WordGarden.iotelemarketer
Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈɛlɪmˌɑːkiːtə/
US
- /ˌtɛləˈmɑrkɪtər/
Meanings
Noun
a person whose job is selling or promoting products or services by telephone
Beyond the definition
Imagine your dinner is interrupted by a cheerful voice on the other end of the line trying to sell you something you did not ask for. That is likely a telemarketer at work. The word comes from "telemarketing," which simply means marketing done over the telephone. While some legitimate businesses use telemarketers, the term often has a negative feeling because of repeated and unwanted calls.
Telemarketers can work directly for a company or for an outside call center. They might sell everything from insurance to vacation packages, and some may also call to do surveys or research. These days, many people screen their calls or use apps that block telemarketers, which shows how often people run into them.
A telemarketer is a person who calls people on the phone to sell products or services. The term comes from "telemarketing," a marketing method that uses direct phone calls to reach possible customers. Although not all telemarketing is unwelcome, the word is now often linked with unwanted and sometimes pushy sales calls.
For many years, telemarketing was a common way for businesses to reach new customers. Over time, it has faced more criticism because many people see these calls as intrusive. Many countries now have rules that limit when and how telemarketers can call, including "Do Not Call" lists that let people opt out of receiving these calls.
Telemarketers may work for a company that is promoting its own products or services, or they may work for a call center that makes sales calls for other businesses. Some calls are from real companies with real offers, while others may be misleading or even scams, so it is wise to be careful and not share personal information unless you are sure who is calling.
So, whether seen as a helpful salesperson or an unwanted interruption, a telemarketer is someone whose job involves reaching people by phone to promote, sell, or sometimes gather information.
Examples
- 1
Mistaken caller
I thought the call was from my bank, but it turned out to be a telemarketer.
- 2
Sales script
She hung up as soon as the telemarketer started reading from a script.
- 3
Privacy laws
New privacy laws make it harder for telemarketers to call people during dinner.
See also
Similar
- phone salesperson
- sales caller
- telesales representative
Shades of meaning
- cold caller
- inside sales representative
Contrast
- inbound representative
- door-to-door salesperson
Used with (collocations)
- telemarketer calls
- telemarketer script
Word family
Explore
- call center
- robocall
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- telemarketer