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DecLet’s face it; most people don’t know the difference between Telemarketing and telesales. This suggests that they don’t understand the important distinct values that can be gleaned from each service. The words ‘Telemarketing’ and ‘Telesales’ are still often used interchangeably and then, they can be used to describe activities that often cross over. However, if you wish to get the most from your telephone campaign, knowledge of the differences and how they can be best employed to help your business is vital.
One of the greatest confusions exists around the history of use of the terms themselves. Traditionally, Telesales (a much older term) existed as its own separate activity. Telemarketing is a much more recent term by comparison and has often been used as an overarching term that also includes Telesales as one of its component elements.
Today, many industry experts use the term Telemarketing to incorporate all activities that use the telephone to connect with (potential) customers. This includes making customers aware of a product or service, generating leads or opportunities, canvassing established customers, providing information, conducting market research, and selling products or services to new or existing customers. So, Telemarketing has become a blanket term that includes Telesales and other areas within its remit
Don’t let that confuse you further; Telesales and Telemarketing are clearly quite different activities. When looking to use a specific service for your business, the following key distinctions should be kept in mind:
TELEMARKETING IS: A service that generates interest, creates opportunities, provides information, factors customer feedback, makes appointments and produces leads by telephone.
TELESALES IS: A service that sells your products or services directly to the customer by telephone.
Telemarketing creates prospects, lets people know about what you have to offer them and provides the opportunity for both customer and business to find out more about each other. Telesales converts those opportunities into business for your company.
Now that you’re aware of the main difference between the two activities/services offered, you can choose which service caters to your own specific needs best. The choice that you make depends entirely upon the results that you wish to acquire.
What can Telemarketing Do For You?
What can Telesales Do For You?
If you’re good at speaking to customers about your products and services, but are lacking interest or contact with customers, you need help with Telemarketing.
If you’re great at attracting potential customers, but find it difficult to convert all that potential into business, you need help with Telesales.
Of course, both telemarketing and telesales services can be combined and carried out by the same company, employing them to work strategically as a joint team. One service can generate a pool of potential leads, whilst the other turns those leads into sales. The Telemarketers set up the appointment, the Telesales staff close the deal.
When Telesales and Telemarketing teams work together, planning, coordinating and tailoring their approach, they produce dramatic results. The great advantage of using one team to bring in a constant stream of leads and another team to convert those leads is the quality of communication and interaction that goes into ensuring both services are serving the same goal, the same customer, you.
However, not all companies can provide the full range of inbound and outbound telemarketing and telesales solutions. Always pick a provider that can fully service your marketing and sales needs.