What is a Telephone Mystery Shopper?
Generally, it’s competition research. Like a spy, but nobody shoots at you.
Companies are always trying to get ahead of each other, and a great way to do that is to analyse what the competition is doing, then fill in the holes to make sure you offer the all-important things that they forgot about.
Of course, they can’t just ring up from their own office and fire questions at the competitor; that’s where you come in.
As a Telephone Mystery Shopper, it will be your job to call up companies and gain valuable data by asking pertinent questions whilst pretending to be interested in their product or service. Some call may be to a company’s own call lines to check the customer service quality of their own support staff.
When you’ve finished collecting all the information that has been requested, you’ll file a report based on your findings.
Who’s if for?
- Anyone who can speak fluently on the phone
- Anyone who just can’t stop talking on the phone
- Anyone who actually listens to the person on the other end of the phone
- Anyone having an affair that needs an excuse for unknown numbers on the bill
Skills
- Fluency to drop questions with ease
- Outstanding ability to listen and comprehend response
- Good ability to write reports and analyse if requested
Start Up
3rd party agencies are the mostly likely to deal with this kind of skulduggery.
Get started by enrolling at an agency like CallCenterQA.com if you live in the USA.
In the UK try CustomerWise.co.uk. Look locally for companies in your country or language.
How You Make Your Income
Usually a flat rate per call. They’re not going to pay you by the minute just because you’re passing the time of day without asking the questions in a timely fashion.
- Make the call.
- Listen intently to the answers
- Make your report in the online dashboard.
- Get the money in your bank.
Experienced callers can rack up calls like crazy because they can get the questions in smoothly, pay good attention to the answers, and can type in the reports rapidly. Next Call Please!!
Also look out for areas that pay more because specialist knowledge is needed to tease out responses; think medical sector.
