10 Reasons NOT to Stop Telemarketing Over the Summer

The summertime often offers a lull in activities in many businesses across the UK. We presume that since people are away taking their holidays, we should perhaps reduce ourtelemarketing efforts until the early Autumn. Many people complain that their sales figures or sign-ups are slow during the summer, but of course they’re slower if they reduce their telemarketing campaigning!

However, you should not stop your sales campaigns just because traditionally people holidayed during the summer months. Keep the pressure on and keep the money coming in. Who can afford to have a slow summer this year? Here are our 10 reasons why you shouldn’t stop telemarketing this summer.

Image by Eric C. Gutierrez

Don’t Stop 1: While the Gatekeeper Sleeps

At some point in the summer, the regular gatekeeper, the person that guards the important prospect from unnecessary distractions to making their company money, will go on holiday.

At this point, someone less well-trained, less experienced and much easier to sidestep will often be appointed to cover their summer holiday period. It’s at this time, that an experienced and skilled telemarketer can make a break past the inexperienced gatekeeperand get connected to prospects that can take advantage of your summer deals.

Don’t Stop 2: Never Be Forgotten

It’s important to keep in touch with your prospects throughout the year. If you don’t call during the summer, the chances are that some canny telemarketers from another company will slip unnoticed into your place and make the sale whilst you’re away topping up the tan.

Do not give your prospect the opportunity to forget you. Sometimes it really takes persistent reminders of the benefits and values of your products/services before they will finally cave and go with you. But if you give up during the summer, that alternative telemarketer, the one that isn’t afraid to call during the summer, will make the sale instead of you.

Don’t Stop 3: Stand out from the Crowd

BE the stand out, the alternative telemarketer that was mentioned above. So many companies don’t bother to telemarket during summer that they miss valuable opportunities to win business during the summer months. When you call your prospects, the chances are you’ll be one of a very few that know how to turn summer into sales. Stand out from the crowd by calling for a chat during a long summer’s day.

Image by FresFestival

Don’t Stop 4: We Know You’re In There

Not everyone can go away for their summer holidays at the same time. The right people have to be in the office at some point during the summer. If you’re lucky, the right person is at work whilst their secretary or some other gatekeeper is away for their annual trip to Majorca. Your tenacity will benefit you plenty if you can keep making contact without becoming too irritating.

Don’t Stop 5: Set Up for Autumn

If you find that getting the right people to make a decision is difficult in the summer, why not set up appointments for the Autumn, or just use the time to build a relationship with the prospect. Setting up more profitable interactions with potential customers and clients later in the year isn’t time wasted; it’s an investment in sales at a later stage. Use the summer months to set up sales in the Autumn.

Don’t Stop 6: Know Your Industry

Each industry works differently when it comes to summer holidays. The better you know your industry, the better you will understand when the best time to call will be. Some industries close their factories and offices for periods of time during the summer, so clearly, that’s a black out period for your telemarketers. Don’t waste time calling businesses that are closed for their summer holidays!

Don’t Stop 7: Their Summer is Slack

Let’s face it; some businesses do experience a slower summer. So that means when they’re not taking their vacation, there’s a lot of people sitting around in offices wishing they were somewhere else, or at least that it would stop raining.

If you can call during this time, you can bring a little merriment back to their office. Don’t go straight for the sell, just have a chat, build rapport, work on the relationship, you can always call back during the Autumn if you feel that now’s not the right time to sell them something. But using your experienced telemarketers, you’ll know the difference and use the prospect’s slack summer as an advantage to you.

Image by David Goehring

Don’t Stop 8: People are Ready to Receive

This is the prime time to build rapport with people. Call on a sunny summer morning and you’ll be much more likely to build a relationship with the person at the other end of the phone. People are relaxed, they’re happier because of the sun and they feel more positively. Also, because it’s sunny outside, and they’d like to be outside, they’re more likely to consider your phone call a break from their daily routine.

Don’t call in the afternoon, many people leave earlier or start focusing on the 5pm bolt for the door.

Don’t Stop 9: Who Can Afford A Summer Holiday?

You may have noticed the catastrophic global economic crisis in 2007. Well, who can afford to close down for the summer any more? Get calling, people are much less likely to take long summer breaks this year, most people are broke! This is the perfect time to make someone’s day by telling them precisely how you can make things better for their business.

Don’t Stop 10: Invest in Training

If you really can’t make the dots connect this summer, it is still a fantastic opportunity to train your telemarketing staff. During the slow period, invest in training your staff and then unleash them refreshed and renewed as the Autumn begins.