To Authority Networker: By and large you may be correct. However, in at least one situation, I welcomed a cold call I received yesterday from a vertical leads service provider.

First, I’ve been researching options for many months and have been extremely disappointed with the results of my search. 10 out of 10 providers I contacted either don’t know how to sell or don’t believe they actually have to sell prospects on their services. Secondly, all were completely unable to support their rate base or qualify/quantify their lead process.

I had to take it upon myself to call companies to speak with someone live. Why? Because most of the time, online submission requests for information went unanswered. Any online chat conversations failed to impress me, simply wasted my time. Of the online answers I did receive, none proved to be relevant to my request.

So when a company took the initiative to contact me and then was able to articulate their process, its value, and the rate base, I was impressed and appreciative.

The only hitch, and unfortunately it’s a big one, is that the company does not offer a secure payment system, on or offline. They simply expect clients to hand over credit card information and trust they will protect it. Yeah, right.

So until more companies become much wiser with their online marketing, aka their response mechanisms, telemarketing may still be the one of the best options for demonstrating an organization is serious about building their customer base.

They will also demonstrate they recognize they need to be prepared to actually sell prospects on their products or services.

Frankly, I’m pretty disgusted with the nonchalant to arrogant attitude of the companies I have encountered throughout this process. There is no way I’d place my clients’ resources in any of their careless hands.

The bottom line to marketers is this, whatever your marketing tool/vehicle of choice, make sure the proper response mechanisms are in place. Make sure your company welcomes prospects with open arms. Otherwise, your expenditures/investments risk being wasted.

Ardith
Marketing Communications Think Tank

I’m on the phone tech side of this business, and I know how poor the connection results can be from dialing phone numbers…