching and closing. We ensure each meeting meets your criteria (e.g. correct stakeholder seniority, interest in your solution, relevant use case) so as not to waste anyone’s time. In addition, we can support lead nurturing for longer sales cycles – staying in touch with prospects who aren’t ready yet and warming them up over time. Martal also offers auxiliary services like event lead generation (driving meetings around trade shows or webinars) and even inbound lead follow-up if needed. Think of it as full-funnel support: whether a lead comes from our outbound efforts or stumbles on your website, we can qualify and engage them through to an appointment.
- Cold Email & LinkedIn Expertise (Deliverability and Personalization): We’ve touched on this, but to emphasize – Martal’s cold email outreach is not spray-and-pray. We personalize messaging based on industry and role, and incorporate insights from intent data or trigger events (e.g., if we see a prospect hiring for a role related to your product, we might reference that). Our team has email deliverability down to a science: custom domains, proper warm-up, quality content, and continual monitoring to keep deliverability high. This dramatically improves open and reply rates. Likewise on LinkedIn, our approach is conversational and value-driven, not just “connect and pitch.” We often use content (like sharing a relevant article or inviting to a webinar) as part of LinkedIn outreach to provide value before requesting a meeting. The result? Clients have seen hundreds of additional meetings booked via our omnichannel outreach, in sectors from SaaS to telecom to energy. We’re proud that our methods are both effective and respectful – we hear from prospects who compliment the relevance of our outreach, which is the best sign you’re doing it right.
- AI and Data-Driven Targeting: A standout aspect of Martal is how data-driven our targeting is. We don’t just grab a static list of companies and blast them. Our research team uses a combination of tools (ZoomInfo, Crunchbase, intent data providers, etc.) and our AI platform to continuously refine who we reach out to. For example, we leverage real-time intent signals – monitoring when companies research topics related to our clients’ solutions – so we can prioritize those showing buying intent. We also profile companies against your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) in detail – looking at firmographics, technographics, recent news, and more – to ensure fit. As campaigns run, we analyze which types of prospects are engaging and which aren’t, and adjust targeting criteria accordingly (industry, company size, persona, etc.). This means over time, your lead quality actually improves as the AI/analytics learn. Our goal is not just quantity but delivering “sales-ready” leads who have pain points you can solve and interest in talking. This data-centric approach drives a higher conversion of lead to opportunity than generic lists would. It’s one reason Martal’s leads tend to have strong close rates – by focusing on those most likely to convert, we do fewer but better touches.
- B2B Sales Training & Martal Academy: Beyond direct lead gen services, we also offer B2B sales training programs through our Martal Academy. This is a more recent offering recognizing that some clients want to build internal muscle or train their new hires using our expertise. We provide training on outbound prospecting, cadence design, cold calling techniques, and sales development best practices – essentially transferring knowledge of what has worked for thousands of campaigns. We also have a B2B Sales Training program for account executives on closing techniques, negotiation, and sales process. This shows our commitment to not just secure meetings, but help clients improve their overall sales effectiveness. So Martal can be a long-term growth partner in multiple capacities: we can do it for you, and we can teach your team how to do it. Some clients take advantage of both – leveraging us to drive short-term pipeline while their new sales hires learn the ropes through our training.
- Tiered Packaging & Omnichannel Model: As mentioned, Martal uses a tiered engagement model where you can start with a pilot or base package and then add more channels or larger team allocations in higher tiers. For instance, a basic package might focus on cold email and LinkedIn in one region with one SDR, whereas higher tiers add calling, additional SDRs or account-based strategies, and even content marketing support (we offer an add-on for inbound content creation to boost SEO and inbound leads, complementing outbound). This tiered approach means we can serve a startup on a tight budget up to an enterprise needing broad coverage. It’s part of our “grow alongside the client” philosophy – providing flexibility and scaling smoothly as the client’s needs expand. We are transparent about pricing (flat monthly fees tailored to scope, often far less than hiring equivalent staff). And because we operate globally (teams across North America, Europe, LATAM), we can cover multiple markets for clients in a single engagement. We essentially package an entire omnichannel sales development program – strategy, data, outreach, and optimization – into a service that plugs into your organization with minimal lift on your end.
Why Martal? Our clients tell us the reasons they chose Martal Group and stuck with us include our onshore experienced team, our data-driven omnichannel approach, and our ability to consistently deliver ROI. We’re proud to have maintained a 90%+ client satisfaction rate, working with over 2000 B2B brands from startups to Fortune 500s. As an award-winning agency (top ranked in lists of lead gen firms) and with case studies showing tangible outcomes (like 3x pipeline growth in 6 months for some clients), Martal stands out as a proven provider in this space.
Overall, if you’re a B2B firm looking to rapidly scale your lead generation with an all-in-one partner, Martal Group offers an ideal blend of experienced human touch and AI-powered efficiency, all packaged in a flexible service model.
In addition to Martal Group, there are several other companies in the outsourced demand gen and sales development arena. Below is a brief overview of some providers:
2. CIENCE Technologies
Overview: CIENCE provides data-driven B2B lead generation with a sizable SDR team and proprietary software. Their approach emphasizes scale and process efficiency. Some companies may find the outreach less tailored for highly specialized markets.
Key Features: Managed outbound campaigns, sales intelligence platform, multichannel sequences, metrics-focused operations.
Ideal For: Funded startups and midsize businesses needing structured, scalable outbound lead generation.
3. Belkins
Overview: Belkins focuses on personalized outbound campaigns, particularly via email and LinkedIn, with tools to support deliverability. Their approach is highly tailored, though largely limited to certain digital channels.
Key Features: Email and LinkedIn outreach, campaign personalization, deliverability tools, flexible strategy adjustments.
Ideal For: Companies seeking customized SDR outreach with strong email and LinkedIn focus.
4. SalesRoads
Overview: SalesRoads specializes in phone-based B2B lead generation, emphasizing quality conversations with decision-makers. Digital channel coverage is narrower, so omnichannel campaigns may require additional support.
Key Features: Cold calling, appointment setting, follow-up emails, experienced US-based sales reps.
Ideal For: Businesses prioritizing phone outreach to executives or needing professional cold callers.
5. Callbox
Overview: Callbox delivers multi-channel lead generation across voice, email, social, and SMS, with experience in long sales cycles. Offshore operations may pose challenges for certain high-touch campaigns.
Key Features: Multi-touch campaigns, proprietary contact database, long-cycle lead management, global coverage.
Ideal For: Companies needing structured multi-channel campaigns and pipeline nurturing over months.
6. Operatix
Overview: Operatix provides SDR teams and account-based marketing for enterprise-focused tech companies. Their approach is specialized and may be less adaptable to non-tech sectors or short-term pilots.
Key Features: ABM, enterprise outreach, SDR team outsourcing, integration with tech sales teams.
Ideal For: Tech firms targeting complex enterprise accounts with dedicated sales support.
7. Cleverly
Overview: Cleverly specializes in LinkedIn outreach for startups. Its focus is narrow, so other channels are limited.
Key Features: LinkedIn campaign management, outreach personalization, startup-oriented strategy.
Ideal For: Startups seeking LinkedIn-focused lead generation.
8. WebFX
Overview: WebFX combines digital marketing services with lead generation, offering a broader marketing mix. Its focus on multi-service campaigns may not be purely sales-driven.
Key Features: Digital marketing integration, lead generation, multi-channel campaigns, marketing analytics.
Ideal For: Companies looking to blend inbound marketing with lead generation.
9. LeadGeneration.com
Overview: LeadGeneration.com provides pay-per-lead B2B services. Campaigns are transactional and volume-focused, with less emphasis on tailored outreach.
Key Features: Pay-per-lead model, B2B targeting, lead qualification, volume-based campaigns.
Ideal For: Businesses seeking measurable lead volume without long-term contracts.
10. Abstrakt Marketing Group
Overview: Abstrakt Marketing Group offers general B2B lead generation services. Its approach covers multiple channels but may be less specialized for niche industries.
Key Features: Outbound campaigns, multichannel outreach, lead qualification, pipeline support.
Ideal For: Companies needing general lead generation support across various channels.
When evaluating any of these providers, apply the selection criteria we discussed earlier. Many are excellent at what they do, but what they do might be slightly different.
The good news is the outsourced demand gen industry in 2026 is robust – there are high-quality solutions for nearly every B2B demand generation need. The examples above represent some of the top choices with proven results. By doing your homework and perhaps trialing one or two, you can find a partner that delivers a solid stream of opportunities for your sales team.
Conclusion: Fueling Your Pipeline with the Right Partner
In a market where every opportunity counts, outsourced demand generation has emerged as a proven strategy for B2B sales and marketing leaders to drive growth. By entrusting the top-of-funnel work to experts, you can focus on what matters most – closing deals and building customer relationships – while knowing that your pipeline is continuously being filled with qualified prospects.
However, success in outsourcing depends on choosing the right partner and collaborating closely with them. This comprehensive guide has walked you through the benefits, decision criteria, metrics, and even the potential pitfalls to be mindful of. The takeaway is clear: with diligent planning and the right execution, demand generation outsourcing can deliver transformative ROI for your organization.
At Martal Group, we understand both the promise and the concerns that come with outsourcing. That’s why we have built our Sales-as-a-Service model to serve as a strategic partnership – not just a vendor relationship. From our AI-powered prospecting platform to our seasoned SDR teams, we have engineered our services to drive tangible results and seamlessly integrate with your sales process. Our approach is omnichannel and consultative, ensuring that when we represent you in the market, it’s with the same passion and professionalism as your own team.
If you’re considering taking your demand generation to the next level, we invite you to reach out for a consultation. Whether you need an infusion of sales-ready leads, want to test an outbound campaign in a new market, or seek to optimize your current approach with AI and intent data, Martal Group can help. We’ll work with you to assess your needs and craft a program that aligns with your goals – be it a pilot project or a full-scale engagement. No fluff, no vague promises – just a clear plan to fill your pipeline and accelerate revenue.
In 2026’s competitive B2B landscape, the companies that win are those that leverage every advantage and stay agile. Outsourced demand generation is one such advantage – a way to inject expertise, technology, and capacity exactly where and when you need it. With Martal Group as your sales partner, you gain not only a team of skilled sales development professionals, but also a trusted advisor in refining your go-to-market strategy. We pride ourselves on being an omnichannel growth catalyst for our clients, whether you need targeted prospecting, multi-touch outreach, or end-to-end sales support.
Ready to explore what an outsourced demand gen program could do for your pipeline? Contact Martal Group today to schedule a strategy call. Let’s discuss how we can help design a demand generation engine tailored to your business – and how we can start delivering sales opportunities to your calendar in a matter of weeks. Together, we can turn ambitious revenue targets into achieved results.
Take the first step toward accelerating your B2B growth – and let outsourced demand generation, with Martal’s omnichannel expertise, drive your success in the year ahead.
References
- Marketing LTB
- Leads at Scale
- Fearless Competitor
- Callbox Inc.
- The Wise Marketer
- IMS nHance
- Martal Group
- Martal Group ROI Calculator
- Right Left Agency
- The Drum
FAQs: Outsourced Demand Generation
What’s the difference between outsourcing demand generation and outsourcing lead generation?
Outsourcing lead generation typically focuses on delivering contact lists or raw leads. Outsourced demand generation is broader, covering targeting, messaging, multi‑channel outreach, lead nurturing, qualification, and pipeline creation aligned to sales outcomes. Demand generation outsourcing integrates more closely with sales strategy, while lead generation alone is often more transactional.
How do you choose the right demand generation outsourcing partner?
The right partner demonstrates experience in your target market, offers transparent reporting, aligns to your ICP and sales process, and clearly defines success metrics such as pipeline contribution and sales‑accepted leads. It’s also helpful to evaluate their flexibility in adjusting campaigns as market or product priorities change.
How much does demand generation outsourcing cost compared to building an internal team?
Demand generation outsourcing usually costs less than hiring internal SDRs when accounting for salaries, benefits, training, management, and technology. Most B2B teams find outsourcing delivers faster ROI with more predictable spend. Outsourcing also reduces the time and resources needed for recruitment and ongoing team management.
What key metrics should you use to measure outsourced demand generation success?
Core metrics include cost per qualified meeting, sales acceptance rate, opportunity creation rate, pipeline value generated, and downstream revenue influence rather than email opens or call volume alone. Tracking engagement quality and lead-to-opportunity conversion provides a fuller picture than activity metrics alone.
What are common challenges companies face with demand generation outsourcing?
Common challenges include misaligned expectations, poor sales handoff, inconsistent messaging, and insufficient feedback loops. These issues are typically resolved through structured onboarding and regular performance reviews. Clear communication and early alignment on goals significantly reduce these challenges.
How do outsourced demand gen teams stay aligned with internal sales and marketing goals?
Alignment is maintained through shared ICP definitions, agreed qualification criteria, CRM integration, regular reporting, and ongoing communication between outsourced teams and internal stakeholders. Periodic joint reviews of campaign performance help ensure that priorities remain synchronized.
How long does it take to see results from outsourced demand generation?
Most B2B organizations begin seeing early engagement and booked meetings within 30–60 days, with meaningful pipeline impact typically visible within 90–120 days as campaigns are optimized. Results can improve further over time as the partner refines messaging, targeting, and cadence based on real-time feedback.