Telemarketing

Telemarketing is the direct marketing of goods or services to potential customers over the telephone, internet, or fax. Telemarketing may either by carried out by telemarketers, or increasingly, by automated telephone calls or “robocalls.” The intrusive nature of telemarketing, as well as reports of scams and fraud perpetrated over the telephone, has spurred a growing backlash against this direct marketing practice. Telemarketing may also be referred to as “telesales” or “inside sales”.

Telemarketing involves the practice of contacting, vetting, and approaching potential customers. It does not include the use of direct mail marketing methods. The term was first used in the 1970s with the advent of a new, cheaper class of outbound long distance telephone services and inbound toll-free services. The practice of telemarketing take may take place from a call center, an office, or, increasingly, a home. It can involve a single call to assess interest or suitability and then follow-on calls to pursue a sale. Various data may be used to narrow down large databases of names to a small number of higher-probability customer prospects. Telemarketing is used by for-profit businesses, non-profit charities, political groups and candidates, surveying, donation solicitation, marketing research, and more.