What is the difference between a freelancer and an agency?
A freelancer is one person you engage directly, usually on a per-hour, per-meeting or monthly basis. An agency or calling service is a business that assigns people to your campaign and carries the admin, such as scheduling, reporting and cover.
The practical difference is who carries the risk when something goes wrong. With a freelancer, that is you. If they fall ill, leave for a full-time job or stop replying, your campaign stops. With an agency, someone else is responsible for continuity, though you still need to check what that responsibility covers in writing.
When does a freelancer make sense?
A freelancer makes sense when your list is short, your offer is simple, and you are willing to brief them and listen to a sample of their calls each week. You also get a direct line to one person who learns your pitch over time.
The trade-offs are capacity and records. One person can only dial so many numbers a day, and a freelancer may not record calls or report in a fixed format unless you ask for it. Agree the working hours, the reporting you want and who owns the call notes before the first call.
Put the terms in a written contract: scope, how and when payment is made, and what happens to your list when the work ends. TAFEP publishes a Tripartite Standard on Contracting with Self-Employed Persons, which you can read when drafting those terms.
When does an agency or service make sense?
An agency or service makes sense when you have a larger list, need the work finished in a defined period, or do not want to depend on one person. Cover for leave, a standard weekly report and recorded calls are the usual reasons owners switch from a freelancer.
Pricing models differ, so compare them in words before you compare quotes. Some charge per meeting booked, some per hour of calling, some per number called, and some a monthly retainer. Per-meeting pricing puts the definition of a qualified meeting into the contract, so read that definition closely. Per-number pricing is easier to budget but means you pay whatever the list produces. Ask each provider which model they use and what is excluded.
What should you check before hiring either?
Check three things: who is accountable, whether you can hear the calls, and how the Do Not Call Registry is handled. Ask for the name of the person responsible for your campaign and when they can be reached. Ask whether you can play back every call, including the ones that did not result in a meeting.
On the Registry, PDPC points organisations to the DNC Registry Portal at dnc.gov.sg for checking numbers. Agree in writing who checks your list before any calls are made, and who keeps the record of that check. This is general information, so check with a lawyer for your own case.
Whoever you hire, agree in writing that anyone who asks not to be called again is removed from the list and that you are told.
Where does Greetsby fit?
Greetsby is an appointment-setting service in Singapore. It calls the people on your own list and books meetings into your calendar. It suits small and mid-sized businesses that sell to other businesses, B2B sales teams and financial advisory firms. Individual representatives cannot sign up themselves: MAS Notice FAA-N02 covers the appointment and use of introducers by financial advisers, so the firm must sign up.
Pricing is per number called: S$1,800 for 1,000 numbers, S$3,600 for 2,000 and S$5,400 for 3,000, which is S$1.80 a number and covers up to 4 attempts each on different days between 9.30am and 6.00pm. You pay before calls start, with no contract and no monthly fee. A named caller is responsible for your campaign, every call is recorded, and you receive a weekly report of calls made, people reached, meetings booked and meetings held.
On the Registry, you check your list before sending it and confirm that you have when you upload it. Greetsby does not run the check for you, and it passes on to you the name of anyone who asks not to be called again.
Greetsby does not guarantee a number of meetings. The first batch shows what your own list produces, and you then decide whether to order another. Questions go to hello@greetsby.com, and Greetsby replies within one working hour between 9.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Questions
Is a freelancer cheaper than an agency?
It depends on the pricing model and the volume. Freelancers may charge per hour, per meeting or monthly, and agencies may charge per meeting, per hour or per number called. Compare what each includes, such as recordings, reporting and cover, before comparing totals.
Do I need to check the Do Not Call Registry if I hire someone to call for me?
Whether your list needs checking depends on who you are calling and why, so ask a lawyer about your own case. Checks are made through the DNC Registry Portal at dnc.gov.sg, and you should agree in writing who does the check before calls start.
Can an individual insurance agent or adviser representative hire Greetsby?
No. MAS Notice FAA-N02 covers the appointment and use of introducers by financial advisers, so the financial adviser firm must be the one to sign up.
Can I listen to the calls a provider makes for me?
You can if you ask for it in advance. Greetsby records every call, including those that did not book, and you can play any call on your list. With a freelancer, agree on recordings or call notes in writing.
Sources
- PDPC: Organisation's Guide to Singapore's Do Not Call (DNC) Provisions
- MAS: Notice FAA-N02 Appointment and Use of Introducers by Financial Advisers
- TAFEP: Tripartite Standard on Contracting with Self-Employed Persons Launched
- MOM: Tripartite Standards
General information for businesses in Singapore, not legal advice.