Telemarketing Software – What’s Available and Do You Really Need It?
Telemarketing calls are one of the few selling techniques that can’t be automated. You can’t pre-record scripts, and you can’t pre-record conversations. There always has to be a human element to the process. But there are a number of telemarketing software packages that promise to automate everything but the call itself. Can a software package really be as intelligent as a human? VSL takes a look through some telemarketing software packages to see what they offer and whether you need them.
Image Credit – Mike Licht (CC License)
Bitrix 24, free
A telemarketing solution available via the cloud and in situ, Bitrix 24 provides inbound and outbound telemarketing calls, along with all of the necessary services such as call holding, transfers and forwarding. There’s a one-click call feature, as well as an automatic lead generation feature, an option to create leads for each phone call and each missed call, telemarketing agent and lead management, call scheduling and automated email marketing scheduling. Team collaboration tools are also included.
VanillaSoft, free for 30 days, followed by payment plans dependent upon number of users
VanillaSoft is a web-based application, so relies upon the user having a fast system with a fast browser. It providers a number of features, including auto-dialling, which can increase call dialling by between “35-100%”, a one-click pre-recorded voicemail drop, the ability to train new agents in around 15 minutes, automated email scripts, intelligent call recording and recognition of the next best lead in the queue to call to prevent time wasting.
TouchStar Predictive Dialler, price not available
This predictive dialler is one of a number of similar products marketing themselves as a telemarketing software package, when in reality, they are little more than an automated dialler that calls the next client as soon as your current call is over. The manufacturer claims that agents can get nearly six and a half hours of talk time per day, with calls going from 15 minutes in length to 40 minutes in length, on average.
Although all of these software packages have their benefits, they also have a number of drawbacks. Many of them come with tools that you don’t need, or that may actually inhibit your work: for example, automatic email templates may include copy that is not suited to your market and that does not convert well. Team collaboration tools such as teleconferencing or communication apps are a good idea, but these don’t need to be a part of a telemarketing software package – existing software such as Skype or Slack will work in just the same way.
Automatic diallers are also not always the best option. Sometimes, you’ll need a few minutes between calls to gather yourself, to find your next lead, and to make sure you have everything in place.
If you’re thinking about installing telemarketing software, look for something that truly fits all of your needs, or try to look for a bespoke package so that you’re not installing a product that has a number of tools that you’ll never use.
At Virtual Sales Limited, we offer a number of telemarketing solutions to suit businesses of all sizes. To learn more about what we offer, or for telemarketing advice, get in touch with us today.
Andy Dickens
Andy Dickens is a veteran of IT Sales, used to leading by example. He is the CEO of Virtual Sales Limited (VSL) who offer telesales, telemarketing, lead generation and appointment setting services to B2b businesses. He previously was Sales Director EMEA for Red Hat and before that ran sales at Visio before it was acquired by Microsoft.