Telemarketing involves making phone calls to potential customers to promote and sell products or services. It can be outbound (company calls customer) or inbound (customer calls company in response to ads).
Insurance, banking, and telecom sectors heavily use telemarketing. It provides personal interaction and immediate feedback, making it effective for lead generation and appointment setting.
However, unwanted calls can annoy consumers, leading many countries to establish Do-Not-Call registries. Modern telemarketing focuses on warm leads and compliance with regulations.