Telemarketing is the use of the telephone and call centers to attract prospects, sell to existing customers, and provide service by taking orders and answering questions. It helps companies increase revenue, reduce selling costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Companies use call centers for inbound telemarketing— receiving calls from customers— and outbound telemarketing— initiating calls to prospects and customers.
Although telemarketing has become a major direct-marketing tool, it is perceived by many customers to be intrusive. In India, this has led the government to impose restrictionas on telemarketing and mobile telephone companies making unsolicited commercial calls and sending spams SMSs.
Telemarketing is increasingly used in business-to-business as well as consumer marketing. As it improves with the use of videophones, telemarketing is likely to gradually replace, though never eliminate, the more expensive field sales calls.