what is a telesales agent?
As a telesales agent, you promote your company's products to customers over the phone. Your primary goal is to boost revenue through telephone sales. That means you should be a good negotiator with a deep understanding of the product features. Aside from selling products, you drum up advertisements and inform customers of promotions and discounts.
Apart from generating income through sales, telesales agents manage client accounts. It is your job to remind clients to renew their orders or inform them of current deals. The management monitors your calls and pitches since large sums of money are often in play, which means you make a significant difference in the company's annual revenue.
Many people often confuse telesales with telemarketing, but the roles differ. Telesales agents aim to encourage repeat business and support field sales representatives by setting up appointments. Telemarketing takes a broader scope by using phone calls to build interest, produce leads and get customer feedback. Telemarketers create sales prospects, while telesales agents convert the prospects into sales and repeat buyers.
Would working as a telesales agent suit your relationship-building skills and communication ability? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a telesales agent role.
telesales agent jobsaverage telesales agent salary
According to the Economic Research Institute, the average salary of a telesales agent in Greece is approximately €50,000 per year. Aside from a base salary, companies often provide other benefits to telesales agents. When you are new in the position, you start with a lower salary of €27,000 per year. With additional educational qualifications and experience, you can take home a higher salary of over €64,000 per year.
what factors affect the salary of a telesales agent?
When you are in an entry-level position as a telesales agent, you have minimal experience and qualifications. Your salary is lower since you handle basic tasks, unlike experienced telesales agents who handle complex duties in the company.
The size of the company also influences your earnings. Working for a larger organisation generates a higher salary due to increased resources. You also handle complex tasks compared to agents working in smaller companies with minimal tasks. A small company also has limited resources and may not have the budget to afford higher hourly rates. Working full-time versus part-time also improves your earning prospects. Full-time workers have higher hourly rates and earn bonuses, while part-time telesales agents may not have bonuses.
types of telesales agents
As a telesales agent, you can perform general duties in telesales or specialise in specific areas, such as:
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οutbound telesales agent
As an outbound telesales agent, you contact potential customers by phone and create interest in your employer's product. You also reach out to the leads generated to close deals or assist them with the purchase process.
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inbound telesales agent
When you are an inbound telesales agent, you receive calls from prospective clients who want additional information on the products you sell. Existing customers can also call to place an order or inquire about a purchase.
working as a telesales agent
Are you interested in becoming a telesales agent? Get a clear picture of working as a telesales agent by discovering the career's daily tasks and work schedule.
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what does a telesales agent do?
Common tasks of a telesales agent include:
- Lead generation: as a telesales agent, you utilise data provided by telemarketers to generate leads for field sales teams. Your job is to contact potential clients and build awareness of your employer’s products or call existing customers to inform them of new product releases and promotions. You also receive phone calls from people responding to advertisements and direct marketing. Your task is to follow a script and qualify leads that are likely to buy.
- Direct sales: when you are a telesales representative, you target previous customers for repeat business. You can also promote direct sales by persuading promising leads to make a purchase.
- Assisting customers in placing orders: it is your job to process orders for your customers. Taking orders allows you to cross-sell and offer additional products to customers based on their buying habits. When you handle orders, the sales team can focus on selling in the field.
- Creating sales reports and managing accounts: when you are a telesales agent, you create and manage an individual account for each customer. You also generate a daily activity report that shows the number of leads, customers and sales.
- Customer service: after closing a sale, it is important to make a follow-up phone call to the customers to ask if they are satisfied. The feedback should be documented to assist in improving the company's services. Hence, you maintain the customer relationship management (CRM) software and ensure it is updated with the company’s current customers.
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work environment of a telesales agent
As a telesales agent, you are likely to work at a call centre or in the sales department of a large company. You spend your office hours on your desk, answering telephone calls and preparing reports. The work environment is competitive since the job is target-driven, and the work culture requires you to look professional and smart. Some companies allow telesales agents to work from home or remotely. However, you have targets similar to those of employees who work from the call centre.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on the industry you work in, you are likely to interact with customer service agents, marketing specialists and sales representatives. You also collaborate with receptionists, sales agents and account managers. Other professionals you may work with include product managers, social media managers and marketing managers.
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telesales agent work schedule
When you are a telesales agent, you work an average of 40 hours a week. Your job covers the regular 9-to-5 work routine from Monday to Friday. Telesales agent positions are flexible, and you don't need to work full-time. You can get a part-time job or work remotely. Large call centres operate 24 hours a day on a shift basis, so you may sometimes work early morning or night shifts. Telesales agent positions do not involve travelling unless you must attend conferences.
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career opportunities as a telesales agent
The telesales agent role is an entry-level position, leading to a promising career in sales and marketing. The profession gives you multiple options for progression. You can focus on a particular field or take on a managerial position. It is easy to progress from a telesales agent position to a sales manager position. After working your way into a sales manager role, the next step is to become a marketing manager or marketing director. Alternatively, telesales agents can choose a specific niche and become customer service account managers or relationship managers.
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advantages of finding a job as a telesales agent through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- a range of jobs in your area
telesales agent skills and education
Some of the educational qualifications you require to excel in the role of a telesales agent include:
- Education: while you can become a telesales agent in Greece after Gymnasio, consider pursuing higher education qualifications. Complete a bachelor's degree course in sales, marketing or psychology. You could also pursue a course in business administration to learn the relevant skills to excel in the role.
- Work experience: to work as a telesales agent, you require experience working in sales or customer service. Consider entry-level sales or marketing positions to improve your skills. It is also important to improve your knowledge of CRM systems and other technologies relevant to the role.
competencies and characteristics of telesales agents
In telesales, your skills and passion improve your career prospects. Some of the transferable skills you need include:
- Communication skills: as a telesales agent, you need expertise in striking and maintaining meaningful conversations with prospective buyers. It is crucial to understand verbal cues or customer tone and adjust your voice to build rapport. Communication skills help you explain complex product features in simple terms. Being an active listener also helps you understand customers' concerns and adjust your services to boost satisfaction.
- Interpersonal skills: when you are a telesales agent, you need emotional intelligence and empathy to create rapport over the phone. Collaborating with other sales agents also helps you increase revenue.
- Negotiation abilities: as a telesales agent, it is important to meet sales quotas. That means you persuade customers to buy your employer's products and convince current clients to order more. Your negotiation skills help you convince buyers to purchase your products and deal with complaints or customers' concerns.
- Using telephone and computer systems: aside from taking calls, you should be an expert in CRM software. You also require proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications and other office management systems to help you perform your administrative duties.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a telesales agent.
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what are the responsibilities of a telesales agent?
As a telesales agent, you generate leads for the organisation's sales team through phone calls and other online channels. You keep a record of calls and relevant details on the leads. You also provide relevant information to customers and resolve client complaints or disputes. Other duties include monitoring sales performances and maintaining customer details in the CRM.
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is telesales agent a good career?
Working as a telesales agent is an exciting career with promising prospects. You work in the sales or marketing department to find leads and assist field service agents in converting leads to buyers. You have numerous opportunities for growth in the company's customer service and marketing departments.
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what are the qualities of a telesales agent?
As a telesales agent, you rely on phone calls to connect with clients and customers. You require good phone etiquette and exceptional communication skills to excel in the role. Your interpersonal skills help you build a rapport with customers over the phone and assist them with the purchase.
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is it hard working as a telesales agent?
Working as a telesales agent is similar to working in any other sales job. The only difference is that you convince potential customers over the phone. Since you don’t meet with potential customers face-to-face, it is challenging to convince them to buy a product. However, if you have good sales skills, you will find it easy to sell to customers.
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what are the challenges of telesales agents?
The main challenge for telesales agents is the quality of the customer list. You rely on the customer list to close deals and find leads, but finding the lists is challenging. You should also be prepared to handle rejection since some potential customers resent cold calls.
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how do I find a job as a telesales agent?
Finding a job near you as a telesales agent is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Then log in or register an account to send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
