Advertising and Marketing blog

What is telemarketing?

Telemarketing is the process of marketing goods, advertising services or customer service over the telephone. It is classified into two; inbound and outbound telemarketing. Inbound telemarketing is any incoming sales or service from viewers and listeners who want to order the advertised product or ask for more information. Some inbound applications are order taking, customer service, help desk and many more. An outbound telemarketing on the other hand, is the practice of making phone calls to prospects or existing customers done by a marketing person. Some outbound telemarketing applications include phone sales, appointment setting, lead generation and many more.

Knowing the Advantage

When you hear the word telemarketing, the first thing that gets into your mind would be a telephone or sometimes, a telephone ringing, right? But when you hear the phone rings, your usual reaction definitely is to answer it. You can’t deny the fact that the ringing of the phone alone would get your attention instantly and you would seldom ignore it.

Radio promotions and advertisement including billboards, newspaper and magazine ads or even direct mail demand slight or no interest at all. They can be forgotten once you have heard it, read it or seen it. They can all be disregarded and ignored but not telemarketing. Telemarketing acquires an immediate answer. This is the primary advantage of telemarketing. With this advantage, telemarketing establishes a conversation right away. Having a two-way communication is very productive. It is easier for the client to get the message or understand the product and the most important of it is that all questions can be answered promptly. It can even lead to a sale in an instant.

Another advantage of telemarketing is that telemarketing is available 24/7 at 365 days a year. With this kind of service, telemarketing allows you to answer your prospects’ questions, address their concerns, and overcome their objections. It is also the only marketing medium that allows you to adjust and make any changes with the strategy anytime necessary to increase results. An example of this is constantly changing or editing your sales script. You can even change your calling hours. This can be done as long as you gain results with it which results into another breakthrough, flexibility.

Understanding the Advantage

With its availability and commitment, telemarketing provides client with direct response and essential information that can be promptly scrutinized. Telemarketing is definitely flexible, definitely practical because it provides you with never-ending opportunities and possibilities to increase and enhance your business. Having these advantages proves that telemarketing is truly an ultimate marketing instrument.

This article was originally written by Rosette Siriban, SEO & Content Writer of Priousol, Inc., premier provider of outsourced communication and marketing solutions, specializing in search engine optimization, web designs and web development, inbound – outbound telemarketing and customer service, data encoding and back office support.

Priousol, Inc. Prime Outsource Solutions:: Your Global Outsource Partner. Outsourcing Online Services and Solutions

http://www.priousolinc.com

Mail to: info@priousolinc.com; marketing@priousolinc.com

Copyright 2006 PRIOUSOL, INC.:: Prime Outsource Solutions, Inc. :: All Rights Reserved.

Visitors find related information by using a search engine. You may have the most incredible website on the Internet, but it will receive little or no traffic without search engine visibility and ranking.

The goal for your website is to appear on the first or second page of the search engines’ results when your target users searches keywords or keyword phrases. Because most people who use search engines only look at the first page or two of the search results. Search engines like Google, AltaVista, MSN etc currently indexing over 10 billion pages; hence it becomes more and more difficult to get listed in top rank.

The creation of original and high quality contents provides the highest returns. It’s extremely important to set aside time to research on your content as content plays a vital role, if you want to get listed in top rank of search engines. Content is extremely important because it ’s the content which is indexed in search engines and on this indexing position of a website depends in search engines. Also do some research to find good keywords, which you think will be used by visitors to find your website. Use good keywords with low competition. Content also play a role to get inbound one-way links for your website as if content is good then other web sites wants to link with your website.

Link popularity in simply terms is the total number of web pages that link to your web page or website. Search engines rank web pages and websites by checking link popularity of your website. Link popularity increase the visitor’s traffic and getting good web page rank given by search engines. Always try to increase incoming links on your website, as incoming links are relevant links which is relevant to your website services and products. Incoming links helps to get targeted visitors who are looking for similar type of services or products over web. Another type of link exchange is reciprocal link in this type of link webmasters exchange links with other in order to boost their link popularity. Adding links in your website is a very effective way to get direct traffic to your website.

At this time Google is at number one along with Yahoo! And MSN Search at second and third place respectively. These three search engines holds / represent between 85% and 95% of all traffic that arrives at a website directed by a search engine or directory service.

Try to add your website in all search engines and directories, if you website get listed in Google it doesn’t means that your work is over. Try to promote and add your website in other search engines also like MSN, AltaVista etc. And above all try to list your website in Open Directory (Dmoz) as it is the most important directory that exists on the web today.

MSN Search currently holds a smaller share of the search engine market than Google or Yahoo! But MSN has the constant attention of consumers, because of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, as long as MSN has such a strong majority of the browser market they are able to be in market for a long-long time. That’s why try to list your website in MSN Search also.

Sharad Saxena
Iwebresources.com

Referral marketing is the most profitable kind of marketing there is.

For as long as there has been small business, owners and service providers have been talking about referral marketing. Most small businesses point to referrals as their primary source of business. It just doesn’t happen consistently enough to generate all the clients a small business can handle.

So where does most of your business come from? If you’re like most business owners or independent professionals, you’d probably tell me that a majority of your business comes through referrals. But, if I asked what you do to guarantee a constant flow of referrals, would you have an answer?

Almost every business owner and independent professional I’ve checked with doesn’t have an answer. You’re simply focused on doing great work and keeping your clients happy. Because happy clients will tell others about you right? Nice thought, but it rarely leads to a continuous flow of new referral business.

What you need is a referral marketing system. The good news is that referral marketing works for virtually any business that’s willing to implement a systematic approach. A system gives you a process for actively participating in producing referrals and turning them into clients.

Here are five keys to begin creating your own continuous flow of referrals.

Key #1 – Embrace a Referral Mindset.

Creating a referral marketing system is more than just tools and tactics. It really begins with your way of thinking. It’s a mindset that starts with committing to build your business through relationships.

Most small business owners are hesitant to even ask for referrals. They feel uncomfortable and don’t want to impose on other people. It’s a fear of being rejected or coming off as if you’re begging for leads.

Embracing a referral mindset means you truly believe that what you offer adds real value and makes a significant difference for your clients. You understand that potential clients prefer to meet you through a referral from a trusted source. You recognize that people actually want to help you succeed whenever they can.

When you adopt a referral mindset, you understand what a shame it would be if those in your network weren’t introducing you to others. You’re not asking anyone to sell you, just make connections to others who could benefit from the value you offer.

Key #2 – Clarify Your Referral Targets and Ideal Referral Candidates.

Most business development folks think they know how referrals work. But very few small businesses do any of the planning and preparation necessary to make even a systematic approach produce consistent results.

This really starts with being crystal clear on who makes for the best referral partners. Who makes the most sense to introduce you to the right prospects and could be properly motivated to refer you?

Likewise, you need to define what a great referral would look like for your business. If someone asks you what a perfect referral looks like, would you be able to answer clearly and articulately? Or, would you say, “We can work with just about anyone really.”

Being clear on who makes for a great prospective client helps your referral sources help you. They’ll be better prepared to think of high-quality prospects to connect you to.

Key #3 – Boost Your Refer-ability.

Referrals don’t happen consistently if your business is not referable. Just being in business and offering great services is rarely enough.

There are lots of reasons why others aren’t referring to you consistently.

• They don’t know what makes for a good referral.
• They don’t know what’s in it for them to refer to you.
• They don’t know what’s in it for the referral prospect they might send to you.
• They don’t know how your referral process works.
• They don’t know what steps you plan to take with any referral they make.

You significantly enhance your refer-ability when you educate your referral sources and referral prospects. Remember, people want to know what will happen and what’s in it for them.

Provide resources and materials that inform and educate your sources on the value you have to offer. Be willing to share information to demonstrate your expertise and credibility as solution provider.

Key #4 – Work for Referrals.

Too many small business owners are sitting around passively waiting for referrals to just happen. You actually have to prospect for referrals. Begin planting seeds and looking for opportunities to ask for referrals in the right way.

Be willing to give before you get. When you’re willing to give without immediate expectations of return, you’ll almost automatically begin to win more often.

There are many ways to give and enhance someone else’s business besides simply passing your own referrals.

• Help them make contacts.
• Be willing to make introductions.
• Guide them to useful resources.
• Provide them with some of your valuable information.

Find out what’s important to your referral sources. What are they looking for and what could help them? The more you’re willing to give, the more you’ll end up getting in return.

Key #5 – Network Strategically.

Small business thrives on people connecting to resources and people through other people. Strategic networking is focused on forming truly reciprocal relationships in when each helps the other get what they need to build the business.

It goes beyond simply thinking of your current and past clients as your best referral sources. Think of all the ways that you could add value or create value for your network of contacts. Build a repository of value that will position you to give and share freely with others.

Again, the more you give, the more you’ll get.

Stop waiting for referrals to just happen. Go to work on creating your referral marketing system. And before you know it, you just might have all the business you can handle.

About the Author:

Kevin Dervin is focused on helping small businesses that are ready to grow, but struggle with how to consistently attract more clients. Visit http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com for more great marketing information you can put to use in growing your business today.

Follow his Small Business Marketing Tips and Ideas weblog at http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com/blog.html

Find Kevin’s Kansas City based KPD Marketing practice at http://www.ABCDgrowth.com and subscribe to his free ezine called ABCD Grow.