Before the advent of the internet and mobile phones, if you wanted to "reach out and touch someone" it often meant picking up the telephone.
Today, despite the fact that we have more ways to communicate than ever, many companies continue to pick up the phone in hopes that the person they're reaching out and touching will eventually become a customer. In fact, although it may be one of the least sexy marketing channels, telemarketing is for some companies still one of the most effective direct marketing techniques employed.
That doesn't, however, mean that outbound telemarketing programs are guaranteed to succeed. Most don't. Here are 10 of the top reasons why.
1. Lack of segmentation
Savvy online marketers know how important segmentation can be, but it's just as important -- if not more important -- to outbound telemarketing campaigns. Without segmentation, targeting the right people is all but impossible and entire programs can fail as a result.
2. Failing to collect data
Not every call that gets made as part of an outbound telemarketing program will produce the desired action, but every call is an opportunity to collect valuable data. This data can be used to develop a better understanding of the market, improve strategy and make the type of adjustments that are required to turn an underperforming program into a performing program (see below).
3. Not making adjustments
"Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity" is a recognized and respected adage, but it's one that frequently gets ignored in outbound telemarketing programs. Despite the fact that every call provides an opportunity to gather data and feedback, many companies don't look at that data and feedback, and as a result fail to make the type of adjustments that can dramatically improve campaign performance.
4. Staffing
Nothing is arguably as important to a telemarketing program as the people on the phones. Put simply, a telemarketing campaign is generally only as good as the people making the calls. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, finding folks who are capable of doing a good job can be very difficult.
5. Outsourcing
Outsourcing is a common practice for telemarketing programs, often for good reasons. Telemarketing can be expensive and time-consuming when done in-house, and smaller companies in particular may feel they have no choice but to rely on third party vendors. But outsourcing brings with it a host of challenges and risks. As a single call gone bad can permanently harm a company's reputation, a decision to outsource is not one that should be taken lightly.
6. Confusing sales with marketing
Many organizations lump 'sales and marketing' together, but it's important to remember that they're two different things. While it's certainly not impossible to use an outbound telemarketing campaign to drive sales (for lots of companies this is the ultimate goal), it's important to recognize that if you're going to be sales-focused, the nature of the campaign and its requirements will be different.
7. Poorly-defined goals and expectations
Setting the right goals and establishing the right expectations are crucial if an outbound telemarketing program is to succeed. Far too often companies have unrealistic notions of what a telemarketing campaign can produce, and how fast. One of the most common: the notion that you should try to take an initial contact with a prospect from start to close in the first call.
8. Lack of creativity
The telephone might not be a spring chicken as far as marketing channels go, but that doesn't mean that there's no room for creativity. Far too many telemarketing campaigns rely on script-based approaches that are as uninspired as they are well-established. While this doesn't necessarily doom them to failure, if a campaign isn't delivering, looking at how it has been structured is a good idea.
9. Timing
Effective marketing involves hitting the target audience with the right message at the right time. While timing is often a challenge in many channels, it's more difficult in the context of telemarketing for obvious reasons. As anyone who has received a phone call from a telemarketer at 9:05 a.m. on a Monday morning or 4:50 p.m. on a Friday afternoon can attest to, telemarketing campaigns don't always appropriately factor in timing well enough.
10. Using telemarketing for the wrong purpose
In an always-connected society in which employees are bombarded with emails, IMs and tweets on a near-constant basis, the telephone can be a very powerful tool for standing out and reaching someone. But for many, it's also an increasingly intimate communications device that is reserved for special use. Outbound telemarketing campaigns frequently fail to recognize this, leading to programs that irritate and annoy. With this in mind, it's important to consider that use of the phone to cold call prospects or reach out to them early in a marketing or sales cycle may not be the best use of the channel.
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