What would you call me?

[LittleFish01]

Hello!

For my first post on UKBF I would like some advice on how to position myself in terms of title.

To elaborate, I am a self employed telemarketer currently working for one client. I am looking to develop a website and to offer a fairly unique service aimed at smaller businesses, with the view of offering services for ad-hoc campaigns with some consultancy and training services.

I would like to call myself a 'Telemarketing Consultant' however I will be a sole trader and I am unsure whether this would be legal. Advice would be very welcome in terms of legality and also what would grab your attention if you required these services.

Thanks!

 

[AllUpHere]

From a legal perspective that is perfectly acceptable. Just make sure that your title tells people clearly what you do, and you don't fall into the trap of having a grand title that means nothing.

 

[LittleFish01]

I agree and that is why I feel that 'Consultant' would be good as I will be offering services other than just taking on lead generation tasks, to including some training, call monitoring services and general campaign planning.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[PeterMoore]

Hi there

Not sure if there are any legal reasons why you can’t call yourself a “Telemarketing Consultant” I’m sure someone better suited to answer this will add their thoughts. What I would say is that you mention you are looking to design a website so why don’t you come up with a company name regardless of the status of your business. If you had a business name then the service you are offering is telemarketing consultancy. There are plenty of people around doing this from the comfort of their own home and doing nicely from it. I have used several in the past. To my knowledge I can’t see a reason why you couldn’t use this term to describe the service you offer

 

[LittleFish01]

Hi Peter,

Yes, I will have a company name. From your experience of using freelance telemarketers how did you find the service and what were the reasons that you chose this option? Also, how well did they satisfy your expectations?

 

[PeterMoore]

Hey, working with freelance telemarketers is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get, lol. I have had some bad experiences but also many very good with some of the project lasting for many months. I normally opted for freelance as it just makes life simpler for me and the type of business I operate.

 

[Nuno]

'Consultant' as a term has (for me at any rate) negative connotations. like charging too much, being self important, that sort of thing. Is there another word?

 

[LittleFish01]

That's a fair point Nuno and I understand that perception. Maybe 'Specialist' as an alternative? I am trying to define what I do as much as possible in my title, whilst promoting a unique(ish) perspective/ concept of how a small business could utilise high-quality telemarketing resources without breaking the budget. I am trying to avoid calling myself a 'freelancer' too. This, in the same way that you described 'Consultant', puts a negative image in my head.

Peter, what makes it fit in well with your business...... flexibility, cost?

 

[integrity Rules]

I agree with Nunos' analysis , and think that specialist is indeed a better term . "Telemarketing Specialist " to me is loads better than "Telemarketing consultant"

 

[LittleFish01]

Thanks for the advice everyone, very much appreciated!

 

[AllUpHere]

Thanks all, I've always hated the term consultant, as most marketing consultants don't know their arse from the elbow, and I've always wondered if there was a better title I could use.

Here comes AllUpHere, the 'marketing strategy specialist'.

 

[IanG]

Personally, I like consultant. To mean a professional with whom you can consult.

I don't like specialist. So you specialise in something. Don't we all. That says nothing about talking to people, just that you know what you're doing. Which you shouldn't really need to itemise.

 

[integrity Rules]

edited

... I've always wondered if there was a better title I could use.

Here comes AllUpHere, the 'marketing strategy specialist'.

Much better , in my opinion; I think it will work out better for you. And of course its important that you like it too!

 

[AllUpHere]

Personally, I like consultant. To mean a professional with whom you can consult.

I don't like specialist. So you specialise in something. Don't we all. That says nothing about talking to people, just that you know what you're doing. Which you shouldn't really need to itemise.

I'm going to split test this, so I'll let you all know what I find out.

My initial thought was the same as yours, in that being a specialist doesn't necessarily suggest my skills are for sale, unlike consultant. I am bored with consultant though, so we will see.

 

[IanG]

Whether you're bored of it, or whether everyone else has diminished the effectiveness of the word, that is the correct word.

Same reason this guy is a telemarketing consultant and not a telemarketer. Because the former includes reference to consultation, the latter just means you're doing the job.

 

[AllUpHere]

Whether you're bored of it, or whether everyone else has diminished the effectiveness of the word, that is the correct word.

Same reason this guy is a telemarketing consultant and not a telemarketer. Because the former includes reference to consultation, the latter just means you're doing the job.

I do agree with you, technically I'm a consultant ( as is the OP).

Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread. Ill start a new thread when I have tested it.

 

[yottacom]

I do agree with you, technically I'm a consultant ( as is the OP).

Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread. Ill start a new thread when I have tested it.

I would say "check on linkedin"!

if you get enough results (>100 i would say) for the term, it means it an acknowledged title.
if you get few results... well...

Just use the double quote in order to obtain the exact matching,

eg: according to my linkedin network, the term "telemarketing consultant" shows 1090 results.