subject: The Functions And Advantages Of Telemarketing [print this page] In the state of todays global economy, many companies are seeking ways to improve their sales. With different direct marketing methods, entrepreneurs find alternative ways to generate profit. Fortunately, many third-party companies are now offering telemarketing services.
Telemarketing is a direct marketing method used to inform prospective customers of new products and services provided by the company. They are offered by call center companies at affordable rates. Many business experts believe that telemarketing is the leading direct marketing technique in the industry today that is proven cost-efficient and effective.
Telemarketing is conducted by an outbound call center agent with the aim of making a sale. Calls made by these agents are often referred as cold calls, which means that the recipient do not intend to receive a call from the agent. In the past few years, telemarketing is conducted as a home-based job, allowing housewives to make a living while they are at home. However, nowadays the demand caused many business companies to prefer call centers because of their top-of-the-line facilities that will be vital to accommodate them.
There are four main functions of telemarketing lead generation, contact discovery, research, and event invitation. With these functions, call center agents will be trained to perform such tasks. When they are out on the field, they will be given phone numbers that they will need to call. These phone numbers can be bought from other companies, can be provided by the client, or can be acquired from the phonebook. Agents are required to make a number of calls per day to reach their quota.
Telemarketing also works on a business-to-business or B2B basis. When this function is needed by their clients, the call center must employ trained agents that have the skill to persuade potential clients. They also need to have skills in decision-making that will be vital in dealing with other companies.
The good thing about telemarketing is that it provides immediate response from prospective customers and clients. Call center agents can immediately determine whether their customers are opting for the product or not. Despite the bad reputation of telemarketing to many consumers, even non-profit organizations are also opting for this kind of service. Many charities are using telemarketing services to inform people of their programs and possibly seek donations. Moreover, even political companies use telemarketing as a campaign medium.
