Telemarketing Services

Telemarketing Services provider, Tele Resources, Inc., is moving into its eleventh year and recently announced its immense growth in the last year, and over the last 10 years.

 

Aside from celebrating its 10 year anniversary, 2007 marked a time of immense growth for Tele Resources Inc.

 

I took sometime recently to speak with Mark Swanson, Director of Business Development at Tele Resources, Inc. about these achievements and the company's plans for the New Year.

How did 2007 treat the telemarketing services industry?

Telemarketing services found the year 2007 to be an overall success. Undoubtedly the once negative direct marketing channel is setting the pace for a strong comeback. The reality has proven to be that the telemarketing response rates are still unbeatable, the ROI is still above $8 for every dollar spent (according to a study done by the Winterberry group), it is still undoubtedly the best form of B2B marketing, and reports from every industry publication and marketing publication out there are indicating that telemarketing services are being increased. The demand is coming back to a once deflated direct marketing channel. 2007 also proved to be an exciting year of growth for Tele Resources, Inc. and 2008 is already anticipated to have similar trends for both Tele Resources, Inc. and the telemarketing services channel. 

Have new trends or standards emerged over the past year?

There are two major trends that have emerged in the past year for the telemarketing services industry. The first involves PCI compliance, or PCI DSS which is the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. These new security stands can be not only costly but time intensive to implement. Tele Resources, Inc. has seen a number of clients require PCI compliance with their programs. Although Tele Resources, Inc. is preparing to comply with these regulations many companies may find it difficult to not only implement but too costly to even consider.

The second trend is not new or unique to 2007 but 2007 has seen some of the most proactive growth when dealing with cell phones in the telemarketing industry. According to a study done by the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the CDC, in 2007, 14 percent of all consumers used a cell phone-- abandoning all landline needs. In addition, cell phone marketing is highly effective if done correctly. Regulation is still pending on some final options for the telemarketing services industry; however, it has become apparent in 2007 that a certain level of cell phone telemarketing can become an active and successful part of a telemarketing services campaign.

What are some of Tele Resources highlights for 2007?

Tele Resources, Inc. witnessed not only impressive internal growth but an industry wide increase in overall activity. There were more inquiries, more RFPs and more returning customers than any year since the DNC started. The bottom line is that marketers are increasing their use of telemarketing more and more of them are starting telemarketing campaigns that have a laser focused target market and the return for them is extremely substantial.

 

 

 In the upcoming year, Tele Resources, Inc. will be offering a high security platform for all of our clients that allows us to function as a strong telemarketing services provider and at the same time meets all federal security requirements well ahead of all deadlines.

Tele Resources, Inc. will also be offering a new training and incentive program to increase motivational levels and further improve our outstanding attrition rate, which hovers between 12-15 percent. These new programs, along with other new incentives, are being added to give existing clients an even stronger telemarketing services provider solution and further increase our already strong industry reputation.

Finally, Tele Resources, Inc. will be further offering solutions to the B2B telemarketing services users and expanding on an already growing section of our business. On the B2C telemarketing services side of Tele Resources, Inc. we will be offering even more options for DRTV telemarketing services uses, an industry that Tele Resources, Inc. has already built a strong reputation in.

Do you have any predictions for telemarketing services market in 2008 and after?

An article by Richard H. Levey in Direct magazine, Dec 1, 2007 titled "Bear Market," really seemed to spell out what the telemarketing services channel is going to see in 2008 and that is an increase in spending for 2008. The reality is that telemarketing is far from over; it has simply gotten better and stronger. The lists are more targeted, the offers are more accepted and the people that are not ordering are no longer being called. In addition, the use of the Internet has only helped to increase the need for telemarketing web-based programs, which are on the rise.

 

On the downside, the dark side of telemarketing will always be present and coming from not only states-based centers but mainly from overseas groups calling into the United States. Unscrupulous telemarketing firms are still a problem; however, in 2008 I believe the industry is going to see more action taken to track down and prevent these firms from further practices.

I predict one thing that is going to change is the pricing. Telemarketing service providers are faced with not only increased labor costs but increasing federal compliance costs, technology costs, and marketing costs. The overall cost of running a telemarketing services campaign for clients has been growing much faster than the prices being charged by companies. Telemarketing services providers are going to begin increasing some of their prices for many campaigns or they are going to be forced to cut costs in areas that may ultimately affect the client’s bottom line. Part of an increase in the overall spending for telemarketing services may certainly be a reflection of this growing cost for services.