The BV Blog

We’ve just updated the “Humor On Hold” page of our website. Take a listen to some of the ways we’ve kept callers entertained recently.

And while you’re there, let us know what you think of using humor to brand your company, shorten your callers’ perceived hold times, and improve their on hold experience. Our “YourVoice” poll is at the bottom of the page.

Here are a few recent quotes on the subject from BusinessVoice clients:

“Having humorous on hold messaging has been a benefit to Kellermeyer. Our callers really enjoy being on hold. In fact, some have asked to be put back on hold to finish listening. Our customers are aware that we change our messages quarterly and they make comments about each quarter’s new messages. Also, by focusing on products that are big movers during a specific timeframe, such as ice melt in the winter, customers add on to their orders.” - Jill Kegler / President, Kellermeyer Company

“We at Amazing Space, Inc. would like to pass along our appreciation for an excellent job in producing and delivering our on-hold messaging. We had asked for something very clever, unique, and fun, and your team came through with flying colors on the first shot. And the turnaround time on all aspects of the project exceeded our expectations. Daily we get compliments on the production from customers calling in, and it definitely contributes to Amazing Space’s brand development. Thanks again.” - Dave Parrish / President, Amazing Space

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I saw a commercial the other morning that really made me laugh. It’s a Titan Tire commercial, which if you you would like to have a hearty chuckle, you can view here. Just click on the “kimono” link.

It was funny to me because of the recent state America’s relationship to all things foreign. Funnier still was seeing rugged cowboy types accessorizing a lasso with a beret and pairing a pitchfork with a silky kimono.

I thought it expertly and humorously isolated what’s different about American manufactured products.

But it wasn’t particularly funny to an editor at Indiana State University’s student newspaper, The Statesman. Her reaction to the commerical was markedly different than mine. Read her editorial here.

This editorial offended a member of the the Terre Haute community, so much so that he responded with a letter to the editor defending the family that was attacked in the Opinions column and highlighting the lack of journalistic integrity on the part of the editor.

My point is two-fold. Firstly, what’s funny to some people may not be funny to other people; so un-funny that, as in this case, it is received as offensive and malignant. The lesson? Be cautious in your advertising, but don’t be afraid to push the envelope. If you’re too cautious, people may not have a negative reaction to your efforts, but they may not react at all.

Secondly, I came across this information only because I was searching the Internet high and low for a way to share this commercial with you. In the course of my search, I came across the editorial. Then I came across the response to it. Only then did I locate the commercial. The lesson? You can find almost anything on the Internet. Be smart about what you put out there, and about how you handle criticisms about what you put out there.

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In the February 18, 2008 issue of AdAge, Richard Rappaport laments that today’s advertising has gone to the dogs. And not the cute, furry ones that like to lick your face. He’s talking about the mean, vicious dogs that eat expensive shoes and chew up your new couch.

I’ve seen all the spots he eviscerates, and I must disagree. These spots aren’t malicious, snide or mean. They’re damn funny.

But that’s just my opinion. Decide for yourself.

Watch a few of the spots posted below, and then read the article linked here. Make sure you have your dictionary handy though. Rich’s sense of humor might be the size of a pea, but he has a very big vocabulary.

And if you like the funny stuff, check out the Humor On Hold section of our website.

FedEx Kinkos Office Meeting

FedEx China

Priceline Taser

Chevy Malibu Jogger

Suzuki XL7

Travelocity Gnome

Cadillac Features

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Sorry. I can’t help but evoke the emotions of Oscar winner Sally Field each time we win an award ourselves! At least I haven’t played a flying nun on TV…yet.

Our thanks to the MarCom Awards for presenting BusinessVoice with a 2007 MarCom Gold Award for our On Hold Messaging production called “The Ball Game.” (Listen to it here.)

The MarCom Awards is “an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals.” There were more than 5,000 entries this year.

Using humor on hold is one of our specialties, so let us know if we can entertain your callers and shorten their perceived hold times while differentiating your company.

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We were pretty jazzed to win another Crystal Award of Excellence the other night. It’s our fourth overall, and it was presented by the Toledo Chapter of Women in Communications.

This year we took home the coveted crytal egg for an On Hold Messaging production we created for ourselves called “The Ball Game.” It’s our humorous take on a radio broadcast of a baseball game. Listen to it at http://www.bvlive.com/media/BVBaseballOHM060700.mp3

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