People sometimes think that telemarketing is as simple as one person calling somebody else on the telephone to sell them something.

But the reason telemarketing is so successful is because it can be so flexible.  For example, look at all the ways it can be used:

1. appointment setting
2. lead generation
3. sales
4. seminar registration
5. updating information
6. surveys
7. market research
8. direct mail follow-up
9. trade show follow-up
10. fundraising
11. political announcements
12. recruiting
13. prospecting
14. up-selling or cross-selling

The research shows that people do buy over the phone, but they also respond to all the approaches listed above.