Hiring Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) - a comprehensive guide

In sales, companies are more likely to have long-term success with their business deals if they can ensure their clients are qualified and dependable. A sales development process can help companies ensure they target the best clients possible with minimal risk.

When you think of sales development, you may picture a dimly lit office with packed cubicles and the sound of telephone buttons beeping and echoing. At least, that’s how Hollywood illustrates it… a few decades ago. In the modern-day scene, much strategy is involved in the sales development representative’s (SDR) job scope. Professionals in this area acquire an extremely valuable skill set and drive to achieve the desired results.

In this blog, we discuss what a sales development process is, why it's important for businesses, the different components and how to hire efficient Sales Development Representatives for your organization.

Why is Sales Development important?

Sales development plays a vital role in a company's marketing strategy. Firstly, it allows the sales team to respond quickly to potential leads, resulting in higher conversion rates. Research indicates that responding to leads within an hour can increase the likelihood of converting them to sales by up to seven times.

By investing time in creating an effective sales development plan, companies can take advantage of the timing, leading to increased return on investment. With a solid plan in place, companies attract more high-quality leads, leading to more sales.

A great sales development plan also enables companies to establish better relationships with existing customers by personalizing the recruitment strategy for each potential lead. Customers appreciate personalized experiences and are more likely to consider your organization if the outreach is tailored to their specific needs.

Overall, sales development helps to enhance an organization's marketing strategy, leading to better quality leads, more sales, and improved customer relationships. Once a company witnesses the positive changes that a well-executed sales development plan can bring, they never tend to revert to old methods.

Who is a Sales Development Representative?

An SDR (Sales Development Representative) is a sales professional who specializes in identifying and qualifying potential leads for a company's sales team.

SDRs are responsible for researching potential customers and reaching out to them via email, phone, or other channels to introduce the company's products or services. Their primary goal is to establish initial contact, educate prospects on the value of the company's offerings, and determine whether they are a good fit for the product or service. SDRs work closely with the sales team to ensure that leads are properly qualified and handed off for follow-up. They play a critical role in the sales process and are often the first point of contact between a company and its potential customers.

What is the difference between Sales Development Representative (SDR) and Business Development Representative (BDR)?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) and Business Development Representatives (BDRs) are both important roles in the sales process, but they have slightly different focuses. Let's explore the differences between SDRs and BDRs and what they focus on:

Firstly, SDRs are responsible for generating leads for account executives to close deals. They start by qualifying inbound prospects and move them through the initial stages of the sales cycle until they become qualified opportunities. On the other hand, BDRs focus on generating potential opportunities within their territory instead of passing them off to AEs as soon as possible.

Secondly, SDRs are responsible for a higher quantity of inbound leads, and therefore must put in more hours to make more calls and send more emails to prospective clients who may not be as interested in signing up. BDRs, on the other hand, focus on nurturing leads generated through cold efforts and turning them into opportunities for senior salespeople to close. BDRs focus on developing relationships with their leads and ensuring that their prospects are a good fit for what their company has to offer.

Thirdly, SDRs focus on inbound leads generated by the company's marketing efforts, such as website visitors who fill out a form or convert through an ad. BDRs, on the other hand, focus on outbound leads generated by the sales team through lead generation efforts, such as prospects who have been cold-called or cold-emailed.

Finally, SDRs are focused on selling a product or service to potential customers, while BDRs focus on developing new relationships with ideal customers and bringing them into the sales funnel. SDRs need to be able to sell a product or service, while BDRs need to be able to develop relationships. Both skills are important, but they are different.

In summary, while both SDRs and BDRs play important roles in the sales process, their focuses and responsibilities differ. SDRs focus on qualifying and nurturing inbound leads, while BDRs focus on generating new business opportunities through outbound lead generation and developing relationships with potential customers.

What is a Sales Funnel?

The customer journey is visually depicted in a sales funnel, also known as a purchase funnel, which outlines the sales process from awareness to action. This funnel, alternatively referred to as a marketing or revenue funnel, represents the notion that a sale originates from a vast pool of prospective customers and eventually results in a significantly smaller group of individuals who ultimately buy the product or service. Let’s see the process involved in building a sales funnel below:

Sales funnel stages will vary by company, but they are generally divided into the following four sections:

Awareness - This stage includes the largest number of customer prospects. They have determined a problem, begun searching for a solution and become aware of an organization via Content marketing, an email campaign, social media marketing or other avenue.
Interaction - At this stage, the number of customer prospects begins to decrease, but the possibility of a sales conversion increases. This is generally when the customer will engage with the organization and request more information. The prospect will also conduct competitive research to determine if the organization's product can best meet their needs.
Interest - The prospect demonstrates increased interest in the organization by reaching out for answers to their questions. This stage of the process may include sales offers and further research into the different options the organization presents as well as pricing. If the customer declines to buy something, they cease to progress through the funnel.
Action - All of the previous stages of the sales funnel culminate in the final step -- action. At this point, the customer has decided whether or not to purchase the product. If the prospect declines to make a purchase, the organization can use other marketing tactics to ensure their product stays top of mind.

How do Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) help in building a Sales Funnel?

SDRs (Sales Development Representatives) play a critical role in building a sales funnel by identifying and qualifying potential leads for the sales team to follow up on. Here are the steps that an SDR can take to build a sales funnel:

Identify your ideal customer: SDRs need to know who their ideal customer is and understand their pain points, challenges, and goals. This helps them to identify the right prospects who are more likely to convert into customers.
Generate leads: SDRs use various channels like email marketing, social media, cold-calling, or networking events to generate leads. They create compelling messages that grab the prospect's attention and persuade them to take action.
Qualify leads: Not all leads are the same. SDRs need to qualify leads based on specific criteria such as budget, decision-making power, timing, and need. They need to have a conversation with the leads to understand their requirements and see if they are a good fit for the product or service.
Nurture leads: SDRs need to keep the leads engaged and interested in the product or service. They can use various tactics like sending personalized emails, providing relevant content, or arranging product demos.
Hand over to sales team: Once the leads are qualified and ready to move forward, SDRs hand them over to the sales team. The sales team takes over and continues to build a relationship with the prospects until they become customers.

By following these steps, SDRs can help build a strong sales funnel that ensures a steady stream of qualified leads for the sales team to close.

What are the roles and responsibilities of Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)?

Sales Development Representatives (SDR) focus on outbound sales and marketing activities in the early stages of the sales pipeline, by finding and initiating contact with potential customers. This involves contacting people who match the company's target market but have not yet expressed interest in the brand or its products, in contrast to inbound sales that focus on warm leads.

The objective of an SDR is to generate qualified leads so that other sales team members can close sales and ultimately shorten the sales cycle. Here are six responsibilities of SDRs:

Prospecting: Identifying potential customers through various channels such as trade shows, social media, conferences, online communities and forums, referrals, and social events. Reaching out to them through phone calls, emails, and other means and providing valuable content to engage them.
Brand representation: Representing the brand and creating the first impression of the company. Ensuring initial communication is friendly, professional, and engaging. Lastly, showing genuine interest in prospects' needs, challenges, and interests.
Education: Educate prospects on the brand's products and services, ask questions to understand their needs and offer information to help them make informed decisions.
Qualification: Qualify prospects based on criteria such as their likelihood to make a purchase and their fit with the brand's buyer personas. Advance the qualified leads to the next step in the sales process.
Filtering: Identifying and filtering out prospects that are not a good fit for moving forward in the sales process. Communicating this clearly to the sales team, so they can focus on nurturing qualified leads and closing sales.
Coordination: Communicating effectively with other sales team members as SDRs advance leads to subsequent stages in the sales process. Also, ensuring a smooth experience for the leads as they make their purchases.

Overall, SDRs play a critical role in the sales process by identifying and qualifying potential customers, building relationships, and setting the stage for the sales team to close deals.

What skills do Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) have?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) require a range of skills to be successful in their role. Here are some of the key skills that SDRs typically possess:

Communication skills: SDRs must be excellent communicators, with strong written and verbal skills. They need to be able to engage with potential customers, build rapport and convey information clearly and effectively.
Sales skills: SDRs need to understand the sales process and be able to identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling. They should be able to handle objections and understand how to negotiate effectively.
Organizational skills: SDRs need to be highly organized and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously. They must be able to prioritize their workload and manage their time effectively to ensure they are meeting their targets.
Research skills: SDRs need to be able to conduct thorough research to identify potential customers and gather information on their needs, challenges, and interests.
Technical skills: SDRs often use a variety of tools and technologies to support their work, including CRM systems, email marketing software, and social media platforms. They need to be comfortable using technology and able to adapt quickly to new tools and systems.
Resilience: SDRs must be able to handle rejection and stay motivated in a challenging and fast-paced environment. They should be resilient and able to bounce back quickly from setbacks.
Teamwork: SDRs need to be able to work effectively as part of a team, collaborating with other members of the sales team and sharing information and insights to support the overall sales process.

What tools and technologies do Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) know and use?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) typically use a variety of tools and technologies to support their work. Here are some of the common tools and technologies that SDRs are likely to be familiar with:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software: SDRs use CRM software to manage customer data and track sales activities, such as lead generation, lead nurturing, and pipeline management. Some examples are Salesforce, Pipedrive, Freshworks and Monday.
Email marketing software: SDRs use email marketing software to send targeted email campaigns to prospects and leads. This helps to engage and nurture leads and move them closer to making a purchase. Some examples are Mailchimp, Netcorecloud, WebEngage and Moosend.
Social media platforms: SDRs use social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, to research potential customers, build relationships, and engage with prospects.
Sales engagement tools: SDRs use sales engagement tools, such as Outreach, SalesLoft, Chilli Piper and Yesware, to automate and streamline sales activities, such as email outreach, follow-ups, and meeting scheduling.
Marketing automation tools: SDRs use marketing automation tools, such as HubSpot, Marketo, and Pardot, to automate marketing activities and track lead behavior across multiple channels.
Data and analytics tools: SDRs use data and analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track and analyze customer behavior and optimize sales and marketing strategies. Some examples are Seismic, CleverTap, Microsoft Power BI and Tableau.
Sales enablement tools: SDRs use sales enablement tools, such as Showpad, to access and share sales materials, such as product information, sales scripts, and presentations.
Communication and collaboration tools: SDRs use communication and collaboration tools, such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, to stay connected with their sales team and support collaborative sales activities.

What are some of the Related Job titles for Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) are responsible for generating and qualifying leads for their company's sales team. Here are some related job titles for SDRs:

Lead Generation Specialist
Inside Sales Representative
Outbound Sales Representative
Sales Support Specialist
Account Development Representative (ADR)
Customer Acquisition Specialist
Market Development Representative (MDR)
Sales Coordinator
Sales Assistant

These job titles are often used interchangeably and can vary depending on the company and industry.

What is the compensation range for Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)?

The compensation range for Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) can vary widely depending on several factors such as the industry, location, company size, experience level, and performance. Generally, SDRs receive a base salary plus commission or bonus for meeting or exceeding their sales targets.

According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for an SDR in the United States is around $50,000 per year, with a range of $35,000 to $70,000 per year. Additionally, SDRs may receive commissions or bonuses ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on their performance.

However, it's important to note that compensation ranges can vary widely depending on the industry and location. For example, SDRs in the technology industry or in high-cost-of-living areas may receive higher salaries and commissions than those in other industries or areas. It's also important to note that SDRs may have opportunities for career advancement, which can lead to higher salaries and bonuses.

What is a good Boolean search for finding Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)?

A generic boolean search string around terms looks like:

-job -jobs -sample -examples, to exclude irrelevant results
(intitle:resume OR intitle:cv) to discover candidates’ online resumes or CVs
(“Sales Development Representative” OR “Lead Generation Specialist”) to cover variations of the same job title

Here’s an example of a simple string to find resumes:

(intitle:resume OR intitle:cv) (“Sales Development Representative” OR “Lead Generation Specialist”) -job -jobs -sample -templates

With this search string, the words “resume” or “CV” have to appear in the page title. Adding variations of Sales Development Representative job roles provides a larger number of relevant results. And, excluding more terms will reduce false positives.

Let’s look at what a final Boolean search looks like using the following fields:

Job title: (“Sales Development Representative” OR “Lead Generation Specialist” OR “Outbound Sales Representative” OR “Customer Acquisition Specialist”) AND (“Senior” OR “Lead” OR “Team Lead”)
Sector: (“IT” OR “Finance”)
Tech Stack: Analytical thinking, Negotiation, Inbound Sales, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Seismic

The Boolean search string that can be created using the the knowledge we have gained and the aforementioned fields, applicable to any job board, would resemble the following:

((“Sales Development Representative” OR “Lead Generation Specialist” OR “Outbound Sales Representative” OR “Customer Acquisition Specialist”) AND (“Senior” OR “Lead” OR “Team Lead”) AND (“IT” OR “Finance”) AND (“Analytical thinking” AND “Negotiation” AND “Inbound Sales” AND (“ Zoho CRM” OR “Pipedrive” AND “Seismic”)

Similarly, some of the complete boolean strings to find Technical Account Executives in a particular location, with specific skills etc. are:

B2B Sales Development Representative - (("sales representative" OR "sales associate" OR “outside sales representative” OR “outside sales associate” OR “sales professional” OR “outside sales professional”) AND ((“lending” OR “mortgage lending” OR “financial service”) AND (“B2B” OR “business-to-business” OR “enterprise”)))) AND (“Lake Mary” OR “Florida”)

By using Boolean search as shown above in combination with other research methods, you can greatly increase your chances of finding the right person for your project.

What are some sample interview questions for Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)?

Hard Skills

Do you have any experience in sales?
What do you understand by the term cold calling?
Are you comfortable working with international clients?
What are your responsibilities in the current job?
Why do you think your prior experiences can help you in this job?
Do you think your previous experiences have made you a better professional? How?
What Do You Look for When Evaluating a Prospect?
Pitch Our Product to Me in Two Minutes.
How Do You Qualify Leads?
Pretend I’m a Prospect. How Would You Leave Me a Voicemail?
What Kind of Language Do You Think Would Resonate With Our Target Customers?

Behavioral / Soft Skills

What are your three strengths and weaknesses?
What keeps you motivated?
Why do you think you are suitable for this job?
How do you react to rejection?
What are your goals for the future?
Why did you leave your last workplace?
What do you know about this company?
Why are you interested in the sales job?
What part of your job do you love the most?
What are the last few books you’ve read?

About Rocket

Rocket pairs talented recruiters with advanced AI to help companies hit their hiring goals and knows technology recruiting inside out. Rocket is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley but has recruiters all over the US & Canada serving the needs of our growing client base across engineering, product management, data science and more through a variety of offerings and solutions.