Online Advertising

Telemarketing

Early History

Telemarketing is a registered trademark owned by Nadji Tehrani who founded TeleMarketing Magazine in 1982. Prior to that, the term was used extensively in Bell System communications relating to new uses for the outbound (WATS) and inbound (Toll-Free 800)services introduced in the late 1970s. It is a form of direct marketing where a salesperson uses the telephone to solicit prospective customers to sell products or services.

Categories

There are two major categories of telemarketing: Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer.

Within these two categories are two other broad divisions: Lead Generation, where the objective is to obtain information and Sales, where the object is to get someone to buy something.

Within these two categories, there are two other broad categories: Outbound and Inbound. Outbound telemarketing efforts are proactive, with the marketing person making phone calls to prospects or existing customers. Inbound telemarketing efforts are reactive, where the agent processes requests for information or takes orders. The demand is generally created by advertising, publicity or the efforts out outside salespeople.

Telemarketing may be done from a company