There aren’t many things people hate more than being put on hold when they call your company. They expect to talk to a person and to be treated like one, and instead, they’re ignored and have to spend time waiting for someone to answer. It’s annoying, and it can cost you business. Yet, there are simple ways to keep people on the line if they’re on hold, and the best one is to write an on hold message script.
2. If the hold is more that a couple of minutes make sure to thank customers for their time. Apologize for delays if hold time is significant.
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And if you write something that doesn’t impress your coworkers or earn accolades, that’s fine. It’s called the writing process, and it’s why most writers prefer their seclusion. All writers are embarrassed by their first drafts.
"We have had great feedback from customers. When we [pick up the phone] they are laughing and in the best mood. They say the messages are hilarious. That was my whole plan - to make being on hold enjoyable." - Rachelle Dicker / Gold Rush Express
If you stray away from the company brand, your audience will notice and your on hold message will backfire. People will feel tricked as they wait to talk to an actual person, and by the time they reach someone real, they’ll be furious.
We have a few examples below we’d like to share so you can customize your on hold messages based on your needs and industry:
Someone is late for the conference call, so the music starts. "Well, I've been sitting here all day," the song begins, sort of croony, with a vaguely country affect — the kind of opening that leads you to expect there is, somewhere, an ex-lover who probably isn't coming back. A certain variety of pining. But then, a few bars in, a turn: "Yes I'm waiting on this conference call, all alone. And I'm on hold, yes I'm on hold... I hope it's not all day, ey!"
USA Business Telephone Today conducted a survey of 30,000 callers to study the effects of hold music, or the lack of it, for a single minute. More than half the callers who were put on hold without any auditory stimulation hung up. The silence affected the rest of the group’s perception of time: More than 27 percent thought their wait time exceeded five minutes, and 18 percent thought it exceeded three minutes. Only 3 percent judged their wait time to be close to the actual one-minute timeframe. All of the callers in the study had listened to dead air for only 60 seconds.
Whether you use the best hold music in the world or a simple repeating jingle, hold music is worth using for one reason. Customer retention. USA Business Telephone Today held a study of 30,000 callers.They placed each on hold for one minute, but split the callers into three groups and used different hold techniques on each before measuring the results.
In response to PsychedelicWonders. Call hold/call wait is a network feature (while it is activated by the handset) as such any music would be supplied by your carrier, there should be some there but chances are it's some wonderfull elevator style stuff (I'm partial to Brahms myself 😉 ). More Less. Apr 13, 2009 7:29 PM.
If you have a question or want to know more information about our services please contact our team using the form. Testimonials See all testimonials My contact, Tim, was very friendly and helpful and they produced a high quality recording very quickly for use in our automated call handling system. I just wanted to thank you and your team for your efficient and reliable service whilst setting up our telephone system. The message sounds fantastic and really gives us that professional, classy edge that we’ve always been looking for and the value for money was astounding. The whole process was very well run, issues and queries were very quickly followed up and resolved and I am very happy with the website. A special thanks to Amelia for all the hard work and patience in getting this project completed so quickly.
Our customized programs are 6 minutes long and include up to 11 messages. A variety of packages are available–whether you need one program that plays year round, or you want to update your messages each month.
Message on Hold starts with a great script. A basic script consultation is included with every order. One of our script consultants will review your script and verify pronunciations of any special terminology, as well as provide suggested verbiage improvements, if necessary. For custom script orders, your consultant will take your ideas and source materials and transform them into customized scripting that will engage your callers. Our experienced staff will work with you to create, revise, and finalize your audio script so that it’s ready for studio production. We’ve helped businesses of all sizes, and within various industries, ensure their scripting will keep their callers informed and engaged.
Professionally recorded phone messages and greetings are the perfect way to promote and re-enforce your business brand when customers call the business. They will put a professional touch to any message and enhance your business image. Choose between a male or female voice, recorded in the tone best suited to your business. Ideal for Business Intro Messages at the start of the call, Auto Attendant (IVR) prompts, Voicemail greetings such as one for an After-Hours Service, and On-Hold Messages. Incorporate background music for that extra touch.
A custom on hold message, mixed with on hold music ensures that callers know they are being kept on hold. This is important so customers do not feel abandoned or that they have possibly been disconnected. If there are no on hold messages or music at the end of the line, many callers will not wait long before hanging up. If you can provide them with some useful information, on hold phone messages can keep your callers online for considerably longer, allow time for your operators to answer and reduce the stress of callers.
AD Service Provider, On Hold Marketing, can put together a clear and concise customized phone greeting that conveys the professionalism of your company and lets the caller know how important their call is to you. Scriptwriters will educate and promote your business to on-hold callers through a custom-tailored message – letting everyone know what specifically makes your company different from others. This is your chance to share your background, insight and information about your business, promotions, and products and services to your captive audience. Recordings are available in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.
What sort of genre, tempo, or rhythm best exemplifies your brand? Lyrics or instrumental? Heavy bass or soft tones? Like ringback tones, this music is your caller’s introduction to your company. Make sure it’s on brand. A law firm probably doesn’t want the latest dance floor bass drop. A music agency, on the other hand, might want to feature some of their top artists and latest hits. Don’t take this to mean that traditionally serious industries can’t flex their personality—just acknowledge what’s appropriate in your domain.