A monster $250,000 sale attributed to an on hold message program simply because the customer happened to ask somebody to tell them a bit more about a new service or product they heard about while they were on hold. Well, It happened to one of our customers, and they were kind enough to tell us about it.  We wonder how often it happens and we don’t get the phone call.  We also wonder how often it happens and our customer is not made aware of what initiated the sale.

Although it would be nice for every client to see this kind of return in their on hold marketing investment we do admit that it is sometimes difficult to track your on hold programming’s ROI. The best on hold messaging programs return anywhere between 0 and 10,000% return on the initial investment.   There may be certainly be weeks, months, or even a year whereby it may be difficult to completely and convincingly attribute transactions and sales to the on hold program.  Most likely, sales ‘happened’, but the sale could not be completely traced or attributed to the program.  Or maybe the program content was more designed to make general branding statements or provide educational content to customers on hold. 

However, even if the answer was 0% ROI the reality is that a good on hold messaging program pays for itself quickly.  For a buck or two a day, take into consideration the work that the program is doing in terms of just keeping a customer holding instead of hanging up.  If you don’t have an on hold messaging program, “Silence” on hold is not golden.  People hang up on silence, and quickly at that.  In fact, studies show that 50% of callers will hang up if waiting in silence and a staggering 34% of those will not call back. Do you see an ROI return those ‘beep-beep’ tones that are considered a phone system feature?  Beep tones can drive your callers crazy.  Playing a radio station on hold?  A radio station may promote your competitor, or other businesses which do not pay you to advertise their business to “your callers.” Even a simple music file can get old very quickly or not be to a particular callers liking.

 A ‘hang-up’ caller may very well be an existing customer that calls a competitor.  That’s lost revenue, and it might be big $. So……if you can’t seem to measure the ROI of your program, don’t fret.  Your program is always quietly and certainly paying for itself.  In addition to giving you another avenue to build your brand, it is also functioning as a tool to keeps folks holding.  Other forms of advertising (billboards, direct mail, TV / radio advertising) fill no other function other than to simply advertise.  Your low cost on hold message program is fulfilling a crucial additional function.   So is your program paying for itself?  Yes. Probably in more ways than you’re aware of.  

A web infomercial is either a short or long format commercial about your business or organization that appears on your website or somewhere else on the Internet. Like television advertisements, web infomercials are predicated on the notion that, when millions of people regularly turn their attention to a particular information and entertainment medium, that medium becomes an optimal venue for promoting business interest. However, unlike television commercials, web infomercials are supremely economical for three reasons: they require less production time, they run without end and they're available to Internet users 24 hours a day.
All successful web infomercials share the same characteristics, beginning with focusing on what you're promoting. Focusing on what you're promoting has two basic aspects: choosing the right words and choosing the right images.

The key to creating an effective web infomercial is choosing strong images and presenting a brief list of hard-hitting benefits  that will impact your viewers without challenging their attention span. Web infomercials should also establish branding using the right actors that appeal to your target demographic. And finally, the simplest of all  be sure to end your web infomercial with a call to action. Your web infomercial is designed to generate interest, prove credibility for your product or service offering, and at the same time capitlize on that interest by presenting a call to action. In addition to asking your viewers to take action, be sure to supply them information that makes their action as easy as possible, such as presenting your website address, toll-free numbers, trial offers, warranty or guarantees. 

Virtual Media Group can help your company develop and produce a web infomercial that capitalizes on an ever-increasing Internet audience at an affordable price. Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-888-345-VIDEO

Why do so many businesses do it ineffectively? 

Upselling (sometimes 'up-selling') is a  sales technique  whereby a saleperson induces the customer to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons in an attempt to make a more profitable sale. Upselling usually involves marketing more profitable  service or products, but upselling can also be simply exposing the customer to other options he or she may not have considered previously. Upselling implies selling something that is more profitable or otherwise preferable for the seller instead of or in addition to the original sale. This technique is also known as cross-selling.

Here we are going to give just one example in an industry that is effectively using on hold messages to upsell/cross-sell, and if they can do it – SO CAN YOU!
The pizza industry is a 33 billion dollar industry, so what's the top problem in the pizza industry today? Well according to the top pizzeria chains it’s the telephone.
"According to national statistics the average hold-time is 30 seconds (on hold) per customer".  

Top pizza chains have embraced on hold marketing messages as a way to boost check and ticket averages by providing phone customers a marketing message before they talk to a staffer. They say that such messages not only help customers affirm their purchasing decisions, but they often steer them to upsell specials or additional menu items. In fact, according to a recent study, 42 percent of customers who hear about the specials in a message will order that special.

Director of telecommunications for Louisville, Ky.-based Papa John’s , labeled the pizza chain's hang-up tally the "abandonment rate." In an effort to lower its number of hang-ups, the company launched an eight-store trial of an on hold marketing message system. The results from the test, he said, are conclusively positive. I've been excited about this since day one," said Leonard. "In my mind, the test is over. I'm convinced this is a valuable benefit to us."

The on hold messages can be customized to push salads or sandwiches at lunch, family meal deals at dinner time, and multi-pizza deals in conjunction with ball games.Pizza operators have reported check average increases of $1.50 when using a marketing message. When the average pizza store does 2,500 to 3,000 transactions per week, think of what that can do to your profits."

Every business owner has this desire that his business should achieve global recognition and people across the world value the products and services that the business has to offer. Video marketing and internet advertising are considered the best way of promoting a product or service. The concept of a website video spokesperson has also become very popular. Video spokesperson is a virtual online spokesperson that is used to add value to the web page. The video spokesperson is a very interesting concept used to add value to video. A virtual or animated video spokes person talks to the viewers to help them understand a website in a better manner without interfering with its normal operations, enhancing creative online promotions it is also very useful for a successful video marketing campaign. Video spokesperson is a technology which enables to add a human element to it and connect through most interactive marketing.

Advantages of using a video spokes person are that it is able to grab the attention of the viewers in instantly. Many visitors to a website can be slow in reading but with the help of a video spokes person they will be able to understand the basics of the website instantly. Hence video spokespersons help in attracting the viewers to the product, generating more traffic flow and gaining a better position in search engines. It aids viewer to emulate more knowledge without having to read through information and waste time.

The main idea behind using a video spokesperson is to simply inspire and excite the buyer, towards the product, creating necessary awareness. It is a slashed cost service and the pitch is available online 24*7. Making the viewer leave their contact information as a result of a personal rapport being built is an engagement for further buyer conversion. The faster the viewer deviates to contact/ order page, means the much effective the images worked. Video's visual power, clarity and visual power attracts international customers enhancing the cutting edge innovation of the product. A real person sliding on a transparent layer is a most innovative way to build trust in viewers and relate them as customers and let the company stay ahead of innovative competences.

Virtual Media Group is a leading digital media firm specializing in video production and video marketing supporting a wide range of clients from global brand to small businesses. We produce cost effective video solutions that deliver results! From building awareness, enhancing brand value, increasing response and conversion rates and reduce operating cost.

On hold scripts are at the core of any on hold message production.  No matter how fancy your on hold equipment is, or how great your voice on hold is, without good on hold scripts you will lose many of the benefits of your music on hold and messages. 

Advertising wouldn’t be advertising without psychology. How else would you persuade or convince people that your product is outstanding in its category? What other way is there to go about creating a need for what you sell? Persuasion relies on emotional appeal, and emotions are driven by our psychological make-up. A long time ago, someone thought up the AIDA method, which is good enough to serve my purpose in explaining the psychology of advertising. It’s really very simple. A.I.D.A. Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.

Attention. Capture your audience’s attention right away.

Interest. This is paramount for effective copywriting to keep the caller intrigued and continue listening.

Desire. Make them want what you have. Pose your product as the solution to the aforementioned problem.

Action. Tell your audience what to do. Buy Now and save! It’s amazing what just a quick directive will do.

Finally, creativity is what will give your ad presentation that POW, and your copy that extra sparkle that makes it interesting to listener.
To those that think advertising is an easy or slap-dash process: not true at all! In fact, writing  ad copy is truly an art. The greatest ads are a perfect fusion of three very different modes of thought, expertly combined and presented in a powerfully compelling and persuasive package. On Hold Inc creates magical ad copy; the kind that sells!

When a customer shops for products at a physical store, salespeople become integral to the sales process. They can promote company values and elucidate the more subjective aspects of products. But when you sell online, customers encounter your products without the presence of a salesperson.

When you use a professional video spokesperson on your website, you can expect for your company and product values to be communicated in a sincere, cerebral fashion that's convincing without being preachy. Furthermore, you can choose a spokesperson whose appearance, age, tone of voice, etc. is tailored to your target market. Great products and services are sometimes said to sell themselves. But if you want to make online sales when prospective customers' are sitting on the fence, using a video  spokesperson can make all the difference.

(click on picture for example)

Video Spokesperson is currently the most advanced online marketing tool  not to mention the most effective. With the help of a video spokesperson, you can educate your customers about the unique qualities of your product and give a boost to your business! . It’s like talking to someone face to face about your product. Your virtual spokesperson will speak all that you want to share with your customer. This will not only help you in presenting your product in an easy way, but will also help in creating awareness about your product in the market and build credibility with your website visitors. So, opt for a video spokesperson now,

In this lightening fast paced world, internet has carved a special place for itself, especially those who are running a business. With the help of Internet, one can easily promote his business or product. how can you expect that one would take out time to read the article about your product? Flashy banners and bright posters are also not attracting people nowadays. In order to make people know about your product, you have to opt for something that is new and different and that will capture and engage your visitor and this can be achieved perfectly through a video spokesperson. Your video spokesperson will help the customer to understand about your product without wasting much of their time.

Visit Virtual Media Group and you can see a free video spokesperson demo on your website right now.

Savvy marketers and customer-service managers are realizing that hold time can be a goldmine in making connections with customers and prospective customers. Through well-crafted on-hold messages written with your callers in mind, you have the ability to promote your brand, up-sell other products and services and answer frequently asked questions. It’s effortless, affordable and easy to put in place within just a few business days. 

Considering that the average hold time in America is 43 seconds—almost the length of a radio commercial—you have a significant opportunity to tell your callers exactly what you want them to hear about you. After all they’re captive, and we know from research that most callers want to hear something other than silence, a radio station, or boring elevator music while on hold.

When written and produced by seasoned on-hold producers like On Hold Inc, your content will feature a well-written, interesting, and balanced blend of messages about your company or organization and courtesy phrases that encourage the caller to continue holding.

Some organizations like to play their jingle along with their on-hold script. Others ask for spoken customer testimonials to be featured during the message. Some use their on-hold message to move product. Others prefer a softer sell. No matter your angle all on-hold users agree: Keeping their callers from hanging up is the priority. The right on-hold production can accomplish all of this, and more.

Impulse buys A customer calls your pizza parlor at the dinner hour. You place them on hold while you take another order. While they’re holding, they hear about the cheese bread special for $1.99 with any order. They weren’t thinking about cheese bread when they called, but it’s beginning to sound good. When you come back on the line, you take an order for pizza—and an order for cheese bread. All thanks to the power of on hold.

Basic information A caller needs to know your website address and calls your office. Your receptionist is busy and has to place them on hold while she takes care of the two callers in line ahead. While on hold, your caller hears office hours and website address—which is all he/she needed anyway. She hangs up, moves on with her day, and your receptionist has one less blinking light to answer.

Branding You’re a national delivery service and you’ve just rolled out the new slogan, “We’ll get it there tomorrow—or it’s free.” You’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on traditional media buys to enforce the new slogan. But for less than a dollar a day, every caller placed on hold will hear the slogan. Considering that the average business receives more than 100 calls a day, the per-impression cost is practically zero.

Shape perceptions There’s nothing worse than calling a company and being placed on hold in silence—one wonders if they’ve been hung up on. Or worse yet, they begin to form a negative opinion about the company because it appears you didn’t think through every aspect of your relationship with them—in person, on the phone, and on hold. Too many companies miss opportunities to shape how their customers feel about them—all because they neglected their callers’ on-hold experience

Since the inception of the Internet, the challenge to site owners looking to do business has been to find the best possible ways to convert browsers into buyers. On average, a website loses close to half its visitors before they even leave the first page! This trend is aided by the fact that on the Internet, there is no personal touch through human interaction that persuades or guides the visitor. There is no salesman to lead the visitor through the sales funnel.

But now, with new web video marketing technology you are able to add a video spokesperson or website infomercial to your web site and help solve this problem by going beyond  text and pictures. This technology is one of the most effective, easy-to-implement and economical marketing solutions available on the Internet today. Most adapters of this technology have seen a significant increase in their conversions, making it a more than worthwhile investment when considering return-on-investment. A video spokesperson  can greet, educate, motivate, guide visitors to important sections, introduce products and services, highlight what’s new, ask for a sale and any other goals that you want your visitors to accomplish.

There’s numerous benefits of using a custom produced website infomercial.  Infomercials are more versatile in regards to creativity, and allow companies to provide more details of the product or service being offered and distinguish themselves from their competitors – something old fashioned text just can’t accomplish.

A web infomercial not only grabs the customer by their emotions, a good infomercial appeals to their rational side and eases their doubts. You can engage emotions and fully immerses prospective customers in the benefits of your product(s). Brought into the story, they imagine how your product will change and improve their lives. Your customer doesn't see the actors, they picture themselves with the body they've always wanted. They're not buying your rotisserie. Your customer is buying the perfectly cooked chicken and the admiration they'll receive as a great cook. No other internet marketing can match a web infomercial when it's time to ask for the sale.

For either our video spokesperson technology or website infomercial services 
            
    You can choose and customize your actors to:

      • Fit your company’s look and feel.
      • Deliver what you want said and how they say it
      • Wear a particular wardrobe
      • Include custom or stock footage/pictures
      • Flash animation of text or graphics

Virtual Media Group is a full service video marketing and production firm. We can take your internet marketing to the next level through the creative use of video. Our motto – Virtual Marketing, Real Results!

Much like when you walk into your local coffee shop and want to order a good ‘ol  cup of joe, you have lots of  choices these days of flavors to choose from, and the same holds true when it comes to today’s on hold player options. Message on hold equipment has come a long way from the endless loop tape and cd players of the past. On Hold Inc features a variety of digital message on hold players and music on hold adapters to suit a wide range of uses and options.
Here’s what we're servin’ up today, so you can choose the right player and message delivery system that suits for your taste!

Removable Media Load On Hold Player:
Removable media load players allow for instant email delivery of your on hold audio file and eliminates waiting and shipping of your on hold message audio. The loading process requires you to insert a removable media device in your PC and drag your newly downloaded on hold message to the removable media source such as a USB stick or Media card. Once your digital on hold message is copied, you simply take the removable media device to the on hold player and plug it in. It will immediately begin playing your new message.

CD Load On Hold Player:
In previous years cd was the smart choice in moving to more current technology from cassette tapes. The CD load system requires you to place your newly produced on hold message CD and insert it into the player. It will immediately begin playing your new message and store the audio content into flash memory on the unit.

IP Load On Hold Player:
The IP Load system allows for remote delivery of your new on hold audio production  over your existing network from your desktop PC. Often times this is a great alternative for multi-location clients allowing for a hands-off approach.
 
We sell players that are loaded with USB sticks, flash memory cards, CD’s and remotely over your computer network. Pick a technology that you’re familiar with, and choose a player that’s easy for you to load. The above message on hold players are compatible with any business phone system that is equipped with a music on hold (moh) input.

Music On Hold Adapter
If you don’t have a phone system, you will need an on hold adapter. A music on hold adapter is what enables a small office or home office to use music on hold or music and messages on hold on their standard phones.  Because standard phones do not have a phone system on hold music input or capability built-in, they need special players with an integrated MOH adapter or separate hardware to create the music on hold feature. 
 
How To Know If You Need A Music On Hold Adapter:

• Can your phone be used in a home environment (plugged into standard phone jacks)? If so, you most likely do need a music on hold adapter.
• Were your phones purchased from a consumer electronics or office supply retail store?  If so, you most likely do need a music on hold adapter.

Visit our on hold technical support page for a breif overview on digital on hold player and message on hold adapter options and installation or call 1-866-88-ON-HOLD and an On Hold Inc specialist will help to determine the on hold player or message equipment solutions that best fits your particular telephony system.

At this point most everyone is familiar with on hold message marketing. You know, the messages and music you hear when being placed on hold at a business. The statistics prove that when you use on hold message marketing successfully you can increase sales, improve customer relations and keep callers on the line longer, preventing them from hanging up and calling a competitor. But how do you go about select a reputable and reliable on hold messaging vendor? How do you know you’ll be satisfied with your on hold recording? What happens if the provider does not meet your expectations? You’re stuck.

Pound for pound "we offer the best on hold messaging services in the industry”. Yes we may be biased but we are also right. To prove this we have an offer for you! We feel so passionately about our on hold messages and what they can do for your business we are prepared to put our money where our mouth is!

With On Hold Inc., Getting your Risk-Free On-Hold Message Demo is simple. You provide some basic information, and we'll create a custom script for you to approve using our simple on-line system. Then you select the voice and background music, and we’ll produce a sample on-hold message demo for you to audition. All Completely Risk-Free!

This business model shifts the focus to exceeding customer expectations in everything we do. You can start your risk free on hold demo trial now and we’ll have it ready for you to audition in 3 days or less!