5 Reasons to use On-hold Messages

In these difficult economic times it’s worth using every marketing tool available to you.  On hold messages are a simple, effective and cost -efficient method of getting your marketing message out to your clients.  Think of an on-hold message as a form of infomercial about your business.  It’s an ideal opportunity to tell your potential customers about the products and services you offer and the benefits they can bring.  No one likes to be put on hold, and many of us feel it’s a complete waste of our time.  So if you can turn this into a productive, entertaining 2 or 3 minutes, your callers will appreciate it. Your company will also appreciate the benefits, as studies conducted by major telecommunication companies revealed that approximately 20% of callers that are placed on hold will actually make purchase decisions based on what they hear while they are on hold.

So what are some of the benefits of using an on-hold message?

1.  Introduce new products or services to your customers.

3.  Callers are more likely to stay on the line if they hear a message and/or background music.  A caller who doesn't stay on the line is a potential lost sale.

4.   Inform your customers of general business hours and holiday time opening and closing times.  Use the message to answer frequently asked questions - saving your customer service team time and resources and increasing their efficiency.

5.  Tell customers the benefits of using your products and services - remind them how your company can help improve their situation and solve their problem.

Its also important to choose a voiceover artist whose voice reflects your company’s brand and image.  Choose a voice that makes your company sound engaging and interesting.  A voice that is clear and distinct, but also one that engenders trust and credibility.  A professional voiceover artist can deliver a persuasive sales message as well as sounding polite and personable.

Written by Alison Pitman. For further information about the author and to hear her voice demos visit http://www.thephonevoice.com