Telemarketing Companies
Telemarketing, the use of the telephone to market products or services has since the late 1970s become a cost-effective and successful method of direct marketing.
Telemarketing falls into two categories: business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing, each requiring different skill sets. Although a number of companies do own and manage internal call centers, hundreds of companies have formed over the last three decades that specialize in performing a wide range of telemarketing services that can augment and at times even replace internal call centers.
Called telemarketing companies, these organizations conduct outbound sales, appointment setting, lead generation, order processing and inbound telemarketing support. Some telemarketing companies classify themselves not as telemarketing companies but as providers of outsourced call center solutions. Others provide customer service, technical support, and even sophisticated account management functions.
The case for using telemarketing companies can be compelling. Telemarketing companies are well-versed in the techniques and strategies needed to perform as a seamless extension of their clients’ internal call centers. Telemarketing companies provide thorough representative training, many times lasting weeks, so their staff can interact with customers in a professional manner and achieve the same high level of customer satisfaction as their internal staff would, but at significant cost savings. Moreover, telemarketing companies understand the strategies needed to proactively respond to changing market conditions and provide valuable feedback to their clients on how to maximize the impact of their telemarketing expenditures.
Reputable telemarketing companies must be well-versed with the regulatory controls surrounding telemarketing. In particular, telemarketing companies are required to fully comply with “Do Not Call” regulations in all states as legislated by the FTC and FCC.
All told, telemarketing companies maximize the productivity of their telemarketing staff, protect their clients’ interests by being in complete FTC and FCC standards and produce higher returns on investment for the businesses they serve through effective use of telemarketing outsourcing.
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Spencer Chin is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.
