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According to the latest statistics predicting the end of the double dip recession many business owners are looking for opportunities to claw their way back to pre-recession sales levels.

Companies that fared well before the slump are now trying to keep their customers as competition intensifies and the threat of a new price war looms.

The use of telemarketing may provide an answer for business owners who are looking to maintain a competitive advantage and cross selling or up-selling via telemarketing can assist to increase sales opportunities.

For the uninitiated, cross or up selling is offering the customer the opportunity to purchase additional products or services related to whatever he or she has already bought or is in the process of buying.  It isn’t just the sales department that should be involved in the process – customer service representatives and other staff members that deal with your customers are also in an ideal position to assist.

Many companies are now asking their support engineers and technicians to recommend product upgrades or renew warranty agreements, effectively turning them into additional sales staff. But if customer service professionals are uncomfortable dealing with customers in this manner and do not wish to sell or do not introduce the sale in a way that benefits the customer, then no sale will take place.

 A telemarketer can support  technical staff in the field by opening negotiations when booking appointments and asking relevant questions relating to warranty renewal dates and any other related products they may be considering purchasing. This information can then be passed to the technician or person that will be visiting the client, thus encouraging a team approach to dealing with the client.

Often when presented with an up-sell and cross-sell initiative, many customer service professionals do not see it as their job to sell. They feel that it is up to the sales department not theirs and encouragement is needed to make this become a minority view. Successful telemarketing cross-selling techniques should give the customer a feeling of being valued and offered a better service, not just about being sold to and selling more products. It is also important not to overload a customer with too many unrelated suggestions. 

A successful strategy is to offer a package deal of products that will appeal to the customer encouraging a saving on purchasing individual items. Retailers have already adopted this strategy and businesses can also benefit when offering their professional services or manufactured goods.

There is evidence that clients who receive several services from one provider tend to be more loyal than those who receive a single service. Customers find it much easier to switch providers selling a single service than those providing multiple services.

Organisations that are able to provide a number of services will be more flexible if one sector shows a downturn in sales rather than a business that relies on one product or service alone.   

The compelling argument for investing in a cross-selling approach is that it can generate more profit per sale in the same way that up-selling can increase the total value of a sale.

It is always worth remembering that a huge number of sales are achieved purely on personal recommendation from previously satisfied customers.

 Clients that have been dealt with in the correct manner by your customer service, telemarketing and technical teams will  feel valued and are more likely to recommend your business. The old adage that people buy from people is still very true and clients will always want to feel they have made the right choice. The personal touch of telemarketing and customer services are a great asset helping clients to feel that they have made the correct choice thus reinforcing their customer loyalty.

From 29th April next year, all light commercial vehicles will be subject to further inspection and will need to pass additional requirements for any modifications made to them.

from 29 April 2013 all light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes will come into scope of ECWVTA, requiring additional approval for any modifications made to them.

Almost all panel vans will have been modified in some way to equip them for work, whether it is ply lining, racking, lamp beacons or side-steps.

The BVRLA – the UK trade body for companies engaged in the leasing and rental of cars and commercial vehicles – is concerned that each vehicle would have to undergo individual re-inspection, testing and approval when the new regulations come into effect, causing chaos for traders and SME business van operators.

Planning your 2013 Marketing campaign? How will you build customer /clients relationships?

Telemarketing can assist to personalise your marketing, follow up on your mailers and clean your database prior to sendingout your email shot. 

By calling by telephone prior to your email to check the correct contact you can increase your hit rate and personalise your mailer.

Getting the last two days of #telemarketing contracts in before the Christmas break, How will you build customer/client relationships in 2013

Another satisfied customer after our delivery to Bristol!
Hi,
Thank you again for taking on the job yesterday at such short notice but I imagine that’s the name of the game & you’re well used to it! It’s very rare that we have to get samples delivered same day, probably about once a year, but we’ll certainly ask you next time.
Kind regards,
Susan

Good advice from the AA

Winter motoring checklist

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/seasonal/winter-checklist.html

Planning your 2013 Marketing campaign? don’t forget to include checking of contact details on your list and  follow up calls to your mailers –promoting and creating a better response. Call to discuss.

Good morning every one, cold and icey out there – if you are travelling wrap up warm and take extra care
Tips;-
1)Batteries rarely last longer than five years.  Replacing one near the end of its life can save a lot of time and inconvenience at the side of the road.

2)Antifreeze costs only a few pounds, but a frozen and cracked engine block will cost hundreds of pounds to repair

3)Keep the windscreen and other windows clear and top wash bottle up with wash/wipe antifreeze– if your vision is obscured through dirt, snow  you could face a fine.

4)Make sure that all bulbs are working and that lenses are clean. In winter and Autumn you might need to clean lights after every journey

5)At least 3mm of tread is recommended for winter motoring, and certainly no less than 2mm.

6)Don’t reduce tyre pressures to get more grip – it doesn’t work, and reduces stability

7)Allow yourself extra time to prepare the car before you set off

8)Don’t Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock. Don’t breathe on the lock, as the moisture will condense and freeze

9)Carry a blanket and shovel and make sure that your mobile phone is fully charged in case of emergencies

10)Remember Gentle manoeuvres are the key to safe driving – stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice and snow.

Top ten tips for using a Sat Nav

1.  You’re driving, not the sat nav
   If you commit an offence or have an accident It’s your fault, you can not blame the sat nav.
2. Trust your eyes
   Sat navs are a guide, People have been marooned in fords, driven into rivers and down railways because their sat nav told them to. If the road looks wrong, don’t take it.
3. You know what you’re driving,
   If you have a large vehicle or a caravan, don’t think that a road is suitable just because the sat nav tells you to go down it. Look at the road signs.
4. Watch the road not the sat nav
   A sat nav can give all sorts of information about where you are going, but is no substitute for watching the road.
5. Don’t block your view of the road
   The sat nav should be in your line of sight – You don’t want to have to look down or turn your head a long way, but it should not block your view of the road.
6. Don’t try to programme the sat nav while driving
   Always pull over before adjusting settings Programming on the move takes one hand from the wheel, two eyes off the road and a brain away from driving.
7. Use all of the features
   On a complicated, busy roundabout, spoken instructions are much better than taking your eyes off the road to look at the sat nav,
8. Check the route is practical before you go
   Is the sat nav taking you to the right place there may be more than one Farnborough? Hampshire, Warwickshire or Kent? If you put in the wrong destination, it will take you to the wrong destination. Does the route look right?
9. Update the sat nav regularly
   Keep it updated  it needs to know about new roads, new traffic systems.
10. Thieves like sat navs too
    If it’s detachable, always take it out when you leave the car. Mounts or suction cap marks also attract thieves as they know that drivers who remove the sat nav from the window tend to leave it in the car.