Telemarketing is an organized way of direct selling where a telemarketing salesperson solicits potential clients to purchase products or services, usually over the telephone or via a subsequent face-to-face or online conferencing session scheduled over the telephone call. There are various companies that facilitate this process of telemarketing, and a number of telemarketing companies provide the sales training facilities as well. Telemarketing can be used by almost any size or type of company that wishes to maximize the efficiency of its revenue generation strategy. By employing telemarketing, any company will have access to a dedicated sales force that will work in tandem with the company’s product or service development department to promote the company’s products and services to potential clients.
Telemarketing has come a long way since the early days of the first “cold calling” campaign, and there are many ways in which telemarketing differs from traditional methods of marketing. Traditional methods of marketing typically require a sales representative to make personal calls to potential clients or consumers and attempt to sell them something that is not on their shopping list, something that they would not normally purchase even if given the chance. Telemarketing, on the other hand, utilizes an automated telephone system and the ability to communicate in real time, something that has made many people uncomfortable about using telemarketing to promote their business. Telemarketers do not make unsolicited calls; instead, the system will route calls based on specific script mails that have been prearranged.
When a telemarketer does speak with a prospect, they should always provide them with an added incentive such as a free seminar presentation or free product or service. The primary goal of telemarketing is to create interest and to establish a relationship with the potential client or customer. Telemarketing can help to build a list of prospects and can then be used for lead generation by contacting these leads either by direct mail, telemarketing, or telesales. Telemarketing and lead generation go hand in hand. In today’s world, using telemarketing or any other form of traditional marketing to increase your business is not only cost effective, but it is also very effective.