All About Telemarketing


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Expert Author Anthony Nderi
Marketing is crucial to the success of any business, whether it is an Internet-based or brick-and-mortar venture. There are various methods that are used for this purpose. Telemarketing Services, are some of the methods employed, and involve the soliciting of customers, to buy products and services, through making telephone calls. You can use this method, whether you are making the calls from home, or from a company office. This method can be used for both business-to-business, and business to consumer marketing purposes. Many people hold the misconception that this marketing method is similar to spamming, but this is not the case.
Telemarketing Services do not include making indiscriminate calls to people, by going through a telephone directory, and making random calls. A company will go through the past purchase history, requests for information, application forms, surveys, credit or financial information, and other opt-in information, about their prospects. The data that they collect is then analyzed to identify people with the highest probability of buying their products and services. The final list created, is then used to make the telephone calls. This process is not only used by companies aiming to market products and services alone. Various alumni, political parties, and charitable organizations use this technique when they are looking for financial support from the public. Public opinion pollsters and marketing research companies also use this technique in gathering data from the public.
Telemarketing Services involve making calls in person, or using a recorded sales-pitch, depending on the intended purpose. Most companies prefer to use a personal touch, and hire people to make these calls. These people go through a detailed training session, before they are allowed to start making calls. They are conversant with the company, its products and services, and will answer any question that a prospective customer may ask them. The phone calls are divided into two sessions, the first being a call to inform the customer of the purpose of receiving the call, and building a rapport, while the second is a sales pitch designed to encourage the prospect to make a purchase. The calls can either be inbound, or outbound. Outbound calls are generated by the company, and are usually directed at prospective or preexisting customers. Inbound calls are generated by the prospective customers, and are a result of advertising and publicity campaigns, and the efforts of the sales teams in the field.
As with any other method of marketing, Telemarketing Services have had their share of negative publicity. Many people have been subjected to fraudulent schemes, which have eroded the trust that the public once held for this method of marketing. However, the Government has stepped in and regulated this method of marketing, in order to protect the consumer. Various laws and regulations have been put in place to ensure that the consumer is protected, in order to build public confidence in this method of marketing. Professional associations have also come up with codes of ethics, which all members must uphold. When used properly, this method has the potential to increase your sales efforts considerably.
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Move the Ball Forward by Closing for Commitment


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Always in our own end zone
When working the phones to acquire new business, our second and third calls to decision makers too often don't "move the ball forward." Instead, we end up with the same "field position" we had after our previous calls. Does the following response sound familiar?
Decision Maker: "Oh, hi. I'm sorry, who is this again? Um, gosh, no, I don't think I ever did receive your information. Why don't you go ahead and send it again and try me next month."
We worked hard to get this person on the phone - twice -and now here we are, still near our own end zone with more than half the field to go for a touchdown!
Commitment = first down
The solution is to get decision makers to commit to a small action item before getting off the phone with us. This gives us some of their mindshare. Like a first down in football, it "marks our spot" on the field for our next play - starting our second call 10 yards further toward our goal than we were at the beginning of our previous call.
Why does this work? When people say, "Yes" or take an action item, that event automatically gains more conscious or unconscious space in their brains - even if that only means them feeling guilty for not doing it. And although it doesn't guarantee that they'll do something, it makes it more likely.
If I tell my boss I'll turn in a report before I go home and I don't, I'll be thinking about it until it's done. We're more likely to go to a party if we respond "yes" to the RSVP. And we're even more likely to do so if we signed up to bring the beer. (Ah, there are levels of commitment we can use!)
Who got the first down?
Which of these scenarios ends with a commitment from the customer?
Decision Maker: "Yeah, sure, feel free to call back next week and talk with my office manager, Joe."
Decision Maker: "Yes, go ahead and call next week. I'll let Joe know you're calling."
It's a small difference, but in the first scenario you own all the action, and in the second, the customer takes on the action item of communicating something to Joe. Maybe he won't do it, but he will think about you more than another vendor, and might even throw in an introduction to Joe on your second call.
Let's try it from the sales person's point of view. Which one ends with commitment?
Closer: "Hey, if you ever consider changing your vendor due to service issues, give me a call."
Closer: "If I send you my contact information, would you please hang on to it and call me if your local vendor has any trouble meeting your needs?"
Although neither tactic gets the decision maker to identify his primary vendor, in the second scenario, you got the customer to say, "Yes," and that makes him more likely to keep your contact card and remember you when you call next month.
The prospect's action items might be as small as taking your next call or as big as doing research and calling you! As the sales pro, it's up to you to determine how big a play you will run.
Just be sure to get the first down.
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