All businesses need to look for ways to get the word out about their company and achieve more exposure. It’s not always possible for telemarketing to be done in house, as not all businesses have the capacity or time to do so, especially as on average, callers have to dial 18 times to connect with a customer.
This is why some businesses turn to outsourcing their tele sales to other companies. However, the way you do this matters. You need to make sure that you reach people but that you do so in an impactful and engaging manner. This is why it is so important to choose a telemarketing company with care.
Below, we will reveal everything you need to know about this, including revealing some of the best telemarketing companies that are out there at present.
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What are telemarketing companies?
Telemarketing simply refers to the process of marketing and selling services or products via telephone. You will sometimes see this referred to as tele sales or inside sales. Telemarketing companies handle this side of your business for you. They will contact potential customers and existing customers via telephone to help you achieve your goals, whether this is carrying out surveys, generating leads, gathering information, promoting services or products, or raising money for charity.
The benefits of hiring a telemarketing company
There are a number of different benefits that are associated with outsourcing to a telemarketing company. This includes the following:
| Benefits of hiring a telemarketing company for your business |
|---|
| Expand your business reach and connect with new customers |
| Provide a more interactive sales service and improve customer support |
| Make more sales, which will ultimately boost your bottom line |
| Get a better understanding of your customers so you can make improved decisions going forward |
| Connect with key decision-makers so you can grow your company |
| Let the experts handle telemarketing so you can focus on the core of your business |
B2B telemarketing companies explained
There are two main types of telemarketing: B2C and B2B. B2C refers to Business to Consumer telemarketing, whereas B2B is a Business-to-Business approach. B2B telemarketing basically means that the telemarketer will be calling other businesses to sell your services or products.
So, if you currently operate a B2B company, you will want a B2B telemarketer, as they will be experienced in this area of making outbound calls and receiving inbound calls.
This is important because B2C and B2B marketing differ considerably. Businesses are relationship-driven and there tends to be a long-sales cycle. This is very different from customers, who are more driven by products and have a shorter sales cycle.
Not only this but businesses are very measured in their decisions, whereas customers have a tendency to make emotional decisions. Because of this, it is very important to work with a telemarketing company that understands your business’ dynamic and the sort of client you are trying to sell to. So, if you have B2B enterprise, a B2B telemarketer is going to be a must.
Top 10 best telemarketing companies reviewed and compared
Now that you have a good understanding of what a telemarketing company can do and why they are so important, let’s take a look at 10 of the best telemarketing companies available around the world today:
1. Alorica
Let’s begin with Alorica, a company that provides both B2B and B2C lead generation services. The company increased its worldwide presence in 2015, as it expanded into Jamaica and Mexico. Alorica offers a number of different services to help your business secure more sales, including up-selling, cross-selling, lead generation, analytics, and surveys.
2. Concentrix
Concentrix is a business services segment of the company SYNNEX Corp. Not only do they provide telemarketing services, but you will get a whole host of other beneficial services added in, and that is why Concentrix handles as many as 500 million transactions for businesses around the world per annum. Some of the extra services you can expect include up-selling, cross-selling, insights, analytics, automation, process optimisation, consultation, strategy, and design. Concentrix will do everything to make sure you are getting the word out about your business.
3. Atento
Next, we have Atento, which is a leading player in the customer services and integrated marketing industry that is located in Belgium. Not only do they help you to increase your sales but they offer an extensive range of back-office support services, customer support, and more. Like the other telemarketing businesses mentioned in this guide, they really bring value to businesses through the likes of social network monitoring, benchmarking, surveys, and database intelligence. They also have a number of awards to their name as well, including the 2016 Platinum Contact Center Award for Best Customer Service Experience in Energy and Citizen Services.
4. Teleperformance
If you are yet to find the perfect telemarketing firm for you, how about Teleperformance? This company provides omnichannel consumer experience management. Teleperformance will help you to enjoy improved customer interaction, and there are numerous ways that this is achieved. This includes analytics, digital solutions, customer acquisition, technical support, and customer care. At the moment, the business has 311 contact centres around the world, serving 160 markets in 75 different languages. So, no matter where you are based or what market you are trying to branch into, they will be able to assist.
5. Convergys
Next, we have Convergys, which is a client engagement services provider that offers end-to-end selling, home agents, collections, technical support, analytics, and customer care. The business serves clients from a whole host of different markets from their 150 contact centres around the world. They provide support in 58 different languages at present. They provide enhanced service capabilities, including predictive sales marketing strategies and sales performance tracking. Customers can expect omnichannel integration, analytics, revenue generation and retention, and advanced technical support. With such a vast range of services on offer, Convergys can help you to reach your business goals through telemarketing.
6. Virtual Sales
If you are yet to find the telemarketing company for you, don’t worry, as we have plenty of other great providers, with one of these being Virtual Sales. Virtual Sales caters to clients across the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. This is a company we would highly recommend if your business sells products and services in the IT software sector, as they have a reputation for being one of the best in the world when it comes to lead generation for this industry. Their flexible approach to telemarketing is one of the great things about going down this route.
7. OnBrand24
Based in the United States, OnBrand24 not only serves this part of the world, but they have clients in the United Kingdom and Canada as well. The business can act as either a dedicated or semi-dedicated outsourced call centre for your company, so you can determine whether or not you want them to fully take over this side of your business. Some of the vital services that are provided by OnBrand24 include the likes of customer surveys, market research, database scrubbing, and appointment setting. Their professional and friendly nature is sure to put you and your customers at ease.
8. MarketMakers
MarketMakers is one of the chief B2B telemarketing companies in the United Kingdom. MarketMakers provides specialist services for multilingual marketing, appointment setting, and lead generation. The business is also a specialist in B2B marketing, so if you sell your products to other businesses, this is definitely one of the best telemarketing providers to consider for your company. Plus, MarketMakers has also won a number of awards. In fact, at the National Contact Centre Awards in 2015 they were granted the top honours in the category for Learning and Development.
9. TeleContact Resource Services
Over a decade ago – 2010, 2011, and 2012 – Inc. Magazine labelled TeleContact Resource Services as one of the fastest-growing private businesses in the United States, and they were certainly correct. This is an experience multi-channel marketing company that provides a whole host of added services on top of telemarketing, including list management, data procurement, and an extensive range of online marketing services. You will have everything that you need to take your business to new heights and reach potential new customers if you decide to go for this business.
10. MarketOne
Last but not least, another company that you should consider if you are interested in telemarketing services is MarketOne, which is another business that is situated in the United States. Some of the vital services provided by this company include account profiling and mapping, lead qualification, B2B appointment setting, and tele-prospecting. Recently, the company added to its professional image by obtaining the ISO27001 information security management certification. Their excellent reputation in the industry speaks for itself, so we are sure you won’t be disappointed if you go down this route.
Telemarketing lead gen companies – what are they?
Telemarketing lead generation involves gathering leads through telemarketing. These leads are generated by calling them and speaking with them directly. Telemarketers will develop a connection with your customers, which simply cannot be achieved by print marketing or plain messaging. This is a much more interactive and personal approach, which is why it is a good solution in terms of lead generation. Plus, it is much easier for a telemarketing team to keep in contact with your customers and do follow-ups. You can expect qualified leads, which will ultimately increase your business sales.
Is it better to work with a small telemarketing company?
When you are deciding on a telemarketing company to work with, there are plenty of options at your disposal. One thing you will need to consider is whether you should work with a small or large telemarketing company. There are pros and cons associated with both.
In terms of choosing a small telemarketing company, small businesses tend to provide a much more personal service. They will have that friendly, personal feel, which both yourself and your customers need. Also, as they have fewer clients on their books, you can be sure that your business will get the attention and effort that it deserves.
At the same time, there are some drawbacks, which can make a large telemarketing company a more attractive option. For example, large telemarketing companies are more likely to have the latest, cutting-edge technology and software. Therefore, you may be able to get better insights into your customers and your telemarketing efforts if you go for a larger and more established business.
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer. It is all about figuring out what is the most important for you. Consider your business needs and what you are hoping to gain from telemarketing and then choose a company based on this.
Cost of telemarketing companies
There are many different factors that can impact the quote you receive for telemarketing services. This includes call volume and the number of agents your business is going to need. The length of the contract will also make a difference, as a lot of telemarketing companies are willing to provide generous discounts if you send up for a longer contract.
Another factor that is going to consider how much you pay is the location of the telemarketing company. Some telemarketing companies are based overseas in the likes of India so that costs can be kept low, and this is then passed onto the consumer. You also have cost differentiation within the same country, for example, there are some states in the U.S. that will be way more expensive when compared with others, so you do need to keep this in mind.
You can use the table below to get a better understanding of the sort of costs that can be expected:
| Cost element | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Average cost of a telemarketing business in the United States | Between $20 and $75 hourly |
| Average cost of an offshore telemarketing company | Between $12 and $20 hourly |
| Average cost of a telemarketing company business per lead | Between $35 and $60 for each lead |
| Additional charges (e.g., training employees and working on a script) | Between $300 and $500, yet can differ considerably based on the extra services needed |
| Average cost for a list of prospects | $300 for every 1,000 names |
Of course, we would always urge you to get an up to date quote, as prices could change based on your business needs.