Telemarketing vs. Telesales:  What’s the difference?

Years ago, the word ‘Telemarketing’ described all outbound calling activities, ranging from prospecting to closing sales to account support & management. 

In the late 80s, the word ‘Telesales’ became the buzzword for selling via phone and ‘Telemarketing’ was relegated to describing prospecting and lead qualification. 
‘Telemarketing’ was marketing and promotion.  ‘Telesales’ was the process of closing the sale over the phone.

These days, the words ‘Telemarketing’ and ‘Telesales’ are often used interchangeably.  If you look these words up in two different dictionaries, you will likely find the same definition used for both words (see ‘telemarketing’ in the American Heritage Dictionary and ‘telesales’ in the Cambridge Advanced Learner Dictionary).

Either term is acceptable, how you and your company use the words is the important part.

What’s in your (tele) background?

In this week’s column, Boston Globe columnist Brian McGrory (‘Public safety hang-ups’, April 18, 2007) tells a great story about the Scottsdale, Arizona Police Department and its unique recruiting efforts.  It is posting ‘help wanted’ signs in the men’s rooms of major baseball stadiums. 

What struck me was the last paragraph.  Greg Carlin, the chief recruiting officer for Scottsdale PD, said he had received one call from someone who was in Fenway Park and it was obvious the call was being made from the bathroom.

This got me to thinking ‘What’s in my background?’ How many times have I tried to carry on a conversation with a customer service rep or sales person and the background was distracting or, worse, getting in the way? 

When your company makes or receives calls from customers and prospects, be sure the background reflects the professionalism of the call.  If you find it doesn’t, buy a sound machine or a fan.  Anything that masks the chatter and the noise. 

What’s in your tele background?

Read Brian McGrory’s complete column:  Brian McGrory’s 4/18/2007 column