Tips for Effective On Hold Messaging
Maybe you’re not sure what you’d like your callers on hold to know about your company. Maybe you’re not confident about your writing skills, or maybe you simply don’t have the time to dedicate to another ongoing marketing project. These are all good reasons to leave your On Hold Messaging (OHM) to the experts at BusinessVoice.*
Here are a few tips to consider if you’re a prospective BusinessVoice client who is considering an OHM program, or a current client who has a say in your On Hold Messaging content.
1) Take advantage of scheduled updates. Your BusinessVoice Copywriter will contact you proactively when you’re due for a change. Keeping your OHM content fresh and engaging is just as important as updating your online, print or broadcast marketing, so don’t pass up the opportunity to keep your callers up-to-date. Frequent callers will notice the changes and your company’s attention to detail.
2) Make it personal. Your OHM copy should mirror what’s going on in your callers’ lives. If the holiday season is coming up, let’s address their unique purchasing, scheduling or delivery needs at this time of year. During the dog days of summer your On Hold Messaging might include tips on how to protect older family members from the heat, or suggestions on how to keep a home cool while cutting energy costs. The possibilities are endless. People will notice the timeliness of copy that’s focused on their immediate needs. Even if it’s not directly related to your company, your callers will appreciate good information they can put to use.
3) Help us help you by helping your callers. When your personal BusinessVoice Copywriter contacts you about updating your On Hold Messaging, he or she will often present several ideas or copy points for your consideration, and engage you in a conversation about your current marketing needs and goals. As an employee, you can provide an insider’s point-of-view of your company’s marketing priorities, caller-focused information on your products and services, answers to common caller questions, and other valuable insight. When you share those details with us, we can craft messaging that serves the very specific needs of your company and your customers and prospects on hold.
4) Remember your audience. It’s not you or your co-workers. It’s not even your boss. It’s the people who are calling to give you money. Your On Hold Messaging should be focused on answering their questions, educating them about your products and services, shortening their perceived hold times, and making their on hold experience as valuable as possible.
* What Makes Us OHM Experts?
Every day, BusinessVoice On Hold Messaging helps thousands of companies across the U.S. communicate meaningful information to their callers. Over the past 18 years, we’ve won dozens of local, regional and national awards for marketing and creative excellence. And we’ve literally shaped our industry through our pioneering philosophies and involvement with OHMA, the On Hold Messaging Association. In addition to OHM, BusinessVoice provides other services that make marketing impressions at each of the three points your customers “enter” your business: the telephone, your website, and your front door.
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