Appointment setting
Appointment setting is the work of getting qualified prospects to agree to a meeting with a salesperson. The person doing it prospects, follows up, and schedules, but does not usually close the deal.
An appointment setter focuses on one outcome: a booked meeting with someone who is a plausible buyer. That involves outreach, handling replies, answering early questions, and arranging a time.
The quality of the meeting matters as much as the number. A meeting with the wrong person or someone with no need wastes the closer's time, so appointment setters qualify against criteria such as company fit, role, and stated interest.
The role overlaps heavily with an SDR. Tracking includes meetings booked, meetings held, and no-shows, since a booked meeting is not the same as a held one. Tools can automate parts of it, such as follow-ups and scheduling.
Common questions
What is the difference between a booked and a held meeting?
A booked meeting is scheduled. A held meeting actually took place. Tracking both reveals no-shows.
Is appointment setting the same as SDR work?
They overlap heavily. Appointment setting is the meeting-booking part of what an SDR does.
Related terms
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