Is Telemarketing Dying?

By David Tonen • October 7th, 2008

If you were to judge by the number of telemarketing calls you get in the run of the week…one might easily say…no, no it is not…telemarketing is not dying! The past three weeks for me personally have been an outright bombardment! On the other hand, how effective is it, and what effect will things like Canada’s new Do Not Call Registry have on this industry?

We all hate to be bothered at home when we are in our “personal” place or space. For as long as I can remember, I have been receiving telemarketing calls from non-profits doing fund raising to businesses trying to arm twist me into their services. The past few weeks here in Canada have seen the telemarketers going at a torrid pace to get in their calls before people can sign up for the new Do Not Call registry. I have had at least one call each day for 3-weeks and some days multiple calls. In fact, this morning I got a call at 8:30 AM and the guy was calling me from Vancouver! That would be 4:30 AM his time. I told him to go get another coffee! This bombardment has only served to spur people on towards registering to have their numbers removed. It has raised the agitation level of Canadians toward telemarketing to an all new high. As I wrote that sentence I received my 3rd telemarketing call of the day!

So, what impact will the new registry have on the business? I think it will throw up a giant wall as people register in droves to make the insanity stop. For those who do not register, they had better get ready for the onslaught. Businesses and non-profits will have to find a new way to interrupt people’s lives with their messages. E-mail spam never tasted so bad! It is at an all-time high and companies find more clever ways daily to break through your filter. At least with e-mail it is much easier to hit delete than it is to make the phone stop ringing!

I have to go now…it’s time for me to register my number for do-not-call status…the question is, how long will it take for the ringing to stop?

What so you think? Is telemarketing dying?

Comments(2) Advertising, E-mail, Marketing
  • http://roihunters.wordpress.com Tim Rueb

    I can tell you that caller-id has had a larger impact on the telemarketing business then any registry list could ever. I don’t even bother answering the phone if I don’t recognize the number. And if they avoid showing me their number by displaying ‘private caller’ on the display, I simply report them to the authorities, or give the call the attention it deserves! 8)

  • http://www.cityheightschurch.com/ Paul

    I don’t think telemarketing really works anyomore anyway. I just hang up as soon as I hear the “delay” when I answer. Hope the registry works!

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