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Phone On-Hold® is proud to announce this month’s new clients:

Batteries Plus #890 (Niles, IL)
Eyemart Express #178 (Greenville, NC)
Eyemart Express #180 (Wilmington, NC)
Eyemart Express # 183 (Anchorage, AK)
Hollywood Entertainment Center (Branson, MO)
Hollywood Wax Entertainment Center (Pigeon Forge, TN)
Hollywood Wax Museum (Los Angeles, CA)
Hyatt Grand Washington (Washington DC)
Mahelona Medical Center (Kapaa, HI)
Perfect Line (Camarillo, CA)
West Kauai Clinic – Kalaheo (Kalaheo, HI)
West Kauai Clinic – Port Allen (Eleele, HI)

One of the keys to effective marketing is presenting the story of your products and services in a variety of media. Your prospective customers may hear about you through radio or television, newspapers or magazines, online, direct mail, flyers, and other communications vehicles. But, regardless of where you present your message, the most important aspects are to keep consistency and professionalism in how you state your case.

Even when someone calls your business, if you have to put them on hold, make certain your on-hold messages are in line with the other media you may be using. For example, if you’re advertising a two-for-one offer of your product in the local newspaper, you should have the same special featured in your on-hold message. This extends your marketing efforts and verifies the offer that may have attracted the caller in the first place.

This kind of consistency is particularly important if you have more than one store location. To maximize your impact and reinforce your current marketing strategies, your on-hold messages need to be of the current and captivating in all stores.

Now, with that said, many multi-store companies may find it necessary to have local specials that are unique to their service areas. Your phone on-hold marketing should also be able to accommodate any variations seamlessly and keep the burden off the shoulders of the individual store managers.

A good phone on-hold marketing company should provide the following benefits for multi-store location businesses:
• Minimize corporate staff and store managers’ time, including creative, production, fulfillment/download
• Customize content by location, regardless of number of stores
• Control messages, including approach, style, tone, and content that is pre-approved
• Control timing of release and change of information on sales offers, expiration dates, etc.
• Change content as often as needed and within 1-3 days
• Coordinate messaging with overall company strategy and other marketing efforts
• Provide remote downloading of all content to any or all locations in minutes
• Provide content and branding consistency and professionalism
• Provide licensed, residual-free music
• Provide pre-approve/preview of all content remotely for each store
• Offer seasonal campaign support
• Allow password-protected auditions online for multi-level/location approvals
• Require no capital outlay for equipment
• Provide technical support should the equipment fail

If we can answer any questions or help you plan your next campaign, contact Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems at 800-465-3102 or e-mail info@phoneonhold.com. We produce communication networks for businesses that want to improve customer retention, increase sales, and reinforce the strength of their unique brands.

One of the most effective marketing tools for companies is their phone on-hold messages. When a prospective customer calls a business, this person has an interest in that company and/or its products or services. And, if that caller is put on hold, the business needs to ensure the caller’s time waiting is not wasted and that the company’s connection will be a positive experience that can help their bottom line.

In his new book, “Holding Power: Building Long Lasting Relationships with the Push of a Button,” Pete Turpel, owner of Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems, says “On-hold messages should be professionally produced and must provide information of value to the person calling. Callers want to know what a company does and how it benefits them.”

There are many on-hold messages that could be used to enhance a company’s brand, build customer loyalty, and improve sales. Here are 10 good ones for your consideration:
1. Let the caller know how your company is different from your competition and why that’s good for the customer.
2. Tell callers about any new products or services and how they are beneficial.
3. Answer recently asked customer questions.
4. Discuss how your company can solve specific customer concerns or meet needs they have expressed.
5. Describe any community support activities, as people like doing business with someone connected to their area.
6. Mention any recent awards that help set you apart from competitors and demonstrate your professionalism.
7. Share customer testimonials relating to your product quality and/or services.
8. Reference hours of operation, including holiday hours.
9. Tell callers how they may be able to reach you online or after hours, as appropriate.
10. Promote any limited time offers.

The telephone is a powerful marketing tool that we often take for granted. It’s an all-important first contact with a prospective customer, so it’s essential that the on-hold messaging is crisp, informative, and communicates the most important information about a company. This helps draw people in and encourages their return in the future.

Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems can be reached at 800-465-3102 or through e-mail at info@phoneonhold.com.

Phone On-Hold® is proud to announce this month’s new clients:

Atascadero Hay & Feed (Atascadero, CA)
Batteries Plus #487 (Glen Ellyn, IL)
Batteries Plus #490 (Schaumburg, IL)
Brendan Vacations #3- Anaheim (Anaheim, CA)
Costco #01097 (Frisco, TX)
Eat’n Park #84 (Austintown, OH)
Eat’n Park #51 (Erie, PA)
Eat’n Park #63 (Warren, OH)
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbytrn- Radiology (Newport Beach, CA)
Hyatt on Main- Sierra Green Bay (Green Bay, WI)
Roti8 Restaurant (Danville, CA)
Sit’n Sleep- Sleep Well Inc. PILOT (Gardena, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #11 (Culver City,CA)
Sit’n Sleep #13 (Tarzana, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #14 (Montebello, CA)
Sit ‘n Sleep #15 (Laguna Hills, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #16 (Upland, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #17 (Santa Ana, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #18 (Santa Clarita, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #19 (Torrance, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #30 (Puente Hills, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #21 (Oxnard, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #22 (Westminster, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #23 Glendale- CORP (Glendale, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #24 (Norco, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #25 (Palmdale, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #26 (Murrieta, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #27 (Rancho Mirage, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #28 (Cerritos, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #29 (Brea, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #30 (Fullerton, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #31 (West Covina, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #32 (Pasadena, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #33 (Redlands, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #34 (Anaheim, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #35 (Santa Monica, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #36 (Costa Mesa, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #37 (Agoura, CA)
Sit’n Sleep #38 (Studio City) CA

Welcome to Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems!

Phone On-Hold® is proud to announce this month’s new clients:

Batteries Plus #431 (Upper Marlboro, MD)
Batteries Plus #858 (Roseburg, OR)
Batteries Plus #870 (Midwest City, OK)
Costco #1101 (Pewaukee, WI)
Costco #1102 (Augusta. GA)
Costco #1103 (Warminster, PA)
Eat’n Park #65 (Grove City, PA)
Los Robles Imaging Center (Moorpark, CA)
Tel-Us Call Center (Beverly Hills, CA)

Welcome to Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems!

When someone calls your business, chances are pretty good that they have an interest in your products or services. This would be considered a “hot lead;” however, many companies have found numerous ways to annoy these callers, if they are put on hold, which is costing them potential business.

In his new book, “Holding Power: Building Long Lasting Relationships with the Push of a Button,” Pete Turpel, owner of Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems, says many companies actually turn off the callers with the content and/or style of on-hold messages. He notes, “In the 1980s, when the phone-on industry was in its infancy, it was common for unknowing companies to use platitudes and apologetics such as ‘thanks for holding,’ ‘we’re sorry you have to wait,’ and ‘we value your business.’”

These insincere phrases have been shown to actually irritate callers. Yet, today, when 70 percent of all callers in the United States will be put on hold when calling companies, Turpel sees many businesses still using the antiquated words and sales tactics that will more than likely drive business away, rather than attract it.

So, if you want to really annoy your customers and prospects, here’s what you can do:
1. Ignore the callers without presenting a clue about who you are and what you do.
2. Remind them that they are on hold.
3. Tell them you appreciate their business even though you may never have dealt with them.
4. Play irritating commercial jingles that can grind on callers.
5. Play recognizable music that takes away from information about your business that may be of importance to the callers.
6. Pack a ton of information into the content so the voice-over announcer has to speed through the company’s messages.
7. Use grating, dragging, inappropriate or unintelligible music to entertain on-hold guests.
8. Greet callers with nothing but “dead air” instead of with information on your business that benefits and informs callers.
9. Shout your slogans and sales pitches rather than create an even, positive pace.
10. Use unprofessional or quirky spokespeople to deliver your messages.

Turpel notes, “Phone on-hold marketing is a very personal, powerful tool that has a 30-year history of creating additional sales and enhancing a company’s brand. The telephone is the first point of contact and it needs to properly represent a business and engage and draw in prospective customers. Phone on-hold marketing works when sharing information of value to callers, not attacking or annoying them.”

Turpel’s book delves into many of the myths associated with phone on-hold content and explores ways to improve the customer experience, even when they are waiting to talk with a “live” person. Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems can be reached at 800-465-3102 or through e-mail at info@phoneonhold.com.

In the 27 years since I founded Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems, I’ve observed a great many busiiness practices and marketing faux pas. In my new book titled “Holding Power:Building Long Lasting Customer Relationships with the Push of a Button,” I explore many of these situations. In one excerpt from my book, I noted: “If Alexander Graham Bell could see the mass communication of today’s world, I think he’d want to know one thing: Is it bringing us closer together or is it separating us? It seems ironic, but at Phone On-Hold Marketing Systems, we’re not about telephones foremost. We’re about communicating well, saving time, and improving their brand recognition. We’re about being people and helping businesses understand how important it is not to squander people’s time and build long-lasting relationships that can improve their bottom lines.” In the book, I offer many tips for getting the most out of your business telephone communications and marketing efforts surrounding Bell’s most important invention. If you want to read more, the book is on the major book websites or you can order at www.phoneonhold.com.

Phone On-Hold® is proud to announce this month’s new clients:

Batteries Plus #62 (Fort Myers, FL)
Batteries Plus #77 (Cape Coral, FL)
Batteries Plus #452 (Naples, FL)
Batteries Plus #453 (Bonita Springs, FL)
Batteries Plus #478 (Austin, TX)
Batteries Plus #479 (Westlake Hills, TX)
Bay Vision Eyecare Optometry #2 (Hayward, CA)
Eyemart Express #163 (Greensboro, NC)
Eyemart Express #173 (Pueblo, CO)
Eyemart Express #179 (Fayetteville, NC)
Quesa-D-yas (Dallas, TX)

Welcome to Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems!

Lots of business people tend to think phone on-hold messages are merely a nicety and that they are not a very significant part of their marketing efforts. To the contrary, study after study demonstrates that not only are on-hold phone messages important to callers, but they also show that business is missing huge sales opportunities by ignoring the facts and figures relative to this form of communication.

In a study published by the North American Telecommunications Association, it was noted that if silence greets people when they call into a company and are put on hold, 90 percent of callers will drop off the line within 40 seconds. Music helps and can hold caller attention 30 seconds longer than “dead air.” On the other hand, when businesses offer information on their company, products, services, specials or what have you, callers will stay on the phone up to three minutes longer and they tend to buy more.

Woman’s World Magazine says the average person is on hold some 1.2 years of their life. Sales & Marketing Management adds that 88 percent of callers want to hear product information while they are on hold and will stay on the line longer to hear these messages.

Telemarketing companies report that seven out of 10 callers to businesses are put on hold, which obviously represents a huge audience and substantial opportunity to engage prospective customers. Telephone company U.S. West Communications found that there is a 40-percent increase in caller retention, when a business uses on-hold messaging on their phones. Because of the content provided in these messages, caller service and product inquiries and actual sales rise 15 to 20 percent.

Phone on-hold marketing is a very personal, powerful marketing tool that has a track record of effectively creating additional sales and enhancing a company’s brand. This telephone forum is a means of communicating information of importance to your callers and should always be viewed—not as an afterthought—but as a primary point of contact.

Your business telephone is your first line of offense in helping you improve your sales and your stature in the community. You set yourself apart from competitors in other ways, but don’t forget about your phone on-hold marketing.
If we can answer any questions or help you maximize your callers’ on-hold time and enhance your marketing efforts, give Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems a call at 800-465-3102 or e-mail info@phoneonhold.com. We produce communication networks for businesses that want to improve customer retention, increase sales, and reinforce the strength of their unique brands.

Phone On-Hold® is proud to announce this month’s new clients:

Batteries Plus #430 (Union, NJ)
Eat’n Park#32 (Washington, PA)
Eat’n Park#55 (New Kensington, PA)
Pet Doctors of Industry (City of Industry, CA)

Welcome to Phone On-Hold® Marketing Systems!