Go read Telemarketing to your customers can pay off big at Brian Asmus's Small Winery Marketing blog.
And even if you don't plan to telemarket to your list, consider this excellent piece of advice:
Make specific offers during these calls that are unique for their price or product offering and do it in ways that make it easy for the customer to say yes.
This applies to more broadly than just calls. Successful direct marketing is based on the idea of an irresistible offer.
A word to the wise: Keep in mind that there are strict rules for Telemarketing and severe penalties for those that don't abide by those rules.
There are many organizations that make their living catching telemarketers working outside the strict guidelines.
Here is one such organization: http://www.telemarketingwatch.org/
This is not to say don't call your customers for sales purposes, just be aware of what you can and cannot do and work within the prescribed guidelines.
Posted by: David Topper | October 04, 2008 at 09:41 PM