Telemarketing Gaffes You Should Avoid

If there is one business tool that has succeeded in getting the attention of the Australian market for the longest time, then it has to be telemarketing services. And they will win it, hands down. After all, there is no other direct marketing technique that has so far penetrated the market with such ease as compared to professional telemarketing services.

A lot of businesses know that this works. That is, if the telemarketing company you hired knows exactly what it should be saying. Surprisingly, there are still a lot of telemarketers who are guilty of committing verbal gaffes during their campaign. Poor choice of words or phrasing of sentences can wreak havoc in an otherwise smooth campaign. That is why it is best to remember these verbal faux pass and avoid them entirely.

“How are you today” – asking about the listener’s well-being is perfectly okay, right? Sure, if the person at the other end of the line knows you already. But what about complete strangers whom you are talking to for the first time? For cases like these, it is best to just go straight to the point and tell them the reason you called. Not only will this save you time, it will also save theirs.

“Is this a good time to talk?” – This is also another question that seems to come off as awkward. What if the prospect says no? That will make it doubly harder for you to try turning that call into a sales lead. Again, the solution here is simple: Go straight to the point. If a prospect likes what you say, they’ll make time for you.

“Hold on…” – really, do telemarketers still say this line? It is perfectly fine if you have established a close relationship with the prospect, but if this is a first time call, then you are just showing them how incompetent you are. Prospects do not like to hear that. A better option is “A can get that for you…”

“I can’t” – is another phrase that sounds the death knell for your telemarketing job. Through these words you are telling prospects that you are useless for them. Remember, your selling point is in what you can do for them. You should concentrate more on what you can offer them. Tell them what the things that you can do for them are, and let them decide.

"But . . ." – is one word that can create a rough edge. It may be innocuous for you, but you are sending your prospect the signal that you are not for them. Smoothen it out with the word “and” instead.

“I don’t know” – if you do not know, then you will be asked why you are in business in the first place. It would be better if you just toll your prospects that “I can find it out” for them.

"The only thing we can do . . ." – is a phrase that creates limitations, something that business prospect would not want to hear. Instead of that, why not tell them their choices and let them take their pick?