Only the bad ones are dumb enough to put an unknown 800 # on their caller id. The good ones actually have a way to put the business who they are calling for on the caller ID. IE: if they are calling for your local car dealer, that dealer’s local # is the number you see.

Telemarketing definitely works, but you simply have to do it right.

It makes me wonder if telemarketing is even a viable, worthy way of reaching out to customers anymore. I, for one, will not pick up any “No Caller ID” or 800/866 numbers. And usually the latter does not leave a message.

What has worked for me, however, are promotional e-mails. I will read something if the subject line notes that it has a good deal for me.