Internet Marketing

Online Telemarketing

Online Telemarketing is a process that uses various communication channels e.g. Internet, telephones and other information systems to execute a marketing program for customers who want to shop from their homes. Online Telemarketing process can be divided into five major activities: advertising and reaching cus-tomers, order processing, customer service, sales support, and account management. All these activities are supported by IT and can be done on the Web, even in a wire-less environment.

Online Telemarketing are done by telephone calls generated by computer programs and by computer-generated messages delivered by voice technologies. It can also be executed by personalized e-mail messages. Lately, online telemarketing has been moving to mobile phones, using SMS service, which send short messages to your mobile phone. With old technology, these messages were limited to 160 characters. In the near future, they will be longer.

The concept of home shopping via television grew very fast during eighties and nineties. Shopperswatch for various TV channel that displays products and when they are interested, they call and order for the items, using their credit card to pay. Their orders are entered into computers as soon as the telephone operators receive them. Such kind of entry helps to determine whether to continue with the advertisement of an item or to discontinue advertising. After a customer places an order through their system, the computer entry triggers an order to the warehouse with the instructions regarding shipment, and a bill to the credit card company.

Through Online Telemarketing, consumers can get information about any desired product from electronic catalogs and then purchase them online. This is in contrast to home shopping via TV, where shoppers can buy only what is displayed on the TV screen. In the near future, TV and Online Telemarketing will be combined. Once you happen to see a product on TV, you can get more details on your PC and place the order there. Also, interactive TV is available in some countries, enabling customization of shoppers wishes.

Online Telemarketing is growing very fast, but citizens groups and state and federal legis-lators in the United States and other countries have instituted “no-call” lists to curb telemarketers phone calls, which many ?nd annoying. People put their names on these lists and thereafter should not be called by telemarketers. Telemarketers that violate the no-call lists face stiff ?nes. As a result of the no-call lists,and because of increasing Web usage, the Internet is becoming a prime Online Telemarketing vehicle.

Article Published: Wednesday 18th July 2007