Telemarketing, as its name suggests, is the marketing technique through telephones. As in the case of any product, telemarketing has its own advantages and disadvantages. While telemarketers find this to be the easiest way to communicate with customers, customers sometimes get frustrated due to repeated calls from these telemarketers.
Why is it considered a boon for business?
Marketing companies consider telemarketing as a wonderful option because it helps them reach more customers both nationally and internationally. This would not have been possible through the traditional way. Telemarketing is also considered to be one of the easiest marketing methods to convince people and convert them into customers. After setting up the customer base, it is equally important for companies to stay in touch with existing customers and keep them up to date on any product updates.
Through telemarketing, it is easier to connect with existing and new customers through a phone call. Customers feel important when marketing companies try to reach them personally and keep them updated on products and offers, if any. Telemarketing is one of those great features that help the company cut costs to a great extent. The traditional mode of physical marketing involves many overhead costs involving allowances for the employee to travel to the customer’s location. Telemarketing only needs investment in telephone equipment and other basic charges.
Telemarketing is also widely used to get customer reviews and feedback on a particular product. Many telemarketing companies are using rating services through which they know how the customer feels about a particular product or service. Suggestions and improvements mentioned by the customer are immediately incorporated and this greatly improves customer satisfaction.
Why do some customers consider it a nightmare?
Telemarketing also has its own drawbacks. Customer contact numbers are stored in the databases of many companies and therefore there is a high potential for disruption of customer privacy. Some of the companies store the numbers of the customers in their database and call them repeatedly throughout the day thus harassing the customers in a great way.
Most banks call customers offering loans or credit cards at attractive rates. These calls arrive at unearthly hours or at times when clients are attending important meetings. Some of the banks call customers at least 10 times a day and it doesn’t end there. Customers get frustrated with repeated calls and some even go so far as to change their numbers.
The other downside of telemarketing is that there is no personal contact between the seller and the customer. Therefore, there are chances for companies to exploit customers by offering false promises and tricking customers into buying the product. This leads to extreme waste of time and efforts and multiplies customer dissatisfaction due to unethical telemarketing practices followed by some companies.