"It Takes Money to Make Money!"

Article by Bryan Kauffmann, Director of Marketing eContactLive, Inc. Oct.2012. We hear a lot about the economy these days - claims as to who is responsible, who is most likely to fix it, and where we need to make sacrifices. For those of us who are involved in running a business, I am sure we have all looked at areas where we can cut back. Often times we have cut the wrong areas and end up hindering our growth. Many companies drastically cut their marketing budgets when the economic turn happened. In 2009, the company I was working for actually cut 75% of their marketing team (I, thankfully, was not a part of that cut), and reduced their marketing efforts. Unfortunately, that was the norm at that time for many companies across the country. Without strong marketing teams and strategies, many companies could no longer sustain the growth they had been accustomed to in the previous years, and many small businesses suffered – even closed. Growth. Did you catch that? In the same segment where I was talking economics, cutbacks, and sacrifice, I mentioned growth. It is possible to grow even in times like these. How? I’m glad you asked. While competitors have cut back on their marketing, you simply keep marketing at the same level – or get aggressive and do more. Get, and keep, your name in front of your competitor’s clients, and earn their business. There’s an old adage that states “It takes money to make money.” While it may take a bit of a leap to invest more money into marketing, the more you invest, the greater your return can be. For example, the average ROI our clients see is in the 200-400% range. We even have clients who are seeing over 10,000% return on their marketing investment – in an economic downturn. They kept their marketing going, increased their marketing, and are now reaping the rewards of their investment. Obviously, every business has their own plan laid out for marketing. If that plan is cutting back on marketing, losing market share, and letting the competition take their business, then that is their choice. On the other hand, if they are looking to grow, take over the competitions business, and see a positive ROI, then we are here to help. So what are you doing? Are you growing, staying the same, or cutting back? If you are looking to increase your marketing efforts and start growing, or are looking for a partner to help with your marketing strategies, call us today and our dedicated Account Management team will be able to help you! 800-551-0657.

Top 5 Things You MUST Consider When Outsourcing Your Lead Gen Efforts to a Telemarketing Company

Over the years that we have been in business, we have had many prospects and clients ask us what to look for when choosing a marketing company to work with. We have put together a "Top 5" list of what to look for when choosing your marketing partner, or really any company with which you are looking to conduct business..

1.	How Long Has the Company Been in Business? This is an important factor to look at when choosing a marketing partner. If a company is new, do they have the experience, and the processes in place to be successful for you?
2.	BBB Rating - This is always a good measuring stick to go by while you are doing your research. The higher the rating, the more trustworthy the company is. Look at the complaints against the company, and how they were eventually resolved.
3.	Know the Business Structure and Employment Practices of the Firm You Select (or you could end up with an employee you didn't know you had!) Start-ups or un-incorporated firms will sometimes illegally or mistakenly classify their employees as "Independent Contractors", perhaps in an effort to avoid paying taxes and Worker's Compensation Insurance on their "Employees". If there is ever a claim for injuries or wages, the "Employee", or even the firm you contracted with, will likely come after whomever has the deepest pockets. Even if you win the claim, there will be substantial costs incurred to litigate the dispute. For further information, see the IRS publication HERE and speak with your CPA about how to classify and report payments for services rendered to an un-incorporated individual or entity, ESPECIALLY if the potential payee utilizes Independent Contractors to fulfill their contractual obligations to you. Do your due diligence!
4.	Do They List Client Testimonials? Reading through the testimonials listed on the company website is a great indication of how well the company is regarded by their clients.
5.	Proven Results - Any company can say they can produce results. Can they back up what they are saying with actual numbers? Do they have examples of similar clients and industries to compare your campaign to?

TeleContact Resource Services has been in business for over 18 years. This has allowed us to work for companies representing over 50 different industries across the nation. There is not an issue we haven't run into and been able to solve when it comes to a marketing campaign. To learn more about what we have to offer call us at 800-551-0567 or Fill Out Our Form.