Programs on direct marketing consultancy

Concept and Types

Everybody has experienced the kind of salesman who arrives unexpectedly and knocks on your door. He talks all about himself and his company while you stand surprised and exasperated. After that he asks you to buy his wares and you frustratedly say 'No thanks'. This interpretation of direct marketing is what you typically experience during one of your busy days.

Let's not waste your time with this, but straight away explore what direct marketing and its consultancy is all about. The marketing technique that presents you or your company directly to customers is direct marketing and its associated consultancy services.

Click here to learn about the best services in direct marketing consultancy.

Types of direct marketing consultancy services include:

Telemarketing
E mail marketing (read not spam)
Direct mailers
Direct door to door approach (ignore the process experienced above)

The above types are most common. We are familiar with these. We will discuss how each of these types can be used effectively in delivering meaningful business to your organization. In this part we will cover topics on telemarketing and e-mail marketing. In part 2, we will cover topics on direct mailing and door to door marketing.

Telemarketing

This form of direct marketing consultancy service has emerged as a new weapon and a major force in the marketing arsenal of any business. Through telemarketing, prospects are reached at a fraction of the traditional cost and time. What's more, achieving the result is quicker and straightforward. For example, if you are called over the phone by Pizza Hut, you will immediately say either yes, you will buy, or no. If they are promoting an offer, then you may decide at a later date. This gives the company a chance to call you back. This form of direct marketing is quite effective.

Credit card companies are using telemarketing as a form of direct marketing consultancy, the most. Insurance agents are not far behind. With constant change in the functioning of the money markets, these companies are bombarding prospects with their offers of new products and services. The approach is reaping good returns for them, and that is the reason why we see the emergence of call centers or telemarketing centers as a special segment of this business category.

Young graduates and part time workers are joining such industries and making their pocket money, not only through fixed salaries; but also via sales commission. This makes the market more competitive. Consultancy services in direct marketing are now advising their clients to form a telemarketing department to reach out to customers. The database companies are joining hands to provide them with leads. In practice the telemarketing department has become similar to the telesales department.

Email Marketing

The immediate thought that comes to mind with regard to e-mail marketing is unsolicited traffic, or "spam". Everybody is sick of receiving these messages and having their mail boxes full of unwanted material. And yet, e-mail marketing is on the rise, mainly due to its cost effectiveness and zero response cost. Companies big or small are using this form of direct marketing.

But its effectiveness in actually increasing sales is controversial, since most of us delete these unwanted mails whenever we see them. So why is such a direct marketing technique so popular? Why do direct marketing strategies usually include e-mail marketing as part of their plan? Frankly, if a company exploits mailing addresses from generic mailing list providers to create new customers, the chances are small that their sales will increase. But if a company uses e-mail to promote their new product or offer other discounts in a more intelligent way, then the effect can be tremendous.

What we are trying to point out is that if you have a database of your customers and you use that for e-mail marketing you will earn rewards. But if you are hiring a mailing list and expect to see a dramatic increase in sales figures, expect the unexpected! Direct marketing consultants must guide their clients towards an effective e-mail campaign by first implementing a web presence with product enquiry forms. Then you can use that address book for your e-mail distribution.

part 2>>

Check out on direct marketing consultancy and other marketing communication services.