We’re Proud to Say We Lived Up to our 2021 Resolutions

Making New Year’s resolutions is a noble endeavor, but let’s face it, most of them are forgotten by the middle of January.

That’s why when looking back at VSA’s ambitious resolutions for 2021, we were thrilled to discover that not only did we remain committed to them throughout the year, but we successfully lived up to the them. In achieving these resolutions on behalf of our clients, we continued to enhance the lead gen and appointment-setting services we’ve been providing for two decades and counting.

Here’s a look back at the resolutions VSA made a year ago and the steps we took to ensure we reached them:

1. More accurate lead list building

You can’t have a successful program without the right prospect list, which is why VSA has always prioritized compiling the best list-building assets for our clients. We intensified that mission in 2021, hiring a fulltime database marketing analyst to lead our list-building team and incorporating the most advanced list-building resources available, including our new partnership with sales intelligence and sales engagement platform Apollo.io.

In addition to Apollo, we’ve accumulated multiple external list-building sources to help us zero in on the right contacts for each program. We recognize that many of our clients’ lists require very specific industry, geographic, or organizational data, so we never want to limit our available options. Increased access to mobile numbers has also improved the effectiveness of our lists.

Whether we’re building a list from scratch or enriching a client’s existing list, our multiple resources allow us to identify and connect with a wide spectrum of B2B decision makers and influencers, increasing the opportunity for appointments. 

2. Finding the right BDR fit for each program

Just as no two VSA clients are exactly alike, neither are any two of our Business Development Representatives (BDRs). Often, a BDR’s unique skillset or background makes him or her an ideal fit for a specific program. Perhaps they are extremely well-versed in technology. Maybe they have experience in healthcare. Or maybe their personality meshes better with a certain prospect base.

In 2021, we took significant steps to ensure we were matching the right BDRs to each program. We accomplished this by increasing our BDR training, giving them more of a chance to showcase their existing skills and learn new ones. We also upgraded our quality control process, allowing us to quickly identify and address areas in need of improvement and seamlessly make any necessary changes.

Our flexible scheduling model has always enabled us to assign BDRs to specific programs—that’s one of the advantages of partnering with VSA over other firms. Now, with our recent emphasis on bolstering our BDRs’ talents, we’re more equipped than ever to align their skills with our clients’ specific needs.

3. Data security and privacy regulations

With complicated, ever-evolving data security and privacy regulations affecting so many of our clients, it’s crucial for VSA to stay abreast of these laws and make sure we’re compliant. Many smaller lead gen firms are unwilling or unable to invest the time, money, and resources necessary to achieve this compliance.

At the start of 2021, VSA was already HIPAA compliant, allowing us to partner with multiple clients in the healthcare industry. Since then, we’ve worked closely with a compliance consultant to help us meet additional consumer protection and privacy regulations. We’re now fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which affects any company that does business or collects data from consumers in the European Union. We’re also on the verge of becoming compliant with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which governs access to educational information, and we’re well underway to becoming compliant with a pair of consumer protection laws—New York’s SHIELD Act and the California Consumer Privacy Act.

VSA has remained extremely vigilant about understanding these new privacy laws and keeping up with them—a commitment that has rapidly separated us from many of our competitors.

4. Tech stack

VSA has long been committed to investing in whatever technology will allow us to make the most calls–and the most effective calls—on behalf of our clients. That’s why we’ve continued to partner with top-tier industry providers such as ConnectAndSell and the aforementioned Apollo.io, helping us deliver more than twice the output of the average B2B call center.

Most B2B call centers can make between 400 and 500 dials a week per FTE (40 hours). Thanks to the technology we’re utilizing, in many cases VSA can make between 1,100 and 1,200 dials a week per FTE. More calls equals more conversations, which equals more appointments for our clients.    

Conclusion

Whether your goals are personal or professional, the turn of the calendar is the perfect time to focus on ways to grow. But resolutions shouldn’t be limited to January. At VSA, we’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients.

We’re glad we’ve been able to achieve the ambitious goals we set for ourselves at this time last year, but we’re not resting on our laurels. The arrival of 2022 brings new ideas, aspirations, and opportunities.

We’d love to hear about your plans for the new year. If there’s any way we can help, give us a call—we resolve to listen to everything you have to say.