Telemarketing (sometimes known as
inside sales, or
telesales in the UK and Ireland) is a method of
direct marketing in which a
salesperson solicits prospective
customers to buy
products or
services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or
Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call. Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches programmed to be played over the phone via automatic dialing. Telemarketing has come under fire in recent years, being viewed as an annoyance by many.