Difference between Inbound and Outbound Telemarketing

Telemarketing industry is making a lot of revenue as it has proven to be a successful solution for businesses. There are mainly two types of telemarketing- inbound and outbound. In this article, we have mentioned the basic difference between the two types of telemarketing and its advantages.

Outbound telemarketing

In this type of telemarketing, the tele-caller contacts the customers directly with an offer. The aim is to either sell a product or close a sale. Calls are made to either existing or potential customers from a directory phone listing. In a typical situation, the customer receives a call from the telemarketer to either buy a product or service. Tele-callers read a script that is provided to them by the company. Besides convincing the customers to buy the product or service, tele-callers also answer questions of customers related to the product.

Often times, outbound telemarketing also involves appointment setting, customer follow-ups, B2B (Business to Business) lead generation and other services. Many businesses invest in this type of telemarketing because it helps them sell more and make more customers. They hire reliable outbound telemarketing companies to boost their sales and also boost their company’s campaign.

Inbound telemarketing

In this type of telemarketing, customers call in to the call center with their queries or complaints. For instance, if customers comes across an advertisement for a new product in the newspaper, they can call on the company’s call center number to request for more information. In such cases, the tele-callers receive their call and give them the required answers.

Customers initiate the first point of contact with the company. It enables them to contact the company when it best suits them. This helps the company yield a higher profitability in the long run. This type of telemarketing is also referred as soft selling. If you have called a toll-free number for more information on a product or service, then you have used inbound telemarketing.

It is also used by a lot of companies to take orders, process orders, provide customer service, information verification, troubleshooting, service booking and registration and to initiate sales campaigns. Even if the store has closed down, customer service can be provided 24/7 through inbound telemarketing. This means, the business doesn’t have to lose out on a sale.

Many companies are making huge investments in outbound telesales. With the advancements in technology, companies are looking for different ways to cope with the changes in their business. They are looking for ways to do business in an effective manner. However, telemarketing services still hold a lot of importance when it comes to offering quality customer service.

Outbound telesales continues to be the most reliable procedure in getting the word around about a company and its business. Besides making sales, outbound telesales representatives can also do lead generation campaigns. If you are also planning to invest in telemarketing services, it will surely bring good results. Just make sure that you are outsourcing this task to a reputed company after doing some god research.

Nicole Semark, a director at Amvoc, an outsource provider of B2B telemarketing services to businesses in the UK and overseas, has developed a comprehensive approach to telemarketing for businesses and users.