I bet your ads are compelling and intriguing; but, callers don’t have all day to listen to them. For customers, time is precious and if they could do away with being put on-hold, they’ll do everything in their power to do it. This is why you need to create an on-hold message script that’s direct to the point, but still engages your customers into placing an order.

Aside from informing your customers about the latest updates from your brand and what setsyour products and services apart from competitors, the purpose of installing on hold messages to your phone system is to keep callers from hanging-up. So, what kind of messages should be in your on-hold script?

Experts say that a well-crafted message on hold will make a couple of minutes seem like a few seconds and as pioneers, we at The Original On Hold, Inc. know just what type of messages to craft, making sure that your on hold script will guarantee over-all customer satisfaction while reducing the feeling of waiting.

Helpful

When someone calls your company, he probably needs help. How do you extend help to your callers? First, you can provide FAQs through your message on hold. You might think this is petty and minor; but, you should understand that not all customer read the FAQ tab. Don’t be afraid to tell them what they need to know about your brand, from working hours to your website’s link; anything that you think will be helpful to your callers.

Conversational

Nobody wants to listen to some recorded message that sounds like it’s Optimus Prime talking. This means that your on hold message should seem like you’re talking to them face-to-face ; more like your message is only targeted to them. I promise you it will guarantee better results. Sound conversational and your customers will feel more at ease while being put on hold.

Authoritative

Don’t be shy and take pride in being the virtuoso that you are in the industry. Sound certain and reassuring to your customers; make them feel that they’ll only get the best from you. However, make sure that you don’t sound boastful – customers know when you’re being confident and when it’s just plainpretense.

Get the expert advice of a professional Message On hold vendor for the right approach for your company’s on hold marketing strategy.

With fewer sales opportunities in play, competition is fierce. Getting it “write” is the key to your on hold marketing success. It takes the perfect combination of words  to your  grasp your listening audience which are your callers on hold and  convince them to take action. So yes, every word really does count when it comes to crafting the perfect on hold message script. Your company’s on hold message needs to be tight, clear, and compelling—but it must be CLEAR before CUTE!

Let’s start with the “elevator statement”. What’s an elevator statement you might ask? Well think of it like this; being in an elevator with someone and describing to that person who you are and what you offer in that short time of the elevator ride. In other words, a positioning statement that needs to be delivered in 30 seconds or less. Now you also need to add more detail around this and also explain a unique benefit a customer gets when buying from you and your COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. You must clearly understand the difference between a benefit and a feature. Features are the specific bells and whistles particular to a product or idea. Benefits are the advantages callers will gain--bringing recognizable value to a product’s features by illustrating why the features of your product or service should be selected.

Encouraging callers to take action. Did you add into your on hold message script an incentive that makes closing the sale advantageous to your customer? Instead of using traditional manipulation tactics to "close" a deal, encourage callers to act within a certain timeframe by showing them it can be in his/her own best interest.

Your on hold message needs to describe what your company does and for whom, identify the key benefit(s) that drive your customers to purchase your products or services, and demonstrate the advantage you have over competing brands. Infuse creativity into message. Deliver your message in a clever and/or amusing way, and make your ad stand out from the crowd. Use a tone that's appropriate to your audience, and choosing words that belong to that particular genre. The greatest on hold marketing ads are a perfect fusion of three very different modes of thought, expertly combined and presented in a powerfully compelling and persuasive package.

And now that you have solid on hold messaging, it's time to Execute! The key to successful on hold advertising, after being tight, clear, and compelling, is to be CONSISTENT. Marketing is very much like brainwashing—repetition, repetition, and more repetition.

We’re now officially knee deep in summer. That means along with the BBQs and sunburns, you’re probably also facing sluggish sales and a loss of in store face time with customers. As happens every year, warmer weather means people are spending more time at the beach and less time making heavy buying decisions. It’s the summer lull and there’s nothing you can do to combat it.

Or is there?...

How can you get your customers' attention when they, too, are preoccupied with their own seasonal activities? Consider these tips for your on hold messages to avoid the summer sales lull:

1."Summer Special" Promotion. Let’s face it with less and less contact with customers and prospects during the summer months, many businesses will try to lure in folks with summer sale promotions. If you’re having a Summer Sale Promotion, then you should advertise that to your callers with your on hold messages. For example maybe you’re having a Father’s day special, 4th Of July Special, Labor Day or End of Summer special…Plan simultaneous promotions of seasonal items that go together, such as barbecue grills and propane tanks, or summer hats and shorts by offering discounts if customers buy these products together. Studies prove that when shoppers are offered deals that have an expiration date they are more apt to make their purchasing decision.

2. Promote Summer Products/Services.
Not many people are going to be buying school supplies in the summer. Focus your on hold message script on summer products/services that cater to a customer’s seasonal needs. An example, if you’re an automotive repair shop then you should promote air conditioning repair services, and because more people are traveling by car during the summer, they should also stop in for maintenance before any long trips…. If you’re a pest control company, different seasons bring different types of pests, so you need to inform callers about services they need in the summer versus other times of the year…. If you’re a HVAC contractor then why not encourage callers to prepare for the summer heat with a seasonal tune-up of their HVAC system, so that they don’t have a hot weather emergency….  Maybe you’re an appliance retailer that also sells outdoor grills? This is the time to promote them, because advertising outdoor grills in the fall or winter won’t help you sell more grills.

3.Introduce a new products and events. Believe it or not, summertime is also a good time for planning your marketing for the upcoming busier fall season (as they always say, boy the summer flew by). If you have new product or service offerings, kick them off during the summer, with your  on hold messaging. This way your callers will informed of these new offerings (for the busier fall season).

4.Promote Community/Charity Events. With the warmer weather there are more community/charitable events taking place than at any other time during the year. If your business is involved in or exhibits at such events, then inform your callers on hold of such happenings. Your on hold message can let callers know when and where these events take place. This a great way to meet with your current or prospective customers and also allow them to see  any product or service offerings you have.

5. “Buy this, get that” Summer-related Promotions
A lot of businesses get create and offer promotions that are fun and innovative. For example, when anyone buys a book title that relates to summer or the beach they get a sample of free sunscreen, or, if your customers spend a certain amount they get complementary tickets to a summer-friendly place like the zoo, water park or baseball game. Using your music on hold system is a great way to communicate these types of “summer-related” promotions.

The best way to avoid a summer lull is to focus your music on hold marketing efforts around the summer season, and you can build your business and increase your potential success.