How to choose a cold email agency
Most agencies will show you a dashboard screenshot and a 4.9. This page is the checklist we wish every buyer used — including on us.
1. Demand a methodology page
If the only proof is a homepage counter, walk. Growleady publishes sources and definitions on /proof/. Ask every vendor for the equivalent. “500+ clients” without a counting rule is decoration.
2. Separate channel SKUs from a program
A $397 LinkedIn plan, a $1,500 senior-paced LinkedIn program, and a $5,000 email pod are not the same SKU. Check vs Cleverly, vs SalesHive, and vs SalesBread before you shortlist on price alone.
3. Ask how they protect your primary domain
Dedicated sending domains, SPF/DKIM/DMARC, warmup, and a daily cap (we use 25 emails/mailbox/day) are the job. An agency that sends from your corporate domain is renting your reputation.
4. Define “meeting” in the contract
Ours: the prospect attends, matches the agreed ICP, has a buying-committee role, and engages with the offer. Show-up we observe is 85%+. If a vendor sells “leads” by form fill, you are buying a different unit.
5. Check the legal stack for your market
US: CAN-SPAM. UK: PECR + UK GDPR. Canada: CASL. Details: is cold email legal. A US template with British spelling is not a UK program.
6. Ignore self-#1 listicles — including ours when we cheat
We publish best cold email agencies and an honest LinkedIn ranking where we are not #1. Prefer third-party lists and Clutch profiles you can click. We do not have a Clutch profile yet; that is a gap, not a 4.9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a cold email agency?
A written methodology, published pricing, a definition of “meeting,” sending-domain isolation, and proof you can verify. Ask for the reply-rate definition (does it include opt-outs?) and whether they will put numbers on a page like /proof/. Avoid guarantees that ignore your offer and TAM.
How much should a cold email agency cost?
Done-for-you email programs that include infrastructure typically start in the low thousands. Growleady cold email starts at $5,000/month (£4,000 UK). LinkedIn outreach is a separate program from $1,500/month. $397 LinkedIn plans and $1,900 email shops exist; they buy a different scope. See /lead-generation-agency-cost/.
Agency vs in-house SDR?
An agency is faster to first meeting and cheaper than a fully loaded SDR plus tools plus a manager. In-house wins when you already have playbooks and want the muscle on payroll. Many teams start on a retainer and hire after the motion is proven.