If you are relying on telemarketing to increase your company’s sales and you’re not pleased with the results, there are many different techniques that can be used to increase the contact rates and improve overall sales. Although this is not an easy marketing method, it is still considered to be one of the most effective. Cold calling is difficult, but with the right methods, you can see some amazing results.

Let’s go over a few sales tips that will help your company start to realize these benefits immediately.

Telemarketing Techniques

1. Don’t hide your company’s identity. Today’s consumers are savvy and most American households now have caller ID. If your number is coming up as private or blocked, you are literally shooting yourself in the foot. This is also true for names that come up as unknown. A person is much more likely to answer a call when they see an actual name and number on their caller ID display.

2. Scrutinize your crew. Most telemarketers are paid by the hour, not by the lead, and this can lead to some abuse in many cases. Since they have no motivation to make actual sales, they may not be doing their job. Automating calls is one way to get around this problem, but you will still need to monitor your staff to make sure they are doing their jobs.

3.    Make sure your leads are fresh. Telephone numbers are constantly changing and if you are relying on an old leads sheet, chances are your contact rates are going to plummet. It is best to spend the extra money on new leads that are constantly updated than to waste your time chasing down wrong numbers.  Many lead companies now offer periodic updates to products you’ve already purchased and this is a feature that should definitely be used.

4. Geographically target your campaigns. For example, specific areas of the United States have been hit harder by the housing crisis than others. If you are in the mortgage business, focusing on these areas will result in better contact rates. You can use this technique for nearly every industry by paying attention to industry trends and the news.

5. Time your calls correctly. If you are trying to reach working people during the day, your contact rates are going to be very low, no matter how talented your telemarketing team is. Make sure you find a time that works, typically after dinner for most households, to get better conversions.

These sales tips will help you get more out of your investment in lead marketing and cold calling. While there is no one solution, by focusing on a combination of sales tips, you can come up with a strategy that will work for your individual company.